New 'headlights On At Daytime' Law

[The Gentleman Scamp]

Is this true?

Apparently the reason that everyone in Thailand, or Hua Hin anyway - has there headlamps on in the DAYTIME is, according to Ning, because Thaksin has suddenly decided that to reduce more accidents it would be a great idea to Ensure Veichles And Bikes Were Safer???? Nope. Enforce The Spead Limit??? Nope. Make Sure Both Rider And Passenger Wore A Proper Helmet??? Nope.

But to put on your headlights during the day.

I found this rather amusing and Ning demanded I pull over so she could go home and sulk but we sorted it out as we always do and I enquired as to weather Thaksin would be helping me purchase a new battery next month.

[PvtDick]

Sounds like you give poor Ning a lot of sh*t about things that you think are silly about her Thailand. Not a good recipe for a long and harmonious relationship, I think. I'm sure Ning would find lots of silly things in your own homeland.

[The Gentleman Scamp]

Sounds like you give poor Ning a lot of sh*t about things that you think are silly about her Thailand.  Not a good recipe for a long and harmonious relationship, I think.  I'm sure Ning would find lots of silly things in your own homeland.

Oh for goodness sake PvtDick - Tornado was right, you're like the keystone cop of this forum - don't take me so seriously, please.

Ning's been behaving like a stroppy teenager most of this week - it's part of her character and it takes it's toll sometimes but don't judge my relationship or my attitude to Thailand with information I've written that isn't one iota of a percent of either.

[lopburi3]

Headlight use is a proven and effective means to reduce accidents and believe cars in the US are now built with lights that are on by default. As long as your bike is moving and charging the battery should last beyond next month I would think.

[PvtDick]

Try not to be so sensitive. Was just sparing a thought for poor Ning.

[PvtDick]

Headlight use is a proven and effective means to reduce accidents and believe cars in the US are now built with lights that are on by default. As long as your bike is moving and charging the battery should last beyond next month I would think.

Yes, true. When you rent a car in the US or Europe these days, many times the lights are permanently on. Also common for motorcyclists to have their headlights on all the time.

[The Gentleman Scamp]

Try not to be so sensitive. Was just sparing a thought for poor Ning.

Wat's this poor Ning crap?

Mate, she's a great girl but the most difficult female I have ever encountered - I am the one who will end up poor - in every sense of the word.

I am very fond of her but she is a pain in the arse, now back to the headlamps...

[The Gentleman Scamp]

Headlight use is a proven and effective means to reduce accidents and believe cars in the US are now built with lights that are on by default.  As long as your bike is moving and charging the battery should last beyond next month I would think.

Yes, true. When you rent a car in the US or Europe these days, many times the lights are permanently on. Also common for motorcyclists to have their headlights on all the time.

Okay look, let's just forget the whole thing - I just thought it was worth a mention that's all.

I'll keep my mouth shut, my headlamp 'open' and keep myself away from computers for a while, how's that?

[penzman]

When its running, it`s the engine that supplies power to your headlight.

Mr Moonface will then not help you with a new battery. You`ll also notice that you probably can`t turn on the headlight until the engine runs.

As for driving around with headlights on in the daytime, IT DOES SAVE LIVES.

The law in LOS is now that motorcycles MUST have them on at all times.

For cars, only members of the Royal Family and escorts are allowed.

I turn them on anyway when driving the car.

In Canada and the U.S. the lights are on when you start up the car, like it or not.

[astral]

Headlight use is a proven and effective means to reduce accidents and believe cars in the US are now built with lights that are on by default. As long as your bike is moving and charging the battery should last beyond next month I would think.

This idea first came up in Sweden and it did reduce accidents, BUT

Sweden is long way north and during their winter there is not a lot of daylight, also the transition from day to night involves a period of twlight.

Neither of these facts is true here in Thailand.

Let's face it there are enough cars on the road at night with only one headlight working. If the lights have to be on all the time then it will get worse.

[Axel]

Lights on for bikes is a great help. When driving a car at least you see a bike coming, in your rear mirror.

On European highways it really helps to avoid accidents. Just imagine you drive your car at 180 kmh and change lanes to overtake. Without headlights on, you def. will not see the motorbike coming from behind with 220 kmh. Hitting at that speed a car (for other believers it is about 140 mph) will not give much chance to the motorbike-driver. So better lights on for safety.

Although the travelling in LoS is not that fast, still it helps to avoid accidents, especially if the bikes are travelling in lanes where you never expect them, or do you?

[igotworms]

Anything to increase my visibiltiy on Thai roads is worth the effort. I have been turning my headlights on my bike since I first arrived here. It was funny watching the Thais laugh at me for having my lights on during the day and also when various falangs told me that it was pointless. The headlight laws were started in North America not only for late afternoons in the winter but specifically for overcast, rainy days. We get a lot of those days here and finally Thailand has caught on to the benefits of such headlight laws.

[Coffee Dude]

Headlight use is a proven and effective means to reduce accidents and believe cars in the US are now built with lights that are on by default.  As long as your bike is moving and charging the battery should last beyond next month I would think.

