Reader Letters: Bright headlights, priorité à droite, annual servicing and quattro power

Glaring error

In the 1950s drivers seemed to take pride in delaying switching on their headlights until absolutely necessary (“Taking the shine off”, Letters, February 5). Today the situation is reversed, with ever brighter lights masking front indicators and rendering some road users almost invisible. It is a mad, ill-mannered misuse of technology.
Anthony Phillips, Salisbury
 
The vision thing

As an optometrist, my advice is to get your low-light vision measured. Even a small refractive error corrected by glasses with an anti-reflection coating will reduce glare. But be warned that the lenses of some off-the-peg night-driving glasses are too dark and do not meet legal requirements.
David Hilton, Boston, Lincolnshire

[Read Driving.co.uk’s test of sunglasses for driving here]
 
Right and wrong

Nicholas Goode asks whether priorité à droite still applies automatically in France (“The right stuff”, Letters, February 5). The quick answer is non. However, as with most things French, there is a “but”. Many older French drivers have never got used to this change, still believe in priorité à droite and pull out — regardless of what else is coming.
Paul Fievez, Normandy
 
Lease is more

I have a Mercedes E 220 on a three-year lease, one of the conditions of which is to have an annual service. In year one this cost about £200. In year two it was £460, including £95 for a mandatory brake fluid change. Why a two-year-old car with 20,000 miles would need its brake fluid changed is beyond me — except perhaps to boost the franchise profits.
Bipin Kotecha, via email
 
Taking the reins

Jeremy Clarkson compares stamping on the accelerator in the original Audi quattro to signalling to the engine room on an ocean liner, as if there were some delay involved (“Fire up DCI Hunt —the quattro’s back”, January 29). I once read a comment by a captain of one of the transatlantic greats, who said that when he signalled full speed ahead, it felt as though 35,000 horses were suddenly leaning into their harness. So, good old quattro.
Chris Ogilvie, Strontian, Argyll
 
Mixed heritage

I just saw a “Supporting English Heritage” sticker on a car window (“Swinging Sixties”, Letters, February 5). It was an Alfa Romeo.
Chris Harder, Richmond, southwest London

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