People that drive at dusk while it's raining without their headlights on piss me off

[thomsbrain]

It's been made much worse by the increasing common feature of electroluminescent gauges. People don't know their lights aren't on because the gauges are all lit up, no different than they would be if the lights were on. Most panels have a "lights on" icon to help you tell the difference, but most people are too stupid to pay attention. Throw in daytime running lights and you can just about guarantee that Soccer Mom is not going to turn on her lights. She'll be thinking her center stack lighting is broken before she figures out her lights aren't on.

 

[ChaosDivine]

Originally posted by: Imp
I hate people with LED/white/blue lights and who don't know how to work their highbeams. It's people behind me that piss me off though, anyone oncoming will pass, they stick around.

Why? As long as it's a proper HID (and not cheap ass ricer retrofits), it should be fine.
Agreed on the blue (or even worse purple) though. I would never exceed 5000K.

 

[HannibalX]

My car has automatic headlamps. I can't remember the last time I fiddled with the settings. The lamps come on automatically if the wipers are being used or if it's dark. The sensor is tuned very well IMO because at dawn and dusk the lamps are still on. Also, it takes about two seconds or so after driving into a tunnel, underpass or parking garage for the lamps to flick on. When you turn the car off the lamps stay illuminated for a pre-set amount of time (up to two minutes IIRC).

If my 1996 Ford has this I don't see why every modern car doesn't also have it.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: alkemyst
followed by those that think high beams are better in daylight and hazards should be used in the rain.

Hazard lights in heavy downpours increase your visibility, in fact doubling it than just headlights or tail lights alone.

Do everybody a favor and turn on your hazard lights in heavy downpours where visibility is a concern.

You realize most drivers cannot then determine when you are hitting your brakes or stopped even.

It's extremely hard for many to judge a much slower vehicle when approaching.

Do everyone a favor and stay off the roadways if you are unable to drive in inclement weather.

 

[HannibalX]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: alkemyst
followed by those that think high beams are better in daylight and hazards should be used in the rain.

Hazard lights in heavy downpours increase your visibility, in fact doubling it than just headlights or tail lights alone.

Do everybody a favor and turn on your hazard lights in heavy downpours where visibility is a concern.

You realize most drivers cannot then determine when you are hitting your brakes or stopped even.

It's extremely hard for many to judge a much slower vehicle when approaching.

Do everyone a favor and stay off the roadways if you are unable to drive in inclement weather.

Then don't tailgate.

I'm sure you have an excuse for your bad driving too.

 

[alkemyst]

how you assuming I am tailgating someone with hazards on? It causes people to overtake them then switch lanes abruptly endangering everyone else.

Chances are that guy with the hazards on is also driving much slower than the flow of traffic, he should get off the interstate and head over to a slower road.

You have just proved you are one of the retards of the roadways by agreeing that hazards are the right thing to do....9 times out of 10 if you are moving with your hazards on, you are using them incorrectly.

 

[HannibalX]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
how you assuming I am tailgating someone with hazards on? It causes people to overtake them then switch lanes abruptly endangering everyone else.

Chances are that guy with the hazards on is also driving much slower than the flow of traffic, he should get off the interstate and head over to a slower road.

You have just proved you are one of the retards of the roadways by agreeing that hazards are the right thing to do....9 times out of 10 if you are moving with your hazards on, you are using them incorrectly.

You're such an idiot.

If you are so close to the car in front of you that when their hazards blink and you stupidly confuse them for brake lights that you must slam on your brakes because you have stupidly assumed they were in fact braking then you are following too closely, dumbass. Back to your corner please.

 

[spidey07]

If visibility is so bad that I'm using my hazards so you can see me then you shouldn't be doing any passing or lane changes. The DOT recommends turning on your hazard lights in very poor visibility - blowing snow, fog, heavy rain.

Drive safe. Don't be the cause of accidents.

 

[Newfie]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
how you assuming I am tailgating someone with hazards on? It causes people to overtake them then switch lanes abruptly endangering everyone else.

Chances are that guy with the hazards on is also driving much slower than the flow of traffic, he should get off the interstate and head over to a slower road.

You have just proved you are one of the retards of the roadways by agreeing that hazards are the right thing to do....9 times out of 10 if you are moving with your hazards on, you are using them incorrectly.

I agree with Alkemyst.

Driving with your hazard lights on will only confuse other drivers. I live in a place where 0 or close-to-0 visibility conditions are commonplace and I have never seen anybody driving with their hazard lights on (with the exception of processions). You might be good intentioned but the signal that you are actually sending is too ambiguous.

If you are driving in deplorable conditions then is is safe to assume that you will be driving very slow. If you see hazard lights in front of you (and nothing else) then it is not a far stretch to assume that driver is actually stopped on the side of the road, or stopped ON the road, leading you to change your path (which is an unnecessary risk as your attention is now divided). When you are driving slowly, it is easy to mistake somebody moving as being stopped.

If you are driving in conditions that you think require hazard lights then pull your car over, come to a halt and then activate them. Be smart and stay off the road until the driving conditions are actually safe.

 

[KeithTalent]

Agree with OP and it seems to be more of a problem in the USA. We drove down to Kirkland for breakfast a few weeks ago, ended up in a torrential downpour on the I5 (could not see 2 feet in front of me) and over half of the American drivers did not have their lights on. Dangerous as all hell and I do not understand why someone would want to drive around like that.

KT

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
Agree with OP and it seems to be more of a problem in the USA. We drove down to Kirkland for breakfast a few weeks ago, ended up in a torrential downpour on the I5 (could not see 2 feet in front of me) and over half of the American drivers did not have their lights on. Dangerous as all hell and I do not understand why someone would want to drive around like that.

KT

I really think the advent of auto lights plays a significant role as mentioned. That and folks just don't seem to be safety minded when it comes