This idea first came up in Sweden and it did reduce accidents, BUT

Sweden is long way north and during their winter there is not a lot of daylight, also the transition from day to night involves a period of twlight.

Neither of these facts is true here in Thailand.

Daytime Running Lights (DRL) have been required by law on all vehicles manufactured within the last 8 to 10 years. This comes from research that indicates vehicles operated with DRL's are involved in 25% fewer collisions per vehicle than those without. If this ratio were translated into numbers of deaths... In the USA an average of 40,000 US citizens lose their lives in vehicle collisions each and every year. If this number were consistant that would mean 10,000 people per year 100,000 people per decade lose their life to save their battery .

I drive a motorbike here and have used the headlamp at all times for around 30,000 km over the past 2 years and I have had to replace the bulb once (around 60 baht I can't remember exactly) and have not had to replace the battery yet. Although I have had to push start it a few times because I left the key on .

A group of people (Thai organized) held an educational rally at Tesco on Samui a couple of months ago. They installed, free, DRLs onto any motorbikes at the owners choice which came to the rally.

On Samui it is a law... read it in the paper anyway. But it is a good idea, although absolutely useless without inforcement.

Coffee!!!

[stroll]

I'll keep my mouth shut, my headlamp 'open' and keep myself away from computers for a while, how's that?

Look who is sulking now!

As for headlights, great idea, but being blinded by badly adjusted lights or cars going over the humps in the roads is not going to make it safer for motorbikes.

[Phil Conners]

In Scandinavia "driving lights" has been obligatory since the eighties when studies found it greatly lowered traffic accidents. The thing is, the lights are not on for the driver to be able to see where he is going but when you have lights on you are much easier to see for others.

I've always used driving lights driving motorbikes here in Thailand, and whether that is the reason or just dumb luck I haven't had a single accident in the 10 years I've driven here (Knock-knock) .

[The Gentleman Scamp]

The paradox is that with 95% of motorbikes now driving with their headlamps on, then it is more dangerous to be in the minority that has them off as you are less visible.

I also agree that on a cloudy day it should go without saying anyway, but on a scorcher like today, it's so bright anyway that it's difficult to tell if they're on or off.

Mine have been on anyway, for arguements sake, and the Thai's i share the road with continue to do the same - I only wish they would catch on to looking in their mirrors and using their indicators.

[lopburi3]

It is exactly this hot/sunny day where they can really help. I first encountered this use on the flat nothing of a highway between Florida City and the Keys 15 years ago. This was posted to use headlights and wondered why. But one trip answered that as you would spot those with headlights much before you would see car or bike itself and it got them out of the road mirage reflections that are normal on this type of road in bright sun.

[jackr]

This law was brought in earler this year or late last year in Thailand.

Bike riders, wherever in the world, should always have a dipped headlight in the day - common sense, bikes are only small compared to cars and can be difficult to spot without a light when they are approaching junctions, etc. The engine is a generator and will keep the light going and charge the battery.

[medicinebox]

I'll keep my mouth shut, my headlamp 'open' and keep myself away from computers for a while, how's that?

Was that a witty comment there? About headlight 'open'.

Cos they say 'Open light' and not 'turn light on' in Thailand right?

Or were you accidently funny.

[francois]

hi'

put the lights on isn't a bad idea, but a better would have been to teach people how to look at their side mirrors

as any regulations .. always half way

may be they should trun the horn shouting on all day too

francois

[The Gentleman Scamp]

I'll keep my mouth shut, my headlamp 'open' and keep myself away from computers for a while, how's that?

 

Was that a witty comment there? About headlight 'open'.

Cos they say 'Open light' and not 'turn light on' in Thailand right?

Or were you accidently funny.

No mate, only I am accidental! Anything else is pure wit, intelligence and charisma.

[phormio]

When its running, it`s the engine that supplies power to your headlight.

Mr Moonface will then not help you with a new battery. You`ll also notice that you probably can`t turn on the headlight until the engine runs.

As for driving around with headlights on in the daytime, IT DOES SAVE LIVES.

The law in LOS is now that motorcycles MUST have them on at all times.

For cars, only members of the Royal Family and escorts are allowed.

I turn them on anyway when driving the car.

In Canada and the U.S. the lights are on when you start up the car, like it or not.

The engine drives the alternator creating the electrical energy to charge the battery and run the various electrical 'appliances' in the car. With lights running, the vehicle is consuming more energy and also using more petrol . In some countries, the drivers dim the lights when stopped at traffic lights or stop signs to reduce petrol usage(i;ve seen it in Korea and Thailand)

[JimGant]

For cars, only members of the Royal Family and escorts are allowed.

Is that really the law? I always turn on my car lights when the wipers are moving. And during heavy downpours, taillights are sometimes the only way the guy heading up your exhaust pipe can see you.

What about driving just with parking lights, not headlights, instead?

[Ajarn]

For cars, only members of the Royal Family and escorts are allowed.

Is that really the law? I always turn on my car lights when the wipers are moving. And during heavy downpours, taillights are sometimes the only way the guy heading up your exhaust pipe can see you.

What about driving just with parking lights, not headlights, instead?

