Pulled over by the cops

[shelley bda]

I've had my L reg Clio for over a year now and havent been pulled once in it, and that really does look like a banger... with it's dints and rust patches

[Butcher]

Indicators aren't as easy to do on the move, but late at night you can see the glow on the road... plus indicators are normally obvious because the ticking speed changes... for some reason!

So you know a bulb has gone I believe. You can test them easily anyway by putting the hazards on and walking round the car - or when you lock it if you have remote locking.

[Flibb]

On most cars the indicators flash fast if one of the bulbs has blown

[Rave]

Surely instead of ranting about it you should be pleased they were being proactive in keeping the roads safe?

I didn't think it read like a rant- not compared to some of my other efforts anyway. I am pleased that the police are trying to keep the roads safe, but I'm not so pleased that instead of going about it using a proven effective method (ANPR), they're relying on the judgement of a fat man in a hi-vis jacket to select vehicles to check. I'm far from being a big fan of the ANPR database, but I have no objection to the police using it to catch people driving without insurance.

If you saw a news story about a Clio being used by suicide bombers no doubt you'd complain that all the taxes we pay don't pay for police to keep us safe.

Erm, what? I would certainly say nothing of the sort. I would rather live in a country where people have the freedom to blow themselves (and others) up than live in a police state.

[Lowe]

My old turbo Clio sleeper was a bit of a Police magnet. Had plenty of attention in that, once just because the coppers wondered why I'd got so many dials on the dashboard! A quick opening of the bonnet explained all.

Funnily enough the Spider powered Clio never attracted any attention at all, despite an exhaust loud enough to make your ears bleed. Oh well.

[greenalien]

My tip would be to keep a spare set of bulbs (plus whatever tools needed to fit them, plus a torch) in your vehicle. Then, if you get a pull, you can say 'Thank you Officer for pointing out the problem - I'll fix it at once'. That way, no prosecution (hopefully) and no need to waste time getting the repair checked out at an MOT station - and lets face it, changing bulbs isn't rocket science (unless you've got a Megane......). If you drive on the continent, carrying spare bulbs is compulsory anyway. Total investment - less than £20. Potential saving - 3 points on licence plus £50 fine. Seems like a no-brainer to me...

[kalniel]

I don't think the officer is going to hang around waiting for you to do the replacement and then bother to qualify them - you'll probably still have to go to an MOT station.

[Rave]

My tip would be to keep a spare set of bulbs (plus whatever tools needed to fit them, plus a torch) in your vehicle. Then, if you get a pull, you can say 'Thank you Officer for pointing out the problem - I'll fix it at once'. That way, no prosecution (hopefully) and no need to waste time getting the repair checked out at an MOT station - and lets face it, changing bulbs isn't rocket science (unless you've got a Megane......). If you drive on the continent, carrying spare bulbs is compulsory anyway. Total investment - less than £20. Potential saving - 3 points on licence plus £50 fine. Seems like a no-brainer to me...

I bought a spare set of bulbs- including an H4 headlight bulb- in Poundland. Once I'd actually had to use the headlight bulb, I bought another headlight bulb in the 99p Store which claims to be a +50% brightness one (though I've not tried it yet).

So no need to spend £20.