Do You Turn Your Headlights On in Low Viz Light?

[holtjv]

Each day at dawn or dusk or when it's raining or when it's foggy I see cars without their headlights on. Simply amazes me. I've progressed from anger to contempt to sheer curiosity.

Over the past several years I've tried to determine the demographic--male, female, old, young, ethnic, but no--seems to run the gamut.

Is it a personality thing? Ignorance? "As long as I can see, I don't need the lights"?

Really wish daytime running lights were standard in the US--can't count the number of times I've almost pulled out in front of a pavement-colored car without his lights on.

[Jim Richards]

I err on the side of caution...my increased visibility might save me from being hit by a less attentive driver.

[old man neri]

Originally Posted by holtjv

Really wish daytime running lights were standard in the US--can't count the number of times I've almost pulled out in front of a pavement-colored car without his lights on.

Double edged sword. What happens when people have DRLs is that they never turn on their headlights in rain/fog conditions. They just assume they are on. However, their tail lights are not and that can cause a lot of problems.

The root of the problem is that driver education in North America is a complete joke. Driving has become a right and not a privilege. Law enforcement only concentrates on speeding and mass propaganda has giving everyone the thought that only speeding can kill, nothing else a driver does can be dangerous.

[stevepaa]

lights are always on

[pwd72s]

lights on...most of the time here. Bright sunny days usually off...but in dim light? On.

[Oh Haha]

Yes, I turn mine on in all cars, DRL's or not.

[legion]

I never touch the light switch--between DRLs and automatic lights. I have the threshold set pretty low. My headlights come on way before most people turn on their headlights.

[stomachmonkey]

Don't get me started.

I'm guessing you had that pea soup Steven King worthy fog this morning like we had up in DFW.

I'd say easy 50% of the morons out there were running dark.

Clearly natural selection as a theory is an epic fail.

You wanna be a dumbass and get broadsided by a cement truck? Fine by me but don't put me at risk cause you ain't got a clue.

F'n morons.

[teenerted1]

yes i do...but i never turn on my flashers unless it is an emegency

[svandamme]

headlights always on

it's been mandatory in scandanavia for ages, and will be soon throughout the EU...

[Heel n Toe]

Yes. And in SC, the law requires the headlights be on if it's raining... otherwise, by law, they have to be on at sundown... which is the time of day that the sun slips below the horizon, not "when it's dark."

So, smart drivers turn their lights on early to avoid the rush.

The sundown thing applies to liquor sales, also.

Draw conclusions and parallels about that as you wish.

[The Gaijin]

Young people see much better in low light and don't see the need.

Older people can be too stupid, lazy or have never learned any better.

A metaphor for more than just headlights...

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by The Gaijin

Young people see much better in low light and don't see the need.

No one has ever told them that having their lights on is more about being seen than seeing where they're going, I guess.

[SlowToady]

Head lights are always on in the Golf, as long as the e-brake isn't engaged. So, yes, I guess I do.

[Rick Lee]

In many states it's the law to have lights on if you're using windshield wipers.

I got pulled over in Germany for running my foglights in heavy rain. Cop let me off with a warning, even though she got soaked coming to talk with me, but reminded me that foglights are a no-no unless visibility is under 30 meters. Never thought about that. I just thought more was better in heavy rain.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by The Gaijin

Young people see much better in low light and don't see the need.

Older people can be too stupid, lazy or have never learned any better.

A metaphor for more than just headlights...

Yeah, that low light vision thing helps in rain, snow, and fog. Those pesky little things that are similar to driving with your eyes closed.

[Moses]

Originally Posted by stevepaa

lights are always on

me too.

[peppy]

Yes, I turn them on.

Fog lights on a truck and a clear night, that should be a crime.

[imcarthur]

At home, we have drls but in rentals, I am always lights on. I'd like to put a flashing light on the roof for driving in some cities. Miami comes to mind . . . Boston for sure . . .

Ian

[masraum]

Originally Posted by holtjv

Ignorance

Ding, ding, ding!!! We have a winner ladies and gentlemen.

The demographic is "general public". That's all that needs to be said.