I've just got my third Octavia Estate. I really like the idea of headlights that automatically switch between main and dip beam BUT can anybody please explain the logic behind the system switching off below 40mph? I live in a very rural area with lots of winding roads and tight turns. So there I am, driving at 50 on main beam, approaching a tight bend. As I brake into the bend I'm plunged into near-darkness. Of course I can control them manually, but this situation appears to be plain madness. Why design a car to be dangerous?  Is there a way to force the lights to do what seems sensible?

You need to find someone near to you with VCDS as you can then change the activation speeds. I had the same issue with mine and got the speed changed to 30mph, much better. You can change the speed at which it first activates and also the speed at which it deactivates, that is the speed below which it dips automatically when going slowly, irrespective of the traffic ahead.

This post explains how to change the values with VCDS:

 

 

8 hours ago, Holywood said:

I've just got my third Octavia Estate. I really like the idea of headlights that automatically switch between main and dip beam BUT can anybody please explain the logic behind the system switching off below 40mph? I live in a very rural area with lots of winding roads and tight turns. So there I am, driving at 50 on main beam, approaching a tight bend. As I brake into the bend I'm plunged into near-darkness. Of course I can control them manually, but this situation appears to be plain madness. Why design a car to be dangerous?  Is there a way to force the lights to do what seems sensible?

I think if you push the main beam stalk forward a 2nd time it works manually.

9 hours ago, Holywood said:

I live in a very rural area with lots of winding roads and tight turns. So there I am, driving at 50 on main beam, approaching a tight bend. As I brake into the bend I'm plunged into near-darkness. 

But in 50 years of driving , as a matter of courtesy to other road users, I'd not usually go round a tight bend on main beam at 50mph. I slow down and go onto dipped beam.

I don't like being dazzled as a road user or pedestrian. I hope I am misjudging your attitude to others.

Edited 2 November, 20187 yr by gregoir

9 hours ago, Holywood said:

I've just got my third Octavia Estate. I really like the idea of headlights that automatically switch between main and dip beam BUT can anybody please explain the logic behind the system switching off below 40mph? I live in a very rural area with lots of winding roads and tight turns. So there I am, driving at 50 on main beam, approaching a tight bend. As I brake into the bend I'm plunged into near-darkness. Of course I can control them manually, but this situation appears to be plain madness. Why design a car to be dangerous?  Is there a way to force the lights to do what seems sensible?

 

That's how you're meant to do it, going around a corner with full beams on is incredibly dangerous.

Not when you are in the middle of nowhere with twisty roads. Here with twisty stuff in the wilds of Yorkshire on a very dark wet day you need your main beam to illuminate your way around a corner. It's obvious if a car is coming the other way as you see the light from their lights - infact it's the other cars lights coming the other way that illumitate the corner for you.

Edited 2 November, 20187 yr by bigjohn

Gregoir and Saints92: I beg to differ.  I take it as read that (a) you slow down and (b) dip the lights  to avoid dazzling oncoming drivers. When I was preparing to take the Advanced Driving Test, a Police instructor was clear that you use main beam but watch out for approaching headlights illuminating the bend "from the other side".  All aspects of driving call for concentration and total alertness, leading to awareness of what is going on around you.  You should not do anything to reduce your vision of the bend. However, you have perhaps explained the (misguided) logic behind this setting.

 

Incidentally, having turned the bend or corner, I'm now expected to accelerate to 40mph and higher on dipped beam. Madness!

 

I totally agree with bigjohn, who replied as I was typing this.

1 hour ago, bigjohn said:

Not when you are in the middle of nowhere with twisty roads. Here with twisty stuff in the wilds of Yorkshire on a very dark wet day you need your main beam to illuminate your way around a corner. It's obvious if a car is coming the other way as you see the light from their lights - infact it's the other cars lights coming the other way that illumitate the corner for you.

 

55 minutes ago, Holywood said:

Gregoir and Saints92: I beg to differ.  I take it as read that (a) you slow down and (b) dip the lights  to avoid dazzling oncoming drivers. When I was preparing to take the Advanced Driving Test, a Police instructor was clear that you use main beam but watch out for approaching headlights illuminating the bend "from the other side".  All aspects of driving call for concentration and total alertness, leading to awareness of what is going on around you.  You should not do anything to reduce your vision of the bend. However, you have perhaps explained the (misguided) logic behind this setting.

 

Incidentally, having turned the bend or corner, I'm now expected to accelerate to 40mph and higher on dipped beam. Madness!

 

I totally agree with bigjohn, who replied as I was typing this.

 

They'll set it for the majority of drivers, who won't be driving around Yorkshire.

1 hour ago, bigjohn said:

Not when you are in the middle of nowhere with twisty roads. Here with twisty stuff in the wilds of Yorkshire on a very dark wet day you need your main beam to illuminate your way around a corner. It's obvious if a car is coming the other way as you see the light from their lights - infact it's the other cars lights coming the other way that illumitate the corner for you.

