I have noticed some of the new coaches buses and Lorry's now are using LED dipped beams, are these now available for cars???

I have noticed some of the new coaches buses and Lorry's now are using LED dipped beams, are these now available for cars???

I know of one company that has produced a 7" round headlight with LED's, and has had them approved for use. They have been advertised in the Land Rover magasines.

Hella have certainly been looking at producing them, but the last statement I saw from them said they were a few years away as yet, but once they had sorted them out they would displace HID units very quickly.

Audi use LEDs only headlights on the R8, so they are being ftted to road cars, though I guess they're expensive.

I have noticed some of the new coaches buses and Lorry's now are using LED dipped beams, are these now available for cars???

I was about to say that you are mistaken in that they look like dipped beam headlights but they aren't, they are just round LED DRL's that are the same size as the headlights - but I would have been wrong.

These are the LED DRL's / indicators (combined / dual function) adjacent to halogen projector headlights and main beam:

And then these are the very latest (not seen them on the road yet) LED dipped headlights:

If you think about it buses and coaches are often run all day every day on shifts so wear and tear on brake lights and indicators is high. All the buses around here drive on dipped headlights during the day too. Public service buses were running LED tail lights long before they appeared on cars.

As others have mentioned they are now being introduced on some high end Merc's and Audi's. Trust me though LED headlights are a long way off ever been seen on a Skoda.

Audi use LEDs only headlights on the R8, so they are being ftted to road cars, though I guess they're expensive.

Only the R8 V10 has LED headlights. They are £4k to replace as well (whole unit) They are an optional extra on the A7 and A8 too and are a £1700 option

I think they would be a very expensive retrofit as you would need all sorts of resistors in place to not throw up error warnings.

The prices are bound to come down but even for a push bike a single Lupine Betty light (7 LEDs) will set you back over £500 . . .

Not wanting to drag this off topic but the comment above reminded me.

Has anyone on here been dazzled by a cyclist!?

It's happened to me a few times now, both times on an unlit road, approaching what at first seems like a bi-xenon equipped car on main beam with a headlight out. I've never seen anything so bright; it was if it was angled right into my line of vision.

I actually had to reduce my speed as I couldn't see past the light!

Now I'm normally the first to complain about cyclists wearing black clothing and a rear light with a partially flat battery, especially as a lot of my commute is on unlit twisty and windy B roads but this is going too far the other way

http://www.electronicsweekly.com/Articles/15/06/2011/51263/led-headlights-in-pole-position.htm

LEDs on the Nissan Leaf mentioned in there....

Edited 20 December, 201114 yr by RainbowFore

Not wanting to drag this off topic but the comment above reminded me.

Has anyone on here been dazzled by a cyclist!?

It's happened to me a few times now, both times on an unlit road, approaching what at first seems like a bi-xenon equipped car on main beam with a headlight out. I've never seen anything so bright; it was if it was angled right into my line of vision.

I actually had to reduce my speed as I couldn't see past the light!

Now I'm normally the first to complain about cyclists wearing black clothing and a rear light with a partially flat battery, especially as a lot of my commute is on unlit twisty and windy B roads but this is going too far the other way

I have been at the side of a mate who has these fitted to his bike his single light put mine to shame

Not wanting to drag this off topic but the comment above reminded me.

Has anyone on here been dazzled by a cyclist!?

It's happened to me a few times now, both times on an unlit road, approaching what at first seems like a bi-xenon equipped car on main beam with a headlight out. I've never seen anything so bright; it was if it was angled right into my line of vision.

I actually had to reduce my speed as I couldn't see past the light!

Now I'm normally the first to complain about cyclists wearing black clothing and a rear light with a partially flat battery, especially as a lot of my commute is on unlit twisty and windy B roads but this is going too far the other way

I've seen two riding side-by-side at night like this. Was a bit un-nerving as they were going slow and didn't keep a constant distance between them. I slowed down as i thought it was a car in serious difficulty.

Cyclists are a law unto themselves - no insurance, no financial contribution to road costs, no competance test, no road-worthiness test and a total colour-blindness when it comes to traffic lights too!

Only the R8 V10 has LED headlights. They are £4k to replace as well (whole unit

:o I nearly fell off the sofa there thanks Carl !!!!!!!

by heck thats some coin that! I fail to see how they could cost more than 50p to make in China like everything else!

Not wanting to drag this off topic but the comment above reminded me.

Has anyone on here been dazzled by a cyclist!?

It's happened to me a few times now, both times on an unlit road, approaching what at first seems like a bi-xenon equipped car on main beam with a headlight out. I've never seen anything so bright; it was if it was angled right into my line of vision.

I actually had to reduce my speed as I couldn't see past the light!

