Headlights

Monday night, there I was, driving to work to start my first night shift (of four) - yuk. Car was fine, working properly when I left home, headlights all ok, dipped and on main beam, so all was hunky dory. That was until I came into the next village on from mine, so dipped my headlights, which had been on main beam for the nice dark country back road, and ah, problem......lights not as bright.



Well not a huge amount I could do, part way through a journey, but when I got to work, double checked, and sure enough, bulb had blown. Now why is it that these things always happen on nights? Last time I had a headlight bulb blow, I was on nights, and what is it that you do when coming home in the morning...............that's right, sleep, most of the day, making it difficult to get to Halfords to source a replacement. Luckily hubby went on his spread over (that's like a long gap bus drivers have in the middle of their duty, so there are more of them about during the rush our), and procured a replacement, which he then fitted when he got home.



Anyway, having a duff light made me notice how many other vehicles there are out there with bulbs blown and badly adjusted. Now there is this strange thing (that I don't really understand), when headlights blow, there is still light, it's just duller. Like I don't really get how one bulb can do dipped and main beam...............does it get more power? But I digress, and as long as they work, fine!



It really is shocking the number of people who drive around with blown headlights. Commercial vehicles are normally ok (lorries and buses/coaches), though I have seen one or two with badly adjusted lights. White van man appears to be the worst for badly adjusted.....how many times have I been almost blinded by the dazzle of white van man two inches of my back bumper in the outside line because he is in a hurry to die. But car drivers are by far the worst for blown bulbs, and not just the light being very dim blown, quite a few where it has gone completely, so they only have light on one side. Apart from it being illegal and dangerous, how do the see??? If I was able to see a noticeable difference with the duller type of blown, I cannot work out how they can properly see the road.