India's High Beam Epidemic! What's Going on?

India's High Beam Epidemic! What's Going on?

Introduction

India is plagued with bad roads and terrible driving conditions. Be it on a National Highway, A State Highway or an arterial road in the city. For long India has been developing its infrastructure from Zero


Image Courtesy - chiranjitp


History

In early days, a High beam was used to warn people on the road of a possible obstruction that would hinder the driver to drive their vehicle. It was also used in Low Visibility conditions or where there wasnt enough light to see the road properly. Have you noticed, "DIPPER" "HORN OK PLEASE" at the back of trucks and tempos? They were exactly for the same reason.

What’s going on? –

A large section of society – Including Bus Drivers, Truckers and Private car owners set the light on high beam leading to blinding the other people on the road. Majority of the roads in India are still without a proper median or with a difference in Height. This leads to a perfect recipe to blind the other people on the road.

It is a serious problem! I drive throughout the country. Talk about Chennai, Pune, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Delhi and the list goes on and on.

People on social media platforms specifically pin point a particular car for this epidemic. It’s a joke that has destroyed Creta’s name in the industry. Blame it on the poor lights of the older Cretas? I don’t know!

A simple Google search shows you this!

Law Enforcement –

With public pressure, Law enforcement in various cities across India are waking up and penalizing drivers with High Beams and modifications to lights that cause the menace on the road. Chandigarh and Ahmedabad lead the pack in penalizing the most

JJ Patel—An Officer at Ahmedabad RTO has confirmed one such development, which will enforce this rule and commence operations against the violators.

In the future, authorities will also crack down on auto accessory shops selling and installing unauthorized white LED lights in the country.

Rules for Safe Driving –

  • Use high beams only when it's dark or poorly lit
  • Turn off high beams when approaching other vehicles
  • Turn off high beams in residential or urban areas
  • Turn off high beams when there's heavy traffic
  • Use a mechanism to adjust high beams from inside the vehicle
  • Use the "dipper" switch to switch between high and low beams
  • Dim high beams if you can see a vehicle in front at a distance of 200 meters

What do you think the Government should do in this situation!

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