HELP - Nobody Sees Me!!

[RidingOnRailz]

I have a problem which may or may not be common to drivers of darker(black, slate, Navy, maroon etc) colored vehicles - Other drivers are pulling out from side streets less than 100'(33m), even 50 feet in front of me! I drive 32-34mph in a 30 zone, and 42-44 in a 40 zone. Conditions: broad daylight.

Last year, I bought the car I should have bought years ago - a 2010 Honda Accord, EX trim, 71,000 miles at the time of signing, exactly the features I wanted, and.. it was Black Pearl.

Since driving it, since Feb. 2020, I've had drivers pull out of side streets, turning left, or going my way, RIGHT in front of me. I checked the permanently wired DRL(daytime running lamps) while parked - both sides illuminated. The plastic covering is moderately fogged over - a '4' on a scale of 10, with 0 being showroom, and 10 needing immediate replacement.

Yesterday, a lady driving a delivery Soul pulled out in front of me so close I had to slam the brakes, nearly collecting the drivers behind me on a four lane Post Rd! I was going 25 in a 35 at the time, due to moderate traffic. I gave her five seconds of horn and flashed my high beams.

When I got the chance, I pulled along side her. She was yelling and swearing at me, middle finger and all. I lowered my window and twice enunciated..

"SORRY I'M DRIVING A DARK CAR! ... SORRY I'M IN A DARK CAR!"

She turned off, presumably for her next delivery, and I proceeded down the Post Road.

One of these days, if this keeps happening, I'm either going to hit someone pulling out like that, or, I'll collect another driver into my rear bumper stopping short!

Aside from a trip to Maaco, I've currently decided to drive with my headlights on, high-beam, during daylight, but normal beams at night.

Does anyone have any other suggestions for my dilemma? I don't recally experiencing this, as often, in my brown Hyundai, my maroon Kia, or my wife's silvery Toyota.

I know this sounds made up, but it's really happening!

[RidingOnRailz]

Should I post my issue on Facebook?

[shorod]

If your DRLs are working, I'm not really sure what the suggest. But PLEASE don't drive with your high beams on, even in the daytime. If people don't see you with DRLs or low beams, they're not any more likely to see you with high beams on. But, the people who are seeing you may be temporarily blinded or at least distracted from your high beams aimed right at their line of sight.

You could check your local laws to see if a flashing white light on the front of the vehicle is legal, or possible different color temperatures of bulbs, that might make your Accord stand out more. Most areas have restrictions on what colors of lighting can be used on the front of a vehicle, but I'm not sure if flashing is an issue. If flashing white is allowed, like what many bicyclists use, you might consider incorporating something similar in to your car.

-Rod

[RidingOnRailz]

Originally Posted by shorod

If your DRLs are working, I'm not really sure what
the suggest. But PLEASE don't drive with your high beams
on, even in the daytime. If people don't see you with DRLs
or low beams, they're not any more likely to see you with high
beams on. But, the people who are seeing you may be temporarily
blinded or at least distracted from your high beams aimed right
at their line of sight.

You could check your local laws to see if a flashing white light on
the front of the vehicle is legal, or possible different color
temperatures of bulbs, that might make your Accord stand out
more. Most areas have restrictions on what colors of lighting
can be used on the front of a vehicle, but I'm not sure if flashing
is an issue. If flashing white is allowed, like what many bicyclists
use, you might consider incorporating something similar in to your
car.

-Rod

1. High beams. Until some other solution comes up, I will continue the practice of high beam lights during sunup hours, and normal headlights from dusk until dawn. If authorities question my daytime use of high-beams, I will politely thank them for noticing, because nobody else seems to. Today was the first such day of my deployment of hi-beams, and so far, no issues, nobody pulling out causing me to slam my brakes.

2. Flashing lights. Is there a flashing light I could mount to the far side(facing oncoming drivers) of my inside rear view mirror? Something I could turn on when needed, or off when not.