Now I'm normally the first to complain about cyclists wearing black clothing and a rear light with a partially flat battery, especially as a lot of my commute is on unlit twisty and windy B roads but this is going too far the other way

This is an interesting read on this:

http://www.londoncyc...us-bike-lights/

I'm with you though. Some cyclist blind you totally as there is no way to adjust their super bright lights as you do on a properly set up vehicle light - Xenon or not. With a car you can flash your main beam and someone will dip theirs if need be, but if I'm on my bike and another oik comes from ahead with his 5,000,000watt lamp aimed directly at my eyes what am I to do!? Cycle into him/her? The window to shout at him/her is very small alas in passing. And even if you do shout at them the normal reply is "F... you!" Charming lot they can be sometimes.

How the hell can they be that expensive? I got a pair of 20W 1500 lumen LED spots on the bike and they're only about £30 each.

Cyclists are a law unto themselves - ...no financial contribution to road costs...

Quite right! You can clearly see the damage and potholes they cause as they thunder down the road, unlike those low-emmission cars that don't get taxed - they simply float over the roads you know

Don't get me started; it's not just about the road surface. Street lighting, road furniture, signage, gritting etc. etc. all used and benefited from by cyclists.

Don't get me started; it's not just about the road surface. Street lighting, road furniture, signage, gritting etc. etc. all used and benefited from by cyclists.

There are certain groups of motorists for whom cyclists represent a very real danger:

1.) Those in denial will have heard about the existence of cyclists but never actually seen one, these motorists will mow down anything daft enough to be in their path.

2.) Those with an air of superiority may see a cyclist but will make no allowance whatsoever for their existence and will mow down anything daft enough to be in their path.

3.) Those with one distorted view of the Highway Code will see a cyclist and whilst expecting the cyclist to get out of their way will mow down anything daft enough to be in their path.

4.) Those who do not like to think too far ahead will consider what to do about the cyclist, at any approach speed, only when they can see them through their passenger door window and will mow down anything daft enough to be in their path.

5.) Those with another distorted view of the Highway Code will see a cyclist and whilst they will overtake they will probably not allow enough space or make any consideration for oncoming traffic and will mow down anything daft enough to be in their path.

Every now and again one comes across the enlightened minority motorist who despite the inconvenience will slow down, assess the situation, signal and overtake properly and resume their speed with no danger to anyone.

I agree it would be good to have a bit more legislation around cycling but it wouldn’t hurt to have a lot more education among motorists too. The road is a frightening place for a cyclist.

For balance, let’s also look at your list from the ‘other’ side…

1) Those in denial will be aware that if they were to collide with a motorist it would be likely that they would be much worse off yet they are happy to ignore the rules of the road and deliberately put themselves into a position of increased risk.

2) Those with an air of superiority will see that they are outnumbered by motorists and feel they have a point to prove which in their mind justifies their defensive riding but in reality divides the opinions of cyclists and motorists even further.

3) Those that fail to obey the Highway Code, whether they are a cyclist or a motorist deserve all they get. Unfortunately whose fault it is is irrelevant; it will always be the cyclist that gets injured.

4) Those that do not like to think too far ahead won’t consider what to do about the motorist so they will continue to weave and swerve around stationary or slow moving traffic, will be happy to squeeze up the inside, ride two-a-breast, not bother to make themselves seen through the use of lights and bright clothing, never perform basic maintenance, never wear a helmet, never obey traffic lights, never look in any direction other than straight ahead, never signal…

5) Those with another distorted view of the Highway Code will be all too aware of motorists approaching from behind yet don’t see the point in making sure they can be seen or check over their shoulder before overtaking.

Every now and again one comes across the enlightened minority cyclist who despite the inconvenience will consider that they are much smaller and less visible and therefore slow down, assess the situation, signal and overtake properly and, obey the same rules of the road as the motorist.

I agree it would be good to have a bit more legislation around cycling but it wouldn’t hurt to have a lot more education among cyclists and motorists. The road is a frightening place for lots of different users.

Time for some more popcorn?

Don't get me started; it's not just about the road surface. Street lighting, road furniture, signage, gritting etc. etc. all used and benefited from by cyclists.

Our local council, some years ago, painted cycle lanes on the pavement (very wide due to it being an ex-tramway), more than enough room for pedestrians and cyclists to share. Cyclists carried on using the road "because it's their right to do so". When the council said that, due to lack of use, when the pavement got re-surfaced the cycle lanes would not be re-instated, it wasn't the car users that complained.

No insurance: Do cyclists believe that they'll never have an accident?

No licence: Are cyclists born with a genetic memory of the rules of the road?

No roadworthyness test: Are all bikes in perfect working order all the time?

No funding contribution: You want it all for free?

No visible identity: Whizz through speed cameras for free. (Rules of the road thing again)

No common sense: you *really* think you can out-accelerate that lorry that's be indicating to turn left at the lights - or just get indignant because "he should have seen you" as you kinda missed three sets of indicators on the 50-foot long, 15-foot high moving road-block - or will you just breeze on through the lights as they really don't apply to you.

Getting back to vaugely on-topic:

A cyclist my blind other road users with wide beam, high intensity lights (assuming they've bothered to put lights on at all), but will be the first in line to complain when I pop over the hill with the main-beam and driving-lights on.

