LTSA - Vehicle lighting rule

Mike Pearson - WYSIWYG... · Post by **Mike Pearson - WYSIWYG...** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:16 pm

LTSA have notified an update to the Vehicle Lighting Land Transport Rules.
I don't have time to read them, but if someone else can, and post any items
that might affect MX5 owners, it would be appreciated. The closeoff for
submissions is 23 December.

Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Lighting - Rule 32005

The yellow draft of the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Lighting aims at
ensuring that lighting equipment fitted to vehicles is installed correctly,
meets acceptable levels of safety and complies with appropriate standards.
This draft Rule carries over and updates existing legislation and proposes
some changes.

http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/consultation/ve ... index.html

Regards,
Mike - Wellington / Upper Hutt MX5 Club Co-ordinator
http://www.mx5club.org.nz/events/wellington/ - RSVP ANY EVENTS YOU WILL ATTEND
04-970-9709 (home), 021-631-731, (text/cell)
Wellington, NZ

David Moughtin · Post by **David Moughtin** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 6:21 am

A-Ha ... now that I am amongst friends, I feel a bit more comfortable about
asking of anyone who does put only their park lights on in overcast
conditions, what would be the reason that you do not add an extra click and
turn them the headlights on too?

Thanks
David Moughtin

EricW · Post by **EricW** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 7:53 am

I'm happy to take a look over the weekend Mike.

From past experience, the most likely contentious issues will be in the

"fitting of lighting equipment after manufacture" area.

I will come back to you with anything I feel you should look at

Regards

Eric

lou Girardin · Post by **lou Girardin** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 8:04 am

Anything that stops these w*****s using their fog lights constantly is fine by
me.
Lou

DBM58 · Post by **DBM58** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 8:32 am

Without meaning to open up a can of worms on this issue, and emphasinsing that I do not use fog lights continuously, why do you feel so strongly about their use?

Thanks

David Moughtin

lou Girardin · Post by **lou Girardin** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 8:47 am

Have you followed a car or 4x4 in low light conditions? High intensity fog
lights are blinding and slow your reaction to brake lights coming on. Front
fogs are OK if adjusted properly, but the majority aren't and they cause
dazzle too.
Lou

nmr · Post by **nmr** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 8:54 am

Without meaning to open up a can of worms on this issue, and
emphasinsing that I do not use fog lights continuously, why do you
feel so strongly about their use?

Because they hurt my eyes, make the vehicle very hard to follow
and other things hard to see. I hate them.

Ian Chapman · Post by **Ian Chapman** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 9:11 am

I'm defiantly with Lou on this one. Also damn annoying (and dangerous
through distraction) is being followed by a 4WD with front fog lights
lighting up the inside of my car. Front fog lights on approaching
vehicles are also annoying and dangerous when they are aimed at possums
in trees. My perception is that having your front fog lights on has
become some sort of status/performance symbol to some in the last few
years.

I'll support banning the dangerous use of them.

Ian

Simon Lord · Post by **Simon Lord** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 9:14 am

The problem is not that they are fitted and used, but that too many people use
them inappropriately - like all the time. As Lou says, having them on in
normal conditions actually masks the brake lights and is likely to cause more
accidents, not fewer.

As a veteran of the fog-bound M25 around London, my opinion is that high
intensity rear fog lights vcn be incredibly valuable. However, in 12 years
around Auckland, I can honestly say that I have only twice experienced
conditions here which would have justified their use by UK standards. The
problem is one of driver training - like most problems.

Simon
97 SR Ltd

nmr · Post by **nmr** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 9:16 am

Quote from the (most excellent) LTSA website:

"Rear fog lights, which produce a high-intensity red light,
should only be used when visibility is very bad. "
Re the Yellow Paper:
"The red draft of the Lighting Rule contained some
operational requirements, for example, that fog lamps must
only be used in fog. These operational requirements have not
been carried over into this draft of the Lighting Rule.
It is proposed instead that the lighting requirements from the
Traffic Regulations be divided on the principle set out below.
The Lighting Rule would cover all technical
requirements.[etc]
The Road User Rule would cover all operational
requirements. It would prescribe the way in which the
equipment must be used when a vehicle is operated on a road.
These requirements would mainly be checked by the Police
on the road.

These requirements have now been moved to the appropriate
places in the current drafts of both rules."
Yep, 32005 says nothing about when to use fog lamps.
So it looks like you need to look in t'other one. For which
submissions appeared to close in March... and the fog light
issue does not appear.
Now I'm confused.

Kjellberg, Adrian · Post by **Kjellberg, Adrian** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 9:47 am

Driver Training... 95% of the problem.
I think that anyone who receives an infringement notice must attend a
relevant training session within a set period of time or the fine is
increased.
Instead of some of the minor fines, send people on training courses. Courses
are free and any extra taxi or bus drivers can attend. Dish out lots of
invitations to people in Auckland who insist on entering intersections when
they cannot leave them.

