In article <C4rvKM.367@plato.ds.boeing.com> simnet@plato.ds.boeing.com (Mark R Poulson) writes: >ssave@ole.cdac.com (The Devil Reincarnate) writes: >> You will be surprised at the number of people who forget their glasses >> while driving.  And then there are the people who just plain don't get >> their eyes checked once a year. > >As someone who has lousy vision, I can see objects at a distance without >my glasses. However, they are quite fuzzy and I may not be able to make >out the details. But I can certainly tell that SOMETHING is there.     I won't argue too much about anything.  I am probably one of those that  think that we can't have enough safety on the roads.  I would gladly  sacrifice distractions (as you call it), than someone having trouble seeing danger earlier.  One saved life justifies more than my lifetime of "distractions" for me.   >>  And then there is dawn and dusk.  When your eyes have not yet adjusted >> to the poor light.  And there are those who drive black/grey cars. And >> then there is the case where you are driving down a two-way one lane  >> road, and someone is overtaking cars, and coming the opposite direction  >> doesn't see you because your lights are not on. Or vice versa.  At 60mph,  >> that is quite a small reaction time.  But of course, we are too macho to  >> think we are invincible and can react faster than that.... Only the poor  >> sod who you didn't see might not have a normal life ever... > >I worked out the reaction time in a previous post and its PLENTY, even for >an 80 year old grandma, as long as speeds are in the 60 MPH range or less. >If you or some other driver is going way faster than that, then be careful. > >As always, you are responsible for your driving actions. If you pull out to >pass and crash into someone (for whatever reason) its YOUR fault. If you can't      Problem is that, I may just kill the guy. I agree that I would be at fault, and I will have my license revoked, why, I might even go to the gas chamber. But the fact still remains that the guy is dead.  Someone died because I was too stingy to put on my lights.    >see a damn thing, then you shouldn't be driving -- lights fail, fallen trees >or rocks don't have lights, etc....  I maintain that headlight strength      The ratio of the probability of fallen trees/rocks on the roads to  oncoming traffic is too low to even be considered.  The difference is also working on what we *know* could happen, to what *might* happen.   >running lights are not necessary for motorists who drive around 60MPH. It may >be a good idea to force the running or headlights on when you turn your >windshield wipers on, but only because some people are too stupid to do so. >If you crash into one of those idiots, you have to fight it out in court to >show his neglegence (if you can even prove it).   >>  Just out of curiosity, how much gas-milage do you loose when you put >> your lights on?  And how much do you reduce the life of your head-lamps? >> And what is the cost of your headlamps anyway? > >Mileage is certainly reduced, but by a very very small amount (probably >about 110 watts for head and running lights). This is an extra 1/7 horsepower >that must be made by the engine. It may be that this will cost you around two  >gallons a year. But times 200 million cars, that's a lot of gas.    Compared to the number of gallons of gas consumed by those 200 million cars, it is miniscule!     Whatever.....  'tis a pity I have to share the same roads with a person not concerned with safety.  -S ssave@ole.cdac.com