almost hit somebody last night. Need suggestion for lights

[sweaty]

So I was making a left turn at a stop sign, from a side street to a main street. These was no street lights and it was a rural setting. Just when I was half way through my turn, a senior couple appeared from nowhere right in front of my headlights. From my perspective, they literally jumped out of total darkness! I hit the brake and heard the tires rubbing the road. Stopped a couple of feet or less from them.

I reviewed my dash cam and realized that they started crossing right when I stopped at the stop sign. I could barely see two shadows from the footage. They were on my left side and were wearing dark clothes and for a good part of it they were blocked by the pillar.

My fog lights were not on at the time. If they were, that would have helped.

So, I don't know what options for side lights are out there. I don't need a light bar, just side lighting that sends low and diffused lights? Easy to install and stays on when engine is on?

Or maybe I should just keep the fog lights on all the time?

 

[The_Green_Wang]

Switch back LED turn signals may help. I bought some from TRS and they project out towards the side. Also when my turn signals are on, they are also brighter.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[manganos]

I have stock low beam bulbs, LED upgrade high and drl's and LED fogs (yellow) The LED fogs seem to throw a wider pattern that really illuminates the ditch line. I'm glad it turned out ok for the people farting dust

 

[2016 4Runner SR5]

I have Sylvania Silverstar Ultra lows, stock highs, and LED fogs. Fogs are used at all times and the LED bulbs make a HUGE difference at night. Much wider light pattern and they really help in extra dark situations like yours with reflecting off of everything and making things easier to see. They aren't any high end brand LED lights, they are from Ebay & they are H11 bulbs. They are the better ones with the built in cooling fans and are advertised as 100 watts for what that's worth.

 

[pDubs]

If they were to your side the only thing that may have helped were ditch lights angled out a bit. Upgrading your forward facing beams probably wouldn't haven't changed anything.

Also, why the heck are they out walking on rural roads at night in dark clothes? :wacko:

 

[delloro]

Also, why the heck are they out walking on rural roads at night in dark clothes? :wacko:

You can't fix stupid, but you sure can run it over if you're not careful.

OP I upgraded to XD HIDs and it may have been the best $200 I have ever spent. I also got the Morimoto fogs, though with the HIDs they probably made a less significant difference.

1) Get the HIDs
2) Watch out for pedestrians who fail to watch out for cars.
3) Sure, leave the fogs on all the time, why not, I do.

 

[sweaty]

I have Sylvania Silverstar Ultra lows, stock highs, and LED fogs. Fogs are used at all times and the LED bulbs make a HUGE difference at night. Much wider light pattern and they really help in extra dark situations like yours with reflecting off of everything and making things easier to see. They aren't any high end brand LED lights, they are from Ebay & they are H11 bulbs. They are the better ones with the built in cooling fans and are advertised as 100 watts for what that's worth.

So if I just change the light bulbs of the stock fogs to LED, that should make a big difference. The LEDs you used are these:
H11 LED | eBay, or something similar?

I don't have an issue with the headlights. I need something that throws low and diffused light to the side. Sounds like changing the stock fog lights to LED is an easy fix.

 

[yardsale]

You would be surprised at how much you can actually see, even at night, if you take the time to look. Its not the lights that are the problem.

 

[sweaty]

...

Also, why the heck are they out walking on rural roads at night in dark clothes? :wacko:

It is a weird setup where I live. The road that I was turning on separates county and municipal and there are houses on each side. But it was pitch dark since nobody thinks they are responsible for that road. I am sure they were just visiting on the other side and were walking back home. Stupid or not, I am responsible for safe driving regardless of what they do. Yeah, they should wear bright color, plenty of people do that around here.

Watching the dash cam footage scared the crap out of me.

 

[sweaty]

You would be surprised at how much you can actually see, even at night, if you take the time to look. Its not the lights that are the problem.

yep, you are right. At the stop sign, I did a nod then go, instead of a full complete stop, look then go. That is what the dash shows. So I am guilty there. I was extremely lucky because my passenger saw them and yelled because she wasn't blocked by the pillar.

Anyway, I'll change the LEDs and really pay attention to my driving. Also leave the fog lights on.