I had exactly the same issue here in North Devon where it's almost impossible to get to 40mph on many of the single track lanes, so one of the first things I did when we moved here was to change the threshold down to 20mph. Now I can see where I'm going on a "normal" Devon lane  

Too much automation for me. The driver is responsible for their lighting. As for feeling you need to accelerate to 40mph to get onto main beam...

No, I can not usually see other vehicles approaching while they are hidden by the landscape, especially in clear conditions. I will err on the side of caution and dip.

I checked the main beam function on Mk3 tonight. Push the stalk forward and the auto function is set, push forward again and manual main beam is set, pull the stalk back and main beam is cancelled.

Hmm, going to have to be careful with my future car choice. Mrs bigjohn is a fully paid up member of the luddite society and hates technology.

 

She thinks of cars as things when she first started to drive inthe late 70's. Only just copes with the five speed box in our Panda but hates the technology even on my poverty spec S model Superb II - throws a wobbly re 6 speed box, stop start and as for auto headlights, cruise control , voice control, bluetooth oh dear.

 

Having said that she loves our satnav (with me using it!)  as she hates navigating. We nearly got divorced on honeymoon over road directions. Tomtom is a marriage saver! 

Edited 2 November, 20187 yr by bigjohn

5 hours ago, gregoir said:

No, I can not usually see other vehicles approaching while they are hidden by the landscape, especially in clear conditions. I will err on the side of caution and dip.

It's actually quite clear when on a country lane, whether exposed or not, if a car is approaching from the other way. If conditions require you to have your lights on (high or low beam) then you WILL be able to see the light from the other car.

Interesting discussion.

 

Thanks for the comments on how to re-set the system.

 

For the sake of clarity, I DO understand how to achieve manual control. But if the car offers automation with a faster reaction time than I can achieve I see no reason not to want to use it. What concerns me is that the automation just gives up unnecessarily.

 

I didn't want to start an argument about the rights and wrongs of different headlight techniques. I'll drive as I was taught, you drive as you were taught, by all means.  But I do object to drivers in Yorkshire, Devon and Scotland (that's me) being treated as a bit of an oddity! Just to add a bit more about my own circumstances. Travelling home, I go along an unlit trunk road and turn right through 135 degrees into an unlit very narrow lane. Main beam cuts out at the turn and just never comes back on, so manual override is essential. I cannot for the life of me understand the crazy logic that drove ŠKODA to design an otherwise excellent car this way. Now that I'm used to this quirk I'm prepared, but the first time I drove home in the dark I was nearly in a mess.

12 hours ago, Holywood said:

 I cannot for the life of me understand the crazy logic that drove ŠKODA to design an otherwise excellent car this way. Now that I'm used to this quirk I'm prepared, but the first time I drove home in the dark I was nearly in a mess.

Just get someone local with VCDS to change the HBA speed thresholds for you (it's only 2 adaptation channels), then HBA will work as you want it to

 

Select “Speed threshold for high beam recommendation off” change from 28 to 18 (km/h)

Select “Activation speed for high beam assistant” change from 58 to 28 (km/h)

Edited 3 November, 20187 yr by PetrolDave

15 hours ago, MarkyG82 said:

It's actually quite clear when on a country lane, whether exposed or not, if a car is approaching from the other way. If conditions require you to have your lights on (high or low beam) then you WILL be able to see the light from the other car.

I speak from 50 years of driving and NO I can not normally see them a long way off. Not until we are both on the same bend. And often not until I see the actual headlights. We must agree to differ.

there are some countries where main beam inside town limits is illegal....I find the system generally good, but will also drop the limits at some point. Then again, I also want way more light...

 

 - Bret

On 02/11/2018 at 21:41, Holywood said:

Interesting discussion.

 

Thanks for the comments on how to re-set the system.

 

For the sake of clarity, I DO understand how to achieve manual control. But if the car offers automation with a faster reaction time than I can achieve I see no reason not to want to use it. What concerns me is that the automation just gives up unnecessarily.

 

I didn't want to start an argument about the rights and wrongs of different headlight techniques. I'll drive as I was taught, you drive as you were taught, by all means.  But I do object to drivers in Yorkshire, Devon and Scotland (that's me) being treated as a bit of an oddity! Just to add a bit more about my own circumstances. Travelling home, I go along an unlit trunk road and turn right through 135 degrees into an unlit very narrow lane. Main beam cuts out at the turn and just never comes back on, so manual override is essential. I cannot for the life of me understand the crazy logic that drove ŠKODA to design an otherwise excellent car this way. Now that I'm used to this quirk I'm prepared, but the first time I drove home in the dark I was nearly in a mess.

Because "it's simply clever"