topic Re: TAIL LIGHTS OR NOT???? in Among Friends

TAIL LIGHTS OR NOT????

sarahpanda — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 10:37:15 GMT

""" I """" know this is a stupid question but I just need some back up from QVC community friends. I was following a friend home last night and noticed that there wasn't any ''tail lights' on the back of their vehicle. I mentioned this when we got home, that they were out and needed to be repaired asap. I was told that the vehicle passed inspection a few weeks ago and it was fine. This person also said that ''tail lights' where not necesary to drive at night. The" break lights" work fine. I am furious ! Please tell me what you think - and how to convince this person to get their vehicle up to standards.

Re: TAIL LIGHTS OR NOT????

Campion — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 10:42:06 GMT

You need a better class of friend--someone smarter. This friend is dumb.

How can another car, approaching from behind at speed, see his car in the dark? Answer? They CAN'T. You're not allowed to drive without head and tail lights at night, and you can't even have the lens broken so that the tail light shows white instead of red.

If this friend doesn't see the importance of working tail lights (which are really easy to get fixed) then he's risking causing an accident that will look like the other person's fault (rear-ending) and possibly hurt another driver, passengers and oh waste everyone else's time and money because he's (or she's) too lazy-arse to get fixed what MUST be fixed.

People like that go by their own convenience even if it can endanger other people--the ultimate in selfishness. And you are friends....because?

Re: TAIL LIGHTS OR NOT????

Karie2022 — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 10:43:34 GMT

Wow...can't fix stupid😳

Re: TAIL LIGHTS OR NOT????

Mustang Shar — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 10:55:27 GMT

@sarahpanda

No, you can't fix stupid. Friend will be ticketed should the police ever get behind them. It's putting others in danger.

Driving down a dark interstate at 60 mph, them BAM, people are killed.

Re: TAIL LIGHTS OR NOT????

BlingQueen022 — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 11:14:13 GMT

Your friend sounds like they live by the motto "ME, ME, AND ONLY ME."

Re: TAIL LIGHTS OR NOT????

Tribesters — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 12:44:16 GMT

Is it possible they didn't have their head lights on? We saw a car the other night with no tail lights. They did have lights on the front which were just their daytime running lights. Most cars have automatic daytime running lights but you have to turn headlights/tail lights on.

You definitely need tail lights. It would be dangerous to drive without them. Imagine a tractor trailer going 55-65 mph & they can't see your vehicle in fog, snow, rain or darkness. They'll plow right into you.

Re: TAIL LIGHTS OR NOT????

sarahpanda — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 12:48:16 GMT

No, it was DARK outside, they DID have their headlight on . Thanks for the replies, friends. I'm going to use them as my defense.

Re: TAIL LIGHTS OR NOT????

sandy53 — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 12:55:48 GMT

@Tribesters wrote:
Is it possible they didn't have their head lights on? We saw a car the other night with no tail lights. They did have lights on the front which were just their daytime running lights. Most cars have automatic daytime running lights but you have to turn headlights/tail lights on.

This is exactly right. Tail lights do not come on with your daytime running lights. People forget to turn on the headlight switch because their lights are already on. It is so dangerous to not have tail lights.

Re: TAIL LIGHTS OR NOT????

Tribesters — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 13:19:19 GMT

Daytime running lights can look like headlights. Believe me I've seen many cars driving with them on not knowing they were invisible from behind. They light up the road ahead, not as much as headlights, but enough to fool people into thinking they have their lights on.

And unless you ride the brakes brake lights aren't going to make other drivers aware of you. Tail lights are just as important as headlights. Headlights aren't solely designed so you can see where you're going. They're so others can see you. And the purpose of tail lights is so other vehicles can see you as well.

Re: TAIL LIGHTS OR NOT????

millieshops — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 13:22:37 GMT

They may not be necessary in her mind, but they could earn her an expensive ticket. I hope they do --very soon, so she gets them fixed and doesn't cause a deadly accidnet when she is rear-ended.

Re: TAIL LIGHTS OR NOT????

Nightowlz — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 14:36:57 GMT

Tell your friend yes you can see your brake lights but while driving in the dark nobody can see you ahead until you do step on your brakes. Your friend will eventually cause an accident which they may be hurt & others as well. Tell them getting a ticket will cost them more then fixing their brake lights when they get caught. You can always call the police dept & give them their tag number. Tell them they were in front of you with no brake lights & you almost ran into them. They may do something & they may not.

Re: TAIL LIGHTS OR NOT????

hckynutjohn — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 16:31:35 GMT

jackkeepoo wrote:

Someone is pulling your leg. I think your friend is inviting danger if she actually believes this BS. There are 2 sets of activation chips on tail lights for a reason. She think auto manufacturers would spend more $$$$ on rear lights if it wasn't a safety regulation?