 

[2016 4Runner SR5]

So if I just change the light bulbs of the stock fogs to LED, that should make a big difference. The LEDs you used are these:
H11 LED | eBay, or something similar?

I don't have an issue with the headlights. I need something that throws low and diffused light to the side. Sounds like changing the stock fog lights to LED is an easy fix.

Yes, exactly. I have the box for them at work. I'll look at them Monday and see if I can link you to the exact ones I bought. Once it gets dark tonight, I will sit in my truck and take a picture out the windshield. One with just the headlights, one with headlights and fogs. I'll post them here so you can see how well the bulb upgrade works. Keep in mind i'm lifted 3" on a 295/70/17 so the lights are higher than yours. The light pattern may not be exactly the same but you can adjust your fogs and aim them however you want for best visibility.

 

[johnbt]

"and for a good part of it they were blocked by the pillar"

The pillar has always been there. You have to learn to look around it.

 

[sweaty]

Yes, exactly. I have the box for them at work. I'll look at them Monday and see if I can link you to the exact ones I bought. Once it gets dark tonight, I will sit in my truck and take a picture out the windshield. One with just the headlights, one with headlights and fogs. I'll post them here so you can see how well the bulb upgrade works. Keep in mind i'm lifted 3" on a 295/70/17 so the lights are higher than yours. The light pattern may not be exactly the same but you can adjust your fogs and aim them however you want for best visibility.

That is very kind of you! Thanks!

 

[mrblah]

upgrade your low beams to HID, and your fogs to LED's. You will have no problems seeing around you.

 

[4FL]

I think the lights worked fine, you turned, saw them, stopped.

 

[gdvan01]

I have stock low beam bulbs, LED upgrade high and drl's and LED fogs (yellow) The LED fogs seem to throw a wider pattern that really illuminates the ditch line. I'm glad it turned out ok for the people farting dust

Which high beams did you go with?

 

[83Mule]

Lot of 'tude in the responses....but there is another factor as well. We don't all see the same in low light, so what is plain to one may be tough for another. I had Cat's eyes until I had Lasik and suffered a drastic reduction in night vision thus requiring more light to ''See'' the same picture at night. Age also reduces night vision.

 

[2016 4Runner SR5]

Here are the pictures I said I would post. One with just low beams which are Sylvania Silverstar Ultra and another with low beams and LED fog lights on. You can see how the fogs cover the area the headlights don't and provide a very wide light path. Sorry for the sideways pictures, not sure how to fix that. First picture is no fogs, 2nd is with fogs.

 

[TOYO74]

Scary event for the OP--maybe some of those "Highway Patrol" post mounted movable spots would work out in the dark zones. 8^)

Always interesting to me what light "upgrades" are recommended by those who have replaced OEM lights. One thing I haven't read in any of the threads advocating changing to LED or other high intensity lights: do these replacement bulbs conform to state laws (your home state) regarding headlight/driving/fog lights?

Anyone ever get a ticket for having these?

 

[2016 4Runner SR5]

Scary event for the OP--maybe some of those "Highway Patrol" post mounted movable spots would work out in the dark zones. 8^)

Always interesting to me what light "upgrades" are recommended by those who have replaced OEM lights. One thing I haven't read in any of the threads advocating changing to LED or other high intensity lights: do these replacement bulbs conform to state laws (your home state) regarding headlight/driving/fog lights?

Anyone ever get a ticket for having these?

From what I know, HID lights are illegal in any vehicle that didn't come from the factory with them. Not 100% if that's the law in every state and in all honesty, no one cars and I don't think cops know the laws on them. HID is great for low beam but not high beam for us without modification. For us, the high beam voltage is cut and the high beam bulb is used as the DRL. Cutting voltage to the HID will fry it. If you do install HID high beams, you have to disable the DRL function. We also have plastic fog light housings. HID lights run very hot and it's possible to melt the plastic housing due to this. The LED lights are just as bright as HID in my experience but they don't project as far down the road. For a fog light, that's fine since fogs are for close range anyway. I may eventually install LED low beams but I will leave the high beams alone.