The Crittenden Automotive Library

Pet Peeve - No Headlights

Pet Peeve - No Headlights

Gus Philpott
Woodstock Advocate
July 16, 2008

Last night I was tailgated by a driver in a large red pick-up truck who was driving with no headlights after dark (9:00PM). Over the past few years I have observed quite a few drivers of cars and pick-ups in Woodstock with no headlights lighted after dark. Do police ticket for this violation?

I was heading south on Route 47 in front of the old Jewel-Osco, when a vehicle came up fast behind me. I'll admit that I was "plodding" along at the 35MPH speed limit at the lane-drop by Tommy's. I am a frequent target of aggressive driving and road rage, because I drive at the posted speed limit - and in the right-hand lane when there are two or more lanes in my direction of travel. In the past I have had to take evasive action, in order to avoid being rear-ended.

This clown came up behind me - after dark - no headlights - only his bright roadlamps, which were mounted below the position of headlights, and his parking lights on.

Why do manufacturers build vehicles and wire them so that roadlamps can be used without headlights? There is probably an automotive engineer somewhere with the answer to that question. Headlights are required at night; roadlamps do not meet the requirement. And, when roadlamps are in use, they are not to blind other drivers.

So this clown comes up fast behind me, follows me closely (tailgates) and then backs off a little when he realizes that I am not going to speed up (above the 35MPH limit) for him. After we crossed Lake Avenue, he pulled the same stunt, again coming very close to the back of my car.

When we got to Benoy Motors, I stayed in the right-hand lane to allow him to pass, and that's when I got his license plate: Illinois 50 384P. I could read the word "Sport" on the right side of the truck but didn't get the make. If I were to guess, I'd say it was a Dodge.

I thought about siccing the Woodstock Police on him, but the driver turned east on Cobblestone, but there was no way I was going to follow him on an isolated roadway.

Request to police: Please ticket drivers who operate the vehicles after dark without headlights. Thanks!

© 2008 GUS PHILPOTT