Headlights. Why do some people drive in bad weather with just their sidelights on?

mike-from-spain

I always used the rule, wipers on, lights on. I suspect you are right when you say they think they are saving electricity. In other countries side lights are, indeed, known as parking lights, and that is all they should be used for. Same rule applies to being in fog or mist, if visibility is poor, then dipped headlights are a must

jen

I don' t understand that either. It is better to be seen than have an accident.

Sonny Walkman

They dont want to drain all the energy from their battery which just about sums up thier levels of intelligence.

KrautRocket

Because they are morons. I suspect that they figure they need to see the instrument display better.

They think "I can see fine". The purpose of the lights is so that others can see them.

spanishpaella

This is so true.

Dont people realise that its dark?

I was driving to Swindon not so long ago and there was torrential rain. I had all my lights on and fog ones too as I could barely see anything and there were cars with no lights on at all!

Even at night, there are cars with no lights on.

Walter G

This why light functions should be only in partial control of the driver. I see people drive in pitch black with parking lights on. There should only be an 'on' and 'off' on the lights and every car should have an automatic dimmer that cuts off the brights. This is more annoying to have someone in a car with their high beams on in broad daylight, in my opinion.

Rob R

You are correct, sidelights are for parking.
Another point is that fog lamps are not substitutes for dipped headlights, which is a very common misuse of them.

As the police get more money from speeding offences they seem reluctant to enforce the lighting laws.

Rob

Toma

The only time you should do this is in Fog. The headlights reflect off the Fog inhibiting the drivers vision. But, if you drive in Fog you should have Amber Fog lights on you car.

Dr Dee

You are right.

cmm6501

I'm not sure why this is...I'm glad that most cars produced now have daytime running headlight or lamps. you do not have the option of them being on or off they are automatic...some states are making it a law that if it is bad weather, lights on or ticket you will get.

Malcolm

Some may think they don't need lights to see the way in daylight, not realising that the purpose is to BE seen, but many are probably just bloody-minded - I was like that once until I got some sense. The same applied to wearing seat belts when the regulation first came out - I was darned if I would wear one! Now I'm older (85) and wiser.

I was motoring a couple of years ago in Holland, Germany and Denmark, and I noticed that dipped headlights were required all day regardless of the weather. Nowadays I regularly switch on if there's the slightest doubt about being seen, particularly when I'm overtaking. It's especially important for motor cyclists.

tmctagga

Totally agree. I often drive in the Highlands and I wish the government would follow the lead in Scandanavian countries where headlights are on all the time. The cars (such as Volvos) have this as a setting at time of production and nobody gives it a second thought. It has cut the number of serious accidents and deaths significantly

angie n

the answer is that they are pigs, a lot of driver's couldn't give a damn, some one pulled out of a lay by today, about six other driver's had to take fast action to avoid an accident , if there had been an accident it would not been there fault would it

Leo

I'd rather they used sidelights than no lights like around here! Honestly sometimes you can only see about 25 metres ahead of you cos of fog here and still people drive with no lights on!!

It's pure lunacy.

rakapur2002

your right i almost go in an accident with one i was making a right on red and some ******* didnt have his lights on his car blended because it was dark he had no lights on and if i hit him or if he hit me it would be my fault since i'm making a right on red (legal in that area), and it is a state law here to have your lights on when it is overcast skys or the sun starts setting (northern virginia) even cops dont fallow that law, its messed up, i hope one day all those S.O.B's crash into each other (no injurys) and then maybe they will learn a lesson, they also say here you should have your lights on all the time when dirving but thats not required

KWB

.....They are just lazy and inconsiderate. The department of transport recommends turning on headlights as soon as it starts raining.
As to your point about costing nothing to use headlights, you are wrong. When you turn on your lights it puts a drain on the battery which needs charging by the alternator to maintain full charge. As the engine is working harder, you are using more fuel, all be it, a small amount.
The argument can also be used for people who forget to turn off their fog lights when its not foggy too, or people who sit in the middle or outside lane when not over taking. It's just inconsideration of the human race. It will never change, sadly.

palebeachbum

I DO NOT like daytime running lights because at night it can give the driver the false impression that their nighttime driving lights are on. I've seen this happen many many times before. Driving in pitch black night and the only lights on are their headlights, not tail lights too, which indicates to me they have their light swtich off and jsut the daytim running lights are on. I think this is actually a safety hazard. And no, some people are not intelligent enough to realize their gauges are not illuminated, indicating to them their lights are in fact off. The only intelligent daytime running lights sytem I've found to be truly intelligent is the system Volvo used in the mid-90's. Basically, all exterior lights and interior lights are on all the time. This may sounds stupid, BUT it ellinimates the possibility of driver error. The only problem with this is that you have to remember to turn the headlight switch "on" before you can operate your highbeams. My Mom leaves her headlight switch "on" in her Volvo 940 all the time, since it makes no different to have it turned off. This way, when it's nighttime, she can use her highbeams at will and not have to figure out if the light switch is on or off. I don't understand why automakers don't just eliminate the light switch completely, and just leave the high beam lever. Having your lights on all the time while driving is not a bad thing. It would of course have to have lights that go off with the car though, which many newer cars have now anyway. Seems like the only intelligent solution to me. As for fog lights, there is usually a seperate switch or button for those anyway. That could stay the same.

paul

I don't drive much nowadays but there was quite a debate about this many years ago before new laws were introduced. I find in dim light I can see better if cars only use sidelights. If cars use headlights I can only see the lights and nothing else; with sidelights I am able to see if there are other road users, such as pedestrians, in the area. A law was introduced to make headlights compulsory in bad visibility. Visibility is the distance that one can see, so if one can see to the end of the road there is no need for headlights. The answer is dim dip lights, which are now fitted to many cars.
Headlights do use more energy than sidelights. It's got to come from somewhere so, ultimately more fuel will be used.
My opinion is that headlights are in order to be able to see where you are going. Sidelights should be adequate to be seen by except in exceptional conditions such as poor visibility. But if sidelights can't be seen what chance does a poor cyclist have?
Putting headlights on in daylight, when a cloud goes over the sun or when there is a shower is just pig ignorance. Says a lot about Volvo owners.

mini the prophet of fubar

perhaps this is something that is in the highway code and IF it is IT should be DEALT with by police and them being fined your right if visibility is poor people need to use full lights apart from anything else there are other road users that they won't see eg bicyclist, motorbikes pedestrians animals all of which are vulnerable to the lethal weapon they are negligently in control of, perhaps cars should be fitted with a light sensor so the lights come on automatically so the morons don't need to think about it but no i think if they are an idiot take there licence away from them before they kill someone

Bob

because they know best !

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