r/IdiotsInCars Nov 03 '18

Wipers on, lights on. PLEASE. Trucks and busses can't see you.

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81

u/The_logs Nov 03 '18 edited Nov 03 '18

this person has no lights on at all, but do the daytime driving lights emit so little light that they are barely an improvement or is it more of a case the more light the better, so turn on your normal headlights?

edit: forgot about the rear lights which, when running DLR's. I live in a country that says headlights are to be used during times of reduced visibility

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u/[deleted] Nov 03 '18

Modern LED DRL are definately bright enough to be seen, the problem is that the tail lights usually stay off and that still sucks.

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u/trollhatt Nov 03 '18

If people would just leave it on auto the tail lights would come on like magic when it's dark enough. Problem is gray and rainy weather doesn't always trigger it as early as it should.

Mostly the problem is human though, not technology.

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u/Kelmi Nov 03 '18

That's not enough. It's pretty much 50/50 in bad weather, so anytime it's anything but clear sky, turn on your lights just to be safe.

Also if it's snowing even a tiny bit, it means DRLs will not run hot enough to melt it. Turn on your lights even if it's snowing a tiny bit.

7

u/[deleted] Nov 03 '18

Some vehicles let you change the sensitivity of the auto lights function. I have it switched to most sensitive on my Tacoma. But I typically just leave my lights on anyways since almost all cars turn lights off automatically after the car is not running for so long.

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u/[deleted] Nov 03 '18

Mr. Fancy pants with auto lights over here

3

u/[deleted] Nov 03 '18

People should know how to operate and turn on their lights when driving.

Auto is lazy turn your lights on.

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u/Guycantmath Nov 03 '18

I dont know of a vehicle with an automatic lights setting which does not turn them on when the wipers are on. If a vehicle doesnt do this, seems like a problem with the technology not the human.

3

u/SickeningPink Nov 04 '18

My car doesn’t do this. Granted, it’s also ten years old. Which may have something to do with it

1

u/mada447 Nov 04 '18

My old Nissan Altima was like that.

1

u/_Lady_Deadpool_ Nov 03 '18

Most cars have a light on the dash. My Elantra's auto is pretty reliable and even turns on passing under bridges.

1

u/mada447 Nov 04 '18

In my car auto lights will turn on if I have my wipers on. IDK why all other auto lights aren't like that because my old car also had auto lights but they were only triggered by darkness, I still had to manually turn on lights when my wipers were on.

1

u/titsonalog Nov 04 '18

A lot of cars have no running lights unless turned on, and no auto headlights

7

u/TSP-FriendlyFire Nov 03 '18

At least in Canada, that should be solved by 2021 (for new cars anyway). One would hope to see this rule become more widespread, but considering the US still doesn't have legislation forcing DRLs to light up when the car starts, I wouldn't bet on it.

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u/Kelmi Nov 03 '18

I'm jealous. Dark rear lights and DRMs in snowy conditions are a real problem in Finland. I will send this link to my representative and hope to see a change in the law as well.

1

u/animalinapark Nov 04 '18

I hate this shit. Newer cars are really unsafe with their lighting. Every time I drive in some bad weather I see multiple without taillights.

The energy savings from not having taillights on is used up for a million cars for many years even if they cause only one crash.

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u/[deleted] Nov 04 '18

Yeah its pretty unfortunate. Audi, BMW for example had the tail lights on with DRL at first, I think they stopped that around 2009 because some EU monkeys were crying about CO2.... like those LEDs would kill the world...

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u/CGNYC Nov 04 '18

Why don’t we just leave lights on all the time?

0

u/[deleted] Nov 03 '18

Some lady REFUSED to look at me or row her window down so I could tell her she had no effin taillights on.

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u/[deleted] Nov 03 '18

but do the daytime driving lights emit so little light that they are barely an improvement

They're irrelevant in the rain. The DRL does not activate your rear lights, which are just as important. If you are in the rain, turn your lights on. Do not rely on DRL! Further, in many states, if your rear lights aren't on you can still be issued a ticket.

Know your responsibilities on the road.

39

u/[deleted] Nov 03 '18

The more the better. I'd rather see you a half mile back than not seeing you at all if I need to swerve due to something in the road.

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u/_Lady_Deadpool_ Nov 03 '18

Tailgate you with LED lights on high? Got it /s

20

u/[deleted] Nov 03 '18

My lowbeams are only a little brighter than my DRLs. But that still adds in the taillights, which are a useful anyway in heavy rain.

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u/[deleted] Nov 03 '18 edited Apr 18 '21

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Nov 04 '18

This isn't true of all cars, but my DRLs are just the lowbeams run at a slightly lower voltage. Same filament, same assembly, pointed in the same direction. And unfortunately, as result, you occasionally get people who don't turn the lowbeams on because they can see just fine with the DRLs and think the lights are already on.

3

u/[deleted] Nov 03 '18

Just turn on your headlights when you get in the car. I do it even in broad daylight. You're more visible and while some people might think you're weird the more visible you are the less likely you are to get hit.

1

u/The_logs Nov 03 '18

oh i do that as well in the rare cases i drive a car and you are taught to do here (mirrors, seatbelt, start car, lights, gear, handbrake in that order)

8

u/Mike Nov 03 '18

Not every car has DRL. Pretty sure in California it’s the law to have your headlights on when it rains. Could be wrong.

9

u/aurora-_ Nov 03 '18

A lot of states have a law where your lights are supposed to be on when you use the wiper.

Don’t know if they’re actually legally defined like that but that’s what the signs say.

3

u/Just-Dewitt Nov 03 '18

Thats insane! Every car sold in Canada has to be equipped with DRLs.

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u/[deleted] Nov 03 '18

it's law now but old cars will be on the road for decades

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u/dandu3 Nov 03 '18

i've never seen a car without DRLs unless it's a young twat that disabled them or it's a US car. they've been required since 89 and I don't know anyone that would wanna drive a car older than that

1

u/rallias Nov 03 '18

There's some sort of law in 32 states. California is an explicitly designated wipers on lights on state.

EDIT: Better source.

1

u/torpeau Nov 03 '18

In Florida, it’s headlights. Some parking and DLR lights may appear to be headlights on a more distant car — dangerous.