Look how many people died because 1 major manufacturer decided to save $16 on ignition switches. If you haven't heard about that fact, do a google search and read about what company did this.

hckynut(john)

Re: TAIL LIGHTS OR NOT????

Moonchilde — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 15:55:14 GMT

In most states (I would think every state, but I don't know for certain) the police will pull a driver over and issue a citation to get this fixed. If they ignore it, the fines and penalties will keep piling up and may get so high (for willful ignorers) that the car may be towed and impounded.

Such people are taking a gamble every time they drive after dark. The odds may seem like they're on the driver's side, but all it takes is once...

Re: TAIL LIGHTS OR NOT????

Mustang Shar — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 16:42:16 GMT

Jane Mansfield was killed in a deadly car accident because it was too foggy to see the semi they rear ended. Same situation, can't see the vehicle in front of you.

...

debic — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 16:55:46 GMT

@jackkeepoo wrote:
No, it was DARK outside, they DID have their headlight on . Thanks for the replies, friends. I'm going to use them as my defense.

You've already told her, not sure a friend will appreciate you coming here to prove her wrong and then telling her about it.

Let her learn it the hard way and hope it's not an accident.

Re: TAIL LIGHTS OR NOT????

this is my nic — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 17:41:25 GMT

Your friend is confused. Tail lights must be working so the vehicle can be seen at night.

Re: TAIL LIGHTS OR NOT????

chickenbutt — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 18:12:48 GMT

That somebody this ignorant is driving around is troubling. Not you, Jackkee, of course. Your friend.

How is it that she does not 'get' that her vehicle is invisible, from behind, in the dark without tail lights? She's going to hurt somebody else and then will she get it? But then it's too late - the damage is done and others will suffer for her ignorance.

Sorry to sound like a hardaz but it is a very serious matter.

Re: TAIL LIGHTS OR NOT????

Bird mama — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 18:19:46 GMT

Well..... I am not quoting law here.

Given the choice, I'd rather drive behind someone whose brake lights are working.

If it's dark, and I am driving behind someone whose tail lights work and they happen to slam on the breaks and I don't see the brake lights come on - could be a fender bender.

As long as headlights and brake lights work, I got no problems. Only thing tail lights tell me is that they turned on their headlights, which I should be able to tell by the glow in front of their car.

Re: TAIL LIGHTS OR NOT????

RedTop — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 18:30:26 GMT

I would be very alarmed if a friend of mine made such a statement. Actually, I would suspect the onset of mental changes. All of my friends are longtime drivers, had jobs that required them to drive in all types of conditions, and this type of comment would be off the wall enough for me to be very concerned as to whether they needed to be driving at all.

Re: TAIL LIGHTS OR NOT????

hckynutjohn — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 21:19:33 GMT

@Bird mama wrote:
Well..... I am not quoting law here.

Given the choice, I'd rather drive behind someone whose brake lights are working.

If it's dark, and I am driving behind someone whose tail lights work and they happen to slam on the breaks and I don't see the brake lights come on - could be a fender bender.

As long as headlights and brake lights work, I got no problems. Only thing tail lights tell me is that they turned on their headlights, which I should be able to tell by the glow in front of their car.

Hi to you birdmama,

I've driven many 2 lane highways towing race cars at night and in my 60 years of driving have not had 1 accident while I was driving. One always has to leave enough distance between them and the vehicle in front of them to be able to stop, no matter what the circumstances. When towing a trailer or car? Even moreso!

It is pretty easy for me to see when someone hits their brakes at night just by watching the back end of the vehicle. Easier with cars, but I can still detect a truck or SUV braking at night, even without their brake lights working.

I think most drivers nowadays drive on multi-lane highways and it is much easier to see what is going on and also usually another "out" should someone stop in front of you and you not being the proper distance from them to be able to stop. You still have the "move over to the other lane option", not so with 2-lane highways most of the time.

Everyone is different when it comes to their experiences driving motor vehicles that's for sure. I see absolutely no reason for anyone to be driving without working tail lights and brake lights.

I check my headlights on our garage door every time I drive in at night to make sure they are both working. A also get out periodically at night while in our garage and check the tail lights/brake lights and reverse lights. Same goes with the front parking and fog lights.

As I've aged it is even more important to me to make sure my headlights are clean and always working correctly. Same with the "heads up brake light" that is now on all cars, I think! I had the rear window brake light on my 1985 Olds and I think all cars had to have them a few years after that time.

Hope all is well with you, and drive carefully.

hckynut(john)