Adrian

From Chris.Tankard@solution6.com Fri Apr 27 16:49:12 2007
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Subject: RE: LTSA - Vehicle lighting rule
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I disagree that it is a training issue. Most cars here do not have the
fog lights turn on automatically - the driver makes a decision to turn
them on. Why would they do this in the middle of the day? Simple
because they are idiots and think that it will make them look cool.

Same kind of logic that makes them think big wings on the rear of a
front wheel drive car improves handling; and that a big bore exhaust on
a $2000 Nissan makes it out perform a $100k sportscar.

Chris
(yes annoyed with boy racers with fog lights on)

Simon Lord · Post by **Simon Lord** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 10:28 am

As for roundabouts... Has anyone in New Zealand ever been taught 'Do not enter
roundabout until your exit is clear'? Let alone the order of 'Mirror - Signal
- Manoeuvre'?

Right, that's enough spleen-venting this morning.

Cheers
Simon

MX5PWR · Post by **MX5PWR** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 11:32 am

Having recently moved to Auckland from Hamilton, it amazes me the number of 4 x4 tanks that insist on driving in built up areas with the front lit up like Picadily circus. Are all 4x4 drivers so blind they have to use as much power as Benmore dam so they can see what is in front of them. And most are set to dazel all other drivers whos cars are not sitting 3 feet off the road.

[...]

Gordon Tucker · Post by **Gordon Tucker** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 12:39 pm

The cure Nigel, is to move back to Hamilton

Gordon.

Check out our website at http://www.tiptop.co.nz

Blast Away With The NEW Chill MEGABLAST. It's full of taste Explosions !!

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lou Girardin · Post by **lou Girardin** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 3:39 pm

It seems that 4wd owners are the worst offenders, as usual. The one saving
grace with 4wd's is that they kill their occupants at a far higher rate than
cars. Darwin will not be denied.
Lou

nmr · Post by **nmr** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 5:00 pm

As for roundabouts... Has anyone in New Zealand ever been taught 'Do
not enter roundabout until your exit is clear'?

Try doing that on Shore Rd about 17:30 of a weekday and you'll be
really popular. The exit is NEVER clear! The convention generally
followed is "don't enter the roundabout if I will block other drivers
who aren't taking the same exit as me" which is pretty fair in my
boo.

SLYDIT · Post by **SLYDIT** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 5:11 pm

I agree that rear facing fog lights are a pain.
BUT...Id rather be seen and know that some dumb ass
who didnt really look before they pulled out infront
of me has actually seen me with my front fogs on.
T bone-ing a car isnt a good look at highway speeds
Oh and by the way... TURN YOUR LIGHTS ON IN THE
RAIN!!!
Its more of a safety issue to have all these grey and
black cars running around in very poor light levels,
that are almost invisable on the road.And that doesnt
mean just turning your park lights on(what the heck is
the use of those any way).In heavy rain you need your
HEADLIGHTS on. It may save your life from preventing a
head-on collision beacause the oncoming car will be
able to see you behind all the spray.
JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE THE ROAD, DOESNT MEAN OTHERS CAN SEE YOU!
End of rant
Glenn "SLYDIT"

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 5:24 pm

Whatever happened to the rule that used to be that, when on low beam, you
could only have 2 lights on? On high beam,any extra lights had to be no
further than 100mm from the rim of the low beam light. The extra lights had
to be wired in such a way that they could not be switched on when the normal
headlights were in the dip condition.
This meant that 'fog' lights automatically were off when the headlights were
on, and 'driving' lights were only capable of being on when on the high beam
setting.
I assume this was changed some time ago.

I have never seen a vehicle here with the rear mounted fog light at all.
Must be a "jafa" thing!

Grant.

EricW · Post by **EricW** » Sat Nov 15, 2003 9:38 am

Sorry Grant,
I am going to give you a real disappointment, I just finished reading a
write up in the local "rag" about the new Mazda MX5 Turbo. Apparently it
features a "high intensity" rear fog light and forward facing "projector
foglights", whatever they are!

I must agree about high intensity lights in Auckland, I have lived here for
nearly 40 years and I can only recall maybe two occassions when they would
have been justified. In those circumstances, of course, the owners would
probably have turned them off, after all there is no point in wasting them,
when people can't see how classy they make your car look!

God, I'm getting cynical in my old age!

Regards

Eric

EricW · Post by **EricW** » Sat Nov 15, 2003 9:40 am

By the way, I heard a new definition of "JAFA" to describe your typical
Aucklander, "Just another Friendly Asian"!

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