Some useful links here for you...

 

 

I used to use a driving spot light mounted to the roof rack. Have also used a spot light mounted to tow bar.

Found the cree bulb with lens a good alternative as it is fairly directional, under 21w and improved my view when reversing.

Cant find the exact bulbs that I am currently using but they are bright, dont glare and have so far lasted about 7 years.

They are similar to these.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01EZGUWSO/ref=cm_sw_r_other_taa_z.s7DbG370GVA

Thanks, folks.

They look a bit pricey though!

Merry Christmas all.

2 hours ago, freedie said:

They look a bit pricey though!

Merry Christmas all.

 

They might be more expensive, but as others have found, the cheap ones either still bring up the failure warning immediately or after a while, and they often don't last very long.

24 minutes ago, Llanigraham said:

 

They might be more expensive

 

I was jesting.

I can recommend very highly the LEDs sold by https://www.classiccarleds.co.uk

Theyre not the cheapest, but they do seem to take great care to sell products that will last.

(I have no connection with them other than as a satisfied customer)

I'm afraid I'm with the original poster that whilst my reversing lights may help others to see I'm reversing (although the number of times people have stopped and waited behind me, apparently expecting for me to pull away, when I'm in reverse gear and the reversing lights are shining in their eyes.....) I'm more concerned that they illuminate what I'm hoping not to back into. And one thing that seems obvious but took me a long while to figure out (I didn't say I was bright) is the best way to improve the efficiency .... is to wipe the lenses over with a wet cloth! From my experience of reversing down my drive it doesn't take a lot of grime on the lenses to dramatically reduce the light output and because of the aerodynamics of the Yeti there can quickly be a film over the real light clusters even though the car looks (reasonably) clean. And its free. (I can't believe I'm on the Briskoda web-site on Xmas Day - hope everyone's had a good one).

I'd agree that a good clean is beneficial, however the latest LED retrofitable bulbs, now readily available and much more realisticly priced, make a huge difference.

 

You're actually lucky with the Yeti (and Karoq), standard conventional incandescent bulbs allow for an easy LED upgrade. My Kodiaq has factory fitted LED reverse lights and it is clear that they're also designed to be seen, not to see.

 

The other disadvantage being that it would be much more difficult, if not impossible to improve them.

On 23/03/2014 at 17:05, mannyo said:

The purpose of the reverse light is so that others know you are reversing

That does not appear to be the primary purpose. According to the lighting regulations 1989;

 

Quote

A lamp used to illuminate the road to the rear of a vehicle for the purpose of reversing and to warn other road users that the vehicle is reversing or about to reverse.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/made

1 hour ago, muddyjim said:

That does not appear to be the primary purpose. According to the lighting regulations 1989;

 

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/made

 

Err?
What are the last set of words then? Quote ""to warn other road users that the vehicle is reversing or about to reverse.""

1 hour ago, Llanigraham said:

 

Err?
What are the last set of words then? Quote ""to warn other road users that the vehicle is reversing or about to reverse.""

Err?

What are the first set of words of my comment then? Quote ""That does not appear to be the primary purpose""

Come on, guys - the season of goodwill and all that 😁

Do you really think the product managers responsible for the design and function of Skoda's rear light clusters sit down and read the UK's Highway Code? 😂

 

They're more likely to take a brief look at this...

 

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/schedule/14/made#text%3Dreverse light

 

Which leads me back to my original point, Skoda are more interested what their reverse lights look like from outside the vehicle than from in it. The purpose of reversing lights for as long as I've been driving is to signal to those around you of your intentions. If they happen to also help to illuminate the area in which you intend to reverse into is merely a fortunate bonus.