[aleekat]

I can tell you here in Tennessee you can have modulating brake lights that meet certain requirements. Only motorcycles here can have a modulating headlight. Other type flashing up front is restricted to emergency vehicles. Probably the same in Connecticut.
And yes, darker vehicles statistically get in more accidents.

[Mrbizness1]

I’ve been driving a black Murano for 10 years. It doesn’t have DRL lights and I haven’t had your problems. I suspect your driving speed has something to do with it. Unfortunately most people today’s drive around 10 mph over the limit and faster. I think they do see you, then they wait for you to pass by, when they realize your lower speed they get impatient and take off. I use to drive a heavy truck and cars this would happen to me several times a day because they didn’t want to drive behind me. I would drive with your low beams on to see if it helps. Then your tail and marker lights would be on also.

[Mrbizness1]

Originally Posted by RidingOnRailz

Should I post my issue on Facebook?

No unless you want the world to know

[Stealthee]

I've been driving a black car for 9 years now and I always drive with my headlights on. I do have people pull out in front of me, but usually it is just assholes rolling or completely blowing stop signs. I've either almost, or have pulled out in front of dark cars because they don't use their headlights, but if they were using their headlights I would easily see them.

[RidingOnRailz]

Originally Posted by Mrbizness1

I’ve been driving a black Murano for 10 years.
It doesn’t have DRL lights and I haven’t had your
problems. I suspect your driving speed has something
to do with it. Unfortunately most people today’s drive
around 10 mph over the limit and faster. I think they
do see you, then they wait for you to pass by, when
they realize your lower speed they get impatient and
take off. I use to drive a heavy truck and cars this would
happen to me several times a day because they didn’t
want to drive behind me. I would drive with your low
beams on to see if it helps. Then your tail and marker
lights would be on also.

I used to drive ten, even twenty mph, over PSL, on local streets and expressways. Wore out lots of brakes that way, plus constantly nervous about getting where I was going.

I've gradually matured since than, and capped my speeds at PSL plus 5mph at most, and learned to advance my departure times a bit. I cruise only in the outermost lane, not in any lane I pleased as when I was younger. I'm not going back to old habits just to please the world, and I'm sure there are others out there who feel the same. Just because 'everybody does' something doesn't make it correct to do.

As for driving during the day with headlights on, low beam or high so that my tail lights are on: My issue is people not seeing me coming, not receding.

[RidingOnRailz]

Originally Posted by Mrbizness1

No unless you want the world to know

It seems like everyone's migrated onto there, based on the lack of activity I've seen here in A.F. lately, and in other moderated dedicated topic forums, and how often I have to 'bump' my new posts to get any response.

[RidingOnRailz]

Originally Posted by Stealthee

I've been driving a black car for 9 years now and
I always drive with my headlights on. I do have
people pull out in front of me, but usually it is just
assholes rolling or completely blowing stop signs.
I've either almost, or have pulled out in front of dark
cars because they don't use their headlights, but if they
were using their headlights I would easily see them.

Mine is not so much folks rolling or blowing stop signs(or rolling right on their red light in front of me when I have the green). No - majority of the time they're dead stopped. I can identify their vehicle make & model, and the age, gender, and ethnicity of the driver - that's how close I might be to where they're pulling out from, when they decide to.

But yeah, "a-hole" is the term others I've discussed this with also seem to use.

So it's a slam on the brakes, whether I'm going 5mph over the limit or 15.

[aleekat]

Was given a tip years ago riding motorcycles. Don't look at the car on the side road for when they move. Look at their rims. You'll pick up their movement much faster than looking at the entire car. Saved my A** numerous times.

[RidingOnRailz]

Originally Posted by aleekat

Was given a tip years ago riding motorcycles.
Don't look at the car on the side road for when
they move. Look at their rims. You'll pick up their
movement much faster than looking at the entire
car. Saved my A** numerous times.

While your tips - flashing rear brake lights, looking at wheels for movement of vehicles - are appreciated, my particular issue is being seen by drivers as I am approaching, in my dark colored car, the location where they are stopped and waiting to enter my ROW(right-of-way).

They might be having trouble judging my distance and closing speed(rate at which I am approaching them).