Re: Dumb questions for the day

[skerocdriver@juno.com (Shawn C Meze)]

On Thu, 6 Nov 1997 19:15:29 -0700 Benton Yoshida
<byoshida@zygote.hsc.usc.edu> writes:
>DQ #1:
>
>OK, I'm tired of being the only person who doesn't know.  So what
exactly
>are fog lights, driving lights, and cornering lights?  If I want to fill
in
>some of the dark areas between my car and the region illuminated by my
>headlights which is the one to get?


You know what, I love you man. Even when I met you at the car show, you
just got this awesome innocent quality about you when it comes to cars
that I just truly adore. (wow, does look somewhat out of touch with my
manliness but hey, im comfortable with my feelings. I don't <READ - DO
NOT> get boners when I hug guys. DOH!) 

OK then. Getting back on topic here for a minute, there really is no
difference. Driving lights are really nothing more than clear lights.
What's called fog lights are typically yellow. They mount in the same
location ect. There are a few new lights like PIAA and CAT ect out that
are "Ion blue". Its a trendy thing. I think I confused you with my
reference to "cornering lights". They  are just driving lights that I
aimed to my liking and on my car are only effective when your are doing
just that, cornering. (Or looking for a house number. heh-heh.)

I myself don't like the yellow lights. They're just not bright for me. I
also don't like colored ski goggles (reds yellows) but many people do. I
prefer clear for my tastes. Many people like the yellow in fog conditions
but to me, they have the same effect as clear lights but not as bright.
(They light up the fog and you cant see any better.)

Adding a set of clear lights is like an additional set of high beams. You
can aim them to fill in any dark spots you might be annoyed with. (which,
with the stock lights, I think we all are to some degree.) 


>DQ #2:
>
>	What is the proper etiquette for flashing the high beams on the
>road?  Are you supposed to flash the lights at the car ahead of you to
>signal them to move over or to tell them that you are going to go around
>them?  I guess it would depend on which lanes the cars are in when this
>happens?  I've also seen it used and have used it myself to signal to
>someone in an adjacent lane who has the blinkers on that it is OK to
move
>into my lane.  I'm talking about the U.S. in case that makes a diff.
>
>Thanks all, benton------


In the US, proper etiquette is that you never flash another car. Oh,
well, what I meant to say is that its against the law. Flashing everybody
seems to be commonplace nowadays. 
Its funny but I only flash other cars when ive been behind them for a
long time and im trying to get by and all thy can do is look at me. I
give them a real quick pulse of the high beams to let them know I want
by. Then give them a few seconds to react. If nothing, them I give them a
second burst of light. This goes on until usually I end up passing them
on the right side lane and then gently cutting them close as I merge back
into the fast lane. (Yeah, im an asshole, sue me.)

I think you pretty much have the right idea on this topic tho. If you
spend any time on the open road, you will see truckers flash their lights
on/off to signal when its clear to merge over. That's another good signal
method I think. 

On another one of my famous stories from the past. When I first got to
Germany in 85, I started driving there shortly after. I hadn't gotten the
classes that you get as a military member in a foreign country (some
etiquette, laws, customs, stuff ect.). So what I did do was pick up on
the driving laws so I could get my license to drive. So, im driving down
the road and these cars comming up on me flash at me and pass me on the
left. I knew that you  could only pass on the left by law but didn't know
about the flashing part. Its a good think I didn't start flipping birdies
left and right at people like my US driving instincts told me to do. :) 
They flash you to let you know they're gonna pass you and for you to not
pull out in front of you. Damn good idea I say. 
Something else that I thought was cool was that when your flying on the
Autobahn and you come up to a slowing or worse, traffic jam, they cars in
front of you will put on their hazards to let you know its slowing ahead.
Very cool because you turn yours on and it snowballs to the next drivers
comming up on you at 100+ mph. Very cool and very safe indeed. I wish we
could drive like that over here, but hey, were Americans, well NEVER do
something good like that. Oh well......

Hey, you guys like "Mickeys Bigmouth Beer"? I cant drink as many of them
as I used to. Dang! Someone come help me drink these things......


              Shawn Meze
86' Jetta GLi           82' Scirocco GTi
The Fastest, Quickest, Cleanest and
best looking Scirocco in all of San Diego!
http://www2.netcom.com/~trnsfrma/vws.html
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