A combination of dymo-driven / battery storage lamps could be used on the back, to help the useless car drivers see the nina-cyclists at night too.

Maybe attention could be focused on auto-lights for bikes, with that clever auto-adaptive headlight thingy on some of the Mercs. Adaptive High-beams. (As an aside, the article undearneath is referring heavily to a VAG device. Wonder how long it will be before it gets to Skoda )

Personally I give cyclists a wide pass, you never know what the buggers are going to do.

Funniest one I've was a cyclist riding in the middle of lane. The car behind tooted, lightly, so let the cyclist know there were other road-users present. The cyclist, without looking gave the car the finger. The car then let the "other" horn go for a second. (makes a kind of "wee waa" noise.) My, how quickly the cyclist moved over. (Oh yeah, no requirement for cyclists to see what's comming up behind them either.)

Funniest one I've was a cyclist riding in the middle of lane. The car behind tooted, lightly, so let the cyclist know there were other road-users present. The cyclist, without looking gave the car the finger. The car then let the "other" horn go for a second. (makes a kind of "wee waa" noise.) My, how quickly the cyclist moved over. (Oh yeah, no requirement for cyclists to see what's comming up behind them either.)

Might the cyclist perhaps have been a mere metre from edge of the road? It is a well known fact that the safest place for a cyclist to be is at least one metre from the edge of the road and especially car doors. There is nothing wrong cycling there as it makes him/her visible and stops oiks from ignoring the cyclist and just blasting past mere inches from the cyclist at 30mph or more. Having to force cars to negotiote around you is the best defencive way to cycle alas.

Time for some more popcorn?

I see it from both sides...

Last week, scared the **** out of myself as I suddenly caught sight in my headlights a young lad on a BMX, raining slightly, below freezing, pitch black, no street lighting, windy country road. No lights, no reflectors, black jacket, dark jeans and a grey beanie. Evasive action from me, a few choice expletives inside the car and a change of underwear when I got home.

Last summer, my baby girl riding her bike on our housing estate, me on my bike following behind her, young lad squeezed past in his car at the same time as an oncoming car, no harm done but you'll be amazed how protective you are with your child. He could have given way to the oncoming car but must have thought there was plenty of room. Certainly didn't look like much room from where I was.

It doesn't matter what you drive or ride we all have a right to be there and a right to be safe at the same time.

I just think its important when criticising one side or the other that both sides are fairly represented.

Might the cyclist perhaps have been a mere metre from edge of the road? It is a well known fact that the safest place for a cyclist to be is at least one metre from the edge of the road and especially car doors. There is nothing wrong cycling there as it makes him/her visible and stops oiks from ignoring the cyclist and just blasting past mere inches from the cyclist at 30mph or more. Having to force cars to negotiote around you is the best defencive way to cycle alas.

I think the police were more intruiged by the instant "far-q" reaction from the cyclist who appeared to be deliberately causing an obstruction on the highway. Am fairly sure her majesty's finest would acknowledge safe use of the road. If we're talking about driving in a manner to force other road-users to take alternative action: I'm always happy to stop close to the kerb an stop cyclists forcing their way down the wrong side (you're supposed to overtake on the right according to the highway code) and scratching my car's paintwork, for which I can't claim against their insurance that they don't have.

Wearing high-visability clothing usually increases a cyclists visability too. (vanity and fashion cease to be a problem if you're dead.)

Wearing high-visability clothing usually increases a cyclists visability too. (vanity and fashion cease to be a problem if you're dead.)

This gets my goat too... As you say when you're dead who cares if you had an all black outfit on?! The amount of people I see in London cycling with no lights, no high viz clothing and dressed tip to toe in black is frighting. To top it all off nearly one and all of these black knights have iPods plugged into their ears!!!!!!!! I wish they would report in the media next to a cyclist death what he or she was wearing and if they had music in their ears. Maybe then people will get the message that fashion and music first does not keep you alive. :no:

I see it from both sides...

Last week, scared the **** out of myself as I suddenly caught sight in my headlights a young lad on a BMX, raining slightly, below freezing, pitch black, no street lighting, windy country road. No lights, no reflectors, black jacket, dark jeans and a grey beanie. Evasive action from me, a few choice expletives inside the car and a change of underwear when I got home.

But had you hit him, you would have ultimately been to blame as it wouldn't have been his fault that his bike was lightless, reflectorless and he was a dressed like a ninja, 'cos it's a well-known fact that if you dress like that "you're 'ard and you can beat anyfin'" and it always impresses the girls at your funeral when you died in black.

I just think its important when criticising one side or the other that both sides are fairly represented.

Yup, and I think that it's the (usual type of) minority that spoil it for the majority, on both sides.

The only problem with blinding bike lights is that you think it may be a car with a light out so you don't aim for it, cause lets face it bikes are only on the road to give us something to bully. Personally I always ride on the pavement because it's such fun seeing the pedestrians scatter. Lol