black out lights
 

Here is a silly question, Why did they bother to put head lights on these vehicles and then cover them up? I understand it is to keep your location hidden but you couldn't see anything with them on anyway so why bother?

Good Question
 

I always thought the army was a bit different - we drove with lights on during the day and off at night. And when we retired, they took our watch away...

WWII army vehicles had to have minimal lighting so that they could use civilian roads in peacetime for driver training. Headlights were covered up for blackout driving either for driver training purposes or when moving tactically close to or in contact with the enemy.

If there was air superiority, then lights could be used on main supply routes in the Divisional rear area and if the situation permitted at echelons beyond Corps boundaries. Again, if there was an administrative move to an area in contact with the enemy blackout drive was the usual order of the day.

I was surprised at just how much you really can see when "blackout driving". I was equally surprised at how little light actually "escaped" from modern (NATO) blackout drive lighting. The key is "light discipline" i.e. no flashlights without filters and maintaining your night vision.

I can make myself feel quite ill when I remember flying down logging roads in the BC mountains in the middle of the night in an M38A1, windscreen folded down and the driver relying on my cry of 'Oh Jayzus - TURN!" when I looked down past my right knee and only saw air instead of gravel...

I think we pranged a black bear once.

Wartime England saw the curbs of paved roads being painted white which assisted drivers at night when driving with blackout hooded lights quite a bit in towns and villages. Automobiles and bicycles also had rear bumpers or fenders painted white so they could be seen just prior to being run over.

Probably helped instuctors when noting in the trainees driving logs about what the bigger bumps in the road were. :yappy:

They actually do help in the field away from the lights of a town as well, so long as you haven't had your night vision compromised by someone with a flashlight.

Here in the USA we now have grooved pavement on the edge of some roads as its cheaper than paint and lasts longer. We call it braille driving since you can close your eyes while driving and know when there are turns in the road based on the vibrations and sound when the tires go over it.

We have them on the edges of motorways etc. here in UK. They're called rumble strips here. Ron

Black out driving rally
 

One of the MV clubs in Adelaide run an annual blackout driving rally in nearby Radiata Pine plantations.

For me it was always a highlight of the annual calendar and I am the winner of three trophies in a row for winning the blackout orienteering course.

It is certainly a lot of fun and interesting to give it a go.

Pedr