PeterF

Couldn't believe what happened yesterday morning, I could easily have collided with an oncoming vehicle and luckily I noticed soon enough.

I was travelling North on Highway 2 (single carriageway) heading towards Athabasca following a truck. Sneaked a look around the truck and saw the tail lights of a car in the opposite direction lane, thought if he's out down there then plenty of room for me to overtake the truck.

So I start to pull out and think, hang on those tail lights are getting closer.

The lights I was looking at were red lights around the bumper area AT THE FRONT of an oncoming car, whose main lights were off!!!!!!!

Can't be legal, what a effing idiot!!!!!

Steve_P

No that is not legal. Too bad you were unable to get a license plate number or general description.

But those kinds of things happen so fast it's virtually impossible.

iaink

Ive seen very dark smoked headlite covers on some trucks that make them look black when the lights are off. Ive often wondered what they are like when the lights are on...



http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question...9105524AAKahVD

Not sure how wise it is to decide to overtake based on the fact that a car in front thinks it safe to do so... I like to make my own mind up about these things, Ive seen canadians drive!

GavinR

I don't understand what the problem is. You think all cars on the road should have their headlamps on at all times? Sure, modern vehicles in Canada have mandated running lights but it's certainly not true for older cars or cars that are here on vacation from the US for example. How did you manage to overtake in the UK where there are no mandated daytime running lights?

Bob

I thought all cars in Canada needed running lights regardless?

The folks who went on a weekend trip up there and who, like myself had yanked the fuse on the running lights, were pulled over for not having running lights on, even with Maine plates. They only got a warning though.

iaink

Eh? I think youve midunderstood me
Presumably very dark lens covers are going to alter the light coming out of the headlights was my point.(perhaps explaining the red front lights the OP saw?) I dont know if they are legal or not. AFAIK Yellow fogs arent, so I dont see why they would be, but its nothing to do with DRLs.

I overtook in the UK by looking ahead to see if A: there was enough of a straight to see far enough ahead and B: a gap in the traffic. Just cos the car ahead is going for it doesnt mean that its safe for me, I like to see that its clear and that there is somewhere for me to go once Im past the slowpoke.

Steve_P

Why on earth would you pull the fuse?

iaink

In theory yes, but I dont see why they are pulling over non canadian plated vehicles, thats just retarded. Revenue generation? but then why just a warning if thats the case.

PeterF

The problem wasn't the main lights were off (although it was early morning on a country road and not yet fully light).

THE PROBLEM WAS THE LIGHTS THAT WERE ON WERE RED

Which made it appear from distance to be the back of the car.

GavinR

I was replying to the OP, sorry hadn't realised I'd quoted you!

GavinR

Probably here from the US then

GavinR

Nope, not older cars before the legislation came in or vehicles visiting from another country.

magnumpi

I have daytime running lights on my minivan. They are not white, they is yellow. Very easy to stick red bulbs in if you wanted to.

GavinR

Some of the amber lights can be very red-ish.

Bob

Because we don't need running lights in the US, so rather save the bulb and have them off until we need to put lights on, rather than them on all the time.