I've never heard of such a law, and it's quite common to see vehicles travelling with lights on during a rain storm...

I would be interested in hearing even ancedotal evidence that it's only the Royal family and escorts who are allowed to drive with their headlights on during the day, because the only evidence I've seen points to it being not true at all.

[JimGant]

it's quite common to see vehicles travelling with lights on during a rain storm...

Yeah, there does seem to be a lot of Royalty on the roads during rainstorms.

[Nemesis]

Lights on by default good idea at least for motorcycles, better than the helmet law which doesn't help in preventing accidents one iota: in fact, US tests have shown wearing a helmet may in fact increase the chance of an accident.

That is why many US states have rescinded the mandatory helmet law.

[Ajarn]

Lights on by default good idea at least for motorcycles, better than the helmet law which doesn't help in preventing accidents one iota: in fact, US tests have shown wearing a helmet may in fact increase the chance of an accident.

That is why many US states have rescinded the mandatory helmet law.

http://www.atch.com/abate/cdl/seatbeltlaws.html

No, it's simply not that simple...

The reasons why some state laws were recinded was because some of these States were threatened with loss of hiway funds if the State didn't pass seatbelt and helmet laws..When the retaliations were lifted by Congress, some States changed their laws, the underlying issue being that of personal choice..

"There is a body of law that states a person has the right to refuse any personal health care device, drug, treatment, or surgery, even if such refusal might result in an earlier death or an increase in medical expenses. All helmet and seatbelt laws, therefore, violate a person’s right to freely choose to use or not to use a "health care" seat belt harness or helmet. Any medical professional attempting to do the same would be prosecuted, yet politicians claim they can ignore the law while demanding strict compliance from the private sector."

"What is equally most interesting, motorcyclists are more politically astute then those of us who driver autos, vans and trucks and, therefore, since the 1991 Transportation Act, motorcyclists across the U.S. have been lobbying members of Congress to rescind that provision in the Act that threatens a loss of control over a certain portion of the federal highway tax funds if a helmet law is not passed. After about 8 years of such lobbying, Congress did finally get the message and rescinded the helmet law penalty as of 1999. This shows what lobbying efforts will do when properly organized and effectively moved in the right direction. The fact is, motorcyclists did some threatening of their own, that is, they singled out those politicians in Congress who supported helmet laws and worked to defect them in the next election, while supporting candidates for office who opposed helmet laws.

While the federal penalty for not passing a seat belt law has been eliminated, and some states have since also repealed their helmet laws, other states still have helmet laws and motorcyclists are narrowing their political attention accordingly. It remains to be seen how successful motorcyclists will continue to be."

And, in my opinion, anyone who doesn't see that helmets save lives, must be a complete fool. But, in saying that, I must admit to never wearing a helmet unless I had to. Just never liked the things...Personal choice

[Nemesis]

The helmet n- helmet law debate is as old as my manhood is long.

"VI. Conclusions and Policy Implications

From our empirical results we conclude that helmet use has no statistically significant effect on the probability of a motorcycle fatality and that helmet users face a tradeoff between reductions in the severity of head injuries and increases in the severity of neck injuries. It is also shown that all possible combinations of the intensity of this tradeoff are equally likely to occur. In addition, it is found that the major determinants of injury and death are speed and blood alcohol level."

Goldstein Empirical Study Re: Helmet use

Then there is the issue of whether the government has the right / obligation to force me to wear a helmet, when doing so may cause severe neck injuries resulting from an accident from which I would rather be dead.

Secondly, if the gov can mandate helmet laws for my safety, then why not prevent me from eating junk food, which is sure to raise my cholesterol level also a health issu.

Isn't Thailan now preventing smoking in the home?

What next? Checking my fridge for Twinkies?

[Nemesis]

And, in my opinion, anyone who doesn't see that helmets save lives, must be a complete fool.

Wearing a helmet restricts a drivers vision / hearing etc. Don't think so, try wearing a helmet while playing basketball.

This restriction, some believe causes more accidents. Deaths on a motorcycle aren't caused by not wearing a helmet, they are caused by having an accident at usually high speeds with high blood level acohol.

Given a choice, I wear a helmet on the highway at higher speeds, no helmet in town at lower speeds. And absolutely no alcohol. Not a drop.

Bottom line main factor, the governemt has no right to tell me to wear a helmet.

Even many of the Thai cops don't wear helmets, and they are the government. lol

[Ajarn]

And, in my opinion, anyone who doesn't see that helmets save lives, must be a complete fool.

Wearing a helmet restricts a drivers vision / hearing etc. Don't think so, try wearing a helmet while playing basketball.

Try bouncing your head on the pavement not wearing one...

Stats showed an increase in motorcycle deaths after repealing the helmet laws..Here is one example

http://www.dot.gov/affairs/nhtsa4100.htm

As I said, I believe in personal choice, but I'm not stupid enough to ignore the fact that, in an accident, my chances of head injury are MUCH higher without a helmet, which I'm sure you agree with, otherwise, why would you wear one yourself.... 40 years of bike riding experience and seeing the after effects of many accidents tells me helmets do add a meaure of safety in an accident.