In the eighties, I read a bumper sticker that read "Daylighters live longer" -- it's stuck with me. In fact, I run with my headlights on all the time in my daily driver. Not in the Miata or Corvette, though -- simply because they're pop up lights. But I did replace the DRL's bulbs with bright white ones, rather than the OEM orange.

All the research clearly showing that other drivers are less able to estimate your speed accurately with DRL's on in daylight? They know you're there - but they can more easily get it wrong as to how fast you're moving...

This was the reason that all the motorcycling groups resisted mandatory running lights in the 80's. Because they had a hard enough time anyway with car drivers being unable to appreciate the difference between a sport bike and a moped and pulling out regardless on a hard-accelerating bike.

That said, I turn the sidelights - if not the headlights - on if it's raining or low visibility, regardless of the color of the vehicle - and, in a black car, it's doubly stupid not to. Although the cars that really are tough to see are that kind of beige color in sodium lighting - they just vanish completely...

I've noticed more and more latley that even when it's dark there are people driving without headlights. Some have DRL's, some do not. I guess it's just the level of bad driver's that are now loose behind the wheel.

I have a headlight modulator (blinky all the time) on my bike--there's no question it saves my butt at least once a week. I see them looking and not seeing..then getting ready to pull out..then seeing, and stopping.

It's amazing how you can witness the entire thought process that occurs in about a second.

I drive with my lights on most of the time... and my left turn signal, too!

no -- it uses up photons

same reason I don't run or jog - it uses up heartbeats

Your headlights bother me. That being said, I don't drive at night very much anymore. holtjv, your problems are more than just lights, Austin has a serious driving problem, period. I lived here (I'm on vacation in Austin right now) for 12 years, and it is just amazing how terrible the drivers are. I hope I make it out of town alive. People stopping on entrance ramps........:rolleyes:

As Stijn points out, its been mandatory here for ages. Frankly, I can not for my life figure out why it should not be. Being less visible than necessary seems utterly stupid and dangerous except maybe in a war zone..

With very few exceptions, all newer cars here will automatically turn on the head lights when car is started, which also seems perfectly logical and sound.