[Greg Reid]

Originally Posted by 242177P

On the flip side of the coin, idiots driving around in the city with their high beams on.

This too... Especially the guys that drive those monster, LWB, 4WD, Xtended cab trucks with every hi-intensity light in the J.C. Whitney catalog on at all times. Light bars on the roof, on the grille, under the bumper, at every wheel opening, under the rocker panels and all on, all the time AND the high beams on.
And don't get me started with the folks that need emergency flashers on because it's raining. If raining constitutes an emergency for you...pull into a walmart parking lot until it quits.

[Stuart]

The gangster / flashing light thing is an urban myth. I haven't seen it for a while but I used to get emails about it on a regular basis from people who believed it (hint: any email that includes the phrase, "send this to all your friends" is either an urban myth or a scam. )

Originally Posted by Fullsize455

How on earth does one not notice that they left their headlights on though? That just boggles my mind, I honestly can't figure out how that happens.

If you leave the house in the morning when it's dark out, but by the time you arrive at your destination the sun has come up. I've only forgotten to turn them off a couple times in 40+ years of driving, but it can happen.

[bird72]

Interesting thread. DRL's have evidently created problems in the quest to solve some. I always appreciate the headlight out on one side car where they brilliantly (pun) compensate with the single high beam on all the time. Also like the headlights on high while in the supermarket parking lot, so while you walk up it is like you are on a Broadway stage while blinded.

[Fullsize455]

Originally Posted by Stuart

If you leave the house in the morning when it's dark out, but by the time you arrive at your destination the sun has come up. I've only forgotten to turn them off a couple times in 40+ years of driving, but it can happen.

Admittedly I haven't done a lot of that over the years, but when I have left the house pre-sunrise and driven past it, I've always turned my lights off right around the time the sun appears, as I don't want my headlights on any more than necessary. This is especially an issue in my Town Car, as the gauge cluster is digital, and I keep it very dim at night, so as soon as the sun starts coming up I have a hard time seeing it unless I turn my lights off. I'm not going to start adjusting it up and down every time I drive at dawn or dusk. And that's another problem - jackasses driving around at night with their gauge cluster blazing bright right in their face.. that may be contributing to the lack of headlight problem as well. But for me, I want my gauges as dim as I can read them at night.

I may also be in the minority here as well, but I also don't like seeing other people's headlights on during the day either. Most people consider glare to be an issue at night, but it absolutely can be during the day as well. There have been more than a few times where I have been annoyed at glare during the day from either oncoming headlights or those behind me reflecting in my mirrors.

[unruhjonny]

Originally Posted by Fullsize455

...
I may also be in the minority here as well, but I also don't like seeing other people's headlights on during the day either. ...

I used to agree, but you actually get used to it.

again, DRL have been a thing since 1991 here.

[Chief of the 60's]

Nope, not around here. You drive around here without your headlights on you will hit a deer.

[Drag Star Le Mans]

I work second shift so this is almost a daily occurrence. Mostly near the local casinos when the drunks are leaving.

[Formula496]

Most of the idiots around here drive with there high beams on. But sometimes it's only one light. Guess you gotta get your money's worth out of them bulbs.

[SRR]

My car is a 2001 Merc Marquis and it has "lights on when raining" feature. Something I think every car should have. Cars have gotten smarter...people, not so much.

[NeighborsComplaint]

Originally Posted by Fullsize455

I don't need the government telling me that I have to have my headlights on all the time. I'll turn my headlights on at night myself, thank you. I don't need to waste the lifespan of the bulbs and turn my headlight lenses yellow even faster just because someone else thinks headlights in bright sunlight help any damn thing. Hint: they don't.

I have never in all my years of driving seen a car on the road during the day without its headlights on and thought it would have been easier to see them if their lights were on. If you can't see a large object like a car from plenty of damn distance away so as to prevent any kind of accident, the problem is your eyesight and you should have it checked. I think it's smart to use headlights if it's raining hard or severely overcast/stormy dark, but in bright sunlight? What a joke. I've driven many a road that said to turn your headlights on for the next some such miles, and it's just a joke, as most of these kinds of roads offer the most visibility you're ever going to see on the road! Long straight sections of road where you can see a car coming from literally a mile away! What a joke. If you need someone to have their lights on in order to see them from a reasonable distance away, your eyesight is causing you problems that light on won't solve.

I'm quite sure I'll get blasted for this, and that's fine. I have great eyesight, and though that allows me to see the road ahead of me even when it's somewhat dark, it also allows me to tell if my headlights aren't on. The fact that lots of people drive with their headlights off at night is due to inattentive drivers, nothing more. Whether your eyesight is poor or great, there's no excuse for not noticing that your headlights are off, regardless of whether or not you can see the road. Even if your knee knocks the switch(very unlikely in the majority of cars), you should still absolutely be able to tell by looking at the road in front of you that your lights are off. So let's be real and call it what it is: Inattentive driving, nothing more.

My daily driver has automatic headlights that can't be defeated, but thankfully they don't come on too early like some cars I've driven. It still drives me nuts though, because once they come on, they don't turn back off again without shutting it off and restarting. And yes, there are plenty of legitimate circumstances where I would want to be in my car at night with the headlights off. I do NOT like not having that choice.

While the laws vary by state, by and large the following is required by law:

•Headlights must be turned on when it’s raining, foggy, snowing, or even cloudy. If you must use your windshield wipers, you are required to have your headlights on.
•Headlights must be turned on if you cannot see at least 1000 feet in front of you.
•Headlights must be in use from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise.

Regard;less of how good your vision may be, the other driver's vision may not be.

[Sirrotica]

Originally Posted by NeighborsComplaint

While the laws vary by state, by and large the following is required by law:


•Headlights must be turned on when it’s raining, foggy, snowing, or even cloudy. If you must use your windshield wipers, you are required to have your headlights on.
•Headlights must be turned on if you cannot see at least 1000 feet in front of you.
•Headlights must be in use from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise.

And due to the low intelligence, and lack of common sense of a large percentage of the motoring public, those fairly standardized statutes were required to save the motoring public from itself. The problem is the laws aren't strenuously enforced and the lax enforcement lets people push the envelope and drive unsafely everyday. You don't have to look far to see drivers disregarding them everyday.

Following too close, and inattention to driving just cost 2 people their lives in 3 different accidents on I 70 just outside of Springfield Ohio yesterday. This is a construction zone, and every time they start working on I 70 there are fatalities. I avoid the areas where I know there is construction on I 70 for this reason.

[Greg Reid]

Right on schedule, I met a car with NO lights on tonight on my way in to my job location at 11:45pm. This guy didn't even have the DRLs on. I flashed him, looked in my rearview as he disappeared over the horizon and his tail-panel remained pitch dark. This was on a residential but very busy street with a very low streetlight presence. I just don't get it.
I'd estimate that in the last 5 years, I have seen this on at least a weekly basis and in the 40 years leading up to that...maybe half a dozen times, if that.

[NeighborsComplaint]

Originally Posted by Sirrotica

And due to the low intelligence, and lack of common sense of a large percentage of the motoring public, those fairly standardized statutes were required to save the motoring public from itself. The problem is the laws aren't strenuously enforced and the lax enforcement lets people push the envelope and drive unsafely everyday. You don't have to look far to see drivers disregarding them everyday.

Following too close, and inattention to driving just cost 2 people their lives in 3 different accidents on I 70 just outside of Springfield Ohio yesterday. This is a construction zone, and every time they start working on I 70 there are fatalities. I avoid the areas where I know there is construction on I 70 for this reason.

A true measure of the caliber of the average driver on the road these days is no further away than your nearest 4-way intersection. What no stoplight? "I stopped, so it must be my turn."

[Greg Reid]

Originally Posted by NeighborsComplaint

A true measure of the caliber of the average driver on the road these days is no further away than your nearest 4-way intersection. What no stoplight? "I stopped, so it must be my turn."

This reminds me of another pet peeve of mine...Traffic lights are out of order and flashing amber one way and red the other. All these idiots facing the amber are stopping as if it were a 4 way stop.
When I slowly proceeded through my amber without stopping. A woman literally pulled her car in front of me and stopped in order to curse me out for 'running' the amber. I should have rammed her a$$...well, not literally but you know what I mean..lol

[tekuhn]

Newer vehicles with LED instrumentation and backlighting are lit day and night so it is much easier to get in the vehicle at night and not realize the headlights are off because the dash is fully illuminated. On top of that, some Japanese cars do not have an “Auto” mode so people turn the headlights off even though those same cars will still turn the lights off automatically after a couple of minutes when left in the “On” position. I have had a Honda and Toyota that were both that way. This is further compounded by city driving where the street is well lit making it harder to realize your lights are not on.

[#1965GTO]

The auto makers have been adding more stuff almost yearly for idiot drivers. First they sold us a bill of goods on front wheel drive, a big BS to that one. Auto 4 wheel drive or AWD again, I never lost any weight getting out and turning in the hubs and pulling the lever to engage 4x4. I never got carpel tunnel from unlocking the door with a key or cranking down the windows. Now we've got lane departure and auto braking, wow. Before you know it there won't be any way to get the dummies out of the gene pole. It's probably to late just turn on TV. I see people all the time with new vehicles of all shapes and sizes. They can't keep from curbing the crap out the 18" chromed optional factory wheel, $600 each, and that's just to get in or out of a parking space.

[#1965GTO]

The auto makers have been steadily adding automatic things to vehicles over the years to try to attract one more sale for years. Auto this and auto that. Personally I wish I had my old tri-5 Chevys. I was pleased with all of those simple to operate and simple to work on stone age advantages. Small but very adequate V-8 power three on the tree with OD. 20 mpg plus on the highway and 15 mpg around town on regular gas. I somehow managed to drive those old cars with questionable snow tire and chains in the trunk over the mountain passes to go skiing.
Now most drivers hesitate to drive around town without AWD, auto braking and lane departure warning system on board. Of course we have to have the duel entertainment systems for the little darlings in the back seat. Oh don't forget the navigation system too we might have to stop and ask directions or read a map, what a concept.
Before long there won't be any way to get the dummies out of the gene pole. It is probably too late anyway, just turn on TV. I see vehicles of all shapes and sizes with drivers that shouldn't have a license for roller skates let alone a 4000 lb. missile. They curb the crap out of the 18" factory optional wheel, $600 each, just to get in or out of a parking place. But they all can operate a cell phone with one hand...

[SRR]

There are some features that as you get older and have Arthritis that are nice to have. I love pwr windows, door locks, pwr seats and steering wheel controls. My car has auto headlights but I don't use it.

[Sirrotica]

That post was so excellent I had to read it twice....

Things evolve, there is a saying that "You can't stop progress" apparently some would like to though. Not every convenience feature on automobiles is so great we can't live without it, but I know that going from driving bare bones cars when I first started driving, to the cars I currently own, I wouldn't want to go back to a 59 Catalina 2 door post car that had only an automatic, P/S and P/B and a radio, for my daily driver.

I think DRL are one of the best things Detroit has come out with as far as safety, I surmise not everyone shares that sentiment though. Ford and Honda seem to be holdouts for manly headlight switches...……...LMAO

FWD wasn't instituted for travel in inclement weather, It was in response to higher CAFE fuel averages that the Gov't mandated. There is less parasitic loses with a FWD layout equaling better fuel economy.

Maybe we should lose the internet too, and then no one would be posting about the "Good Ole Days". vs todays cars.

[77 Canamman]

My last 4 GM vehicles all have had reliable auto headlights, in addition to the DRLs.. No excuses for the others not to have them, since a majority of todays motorists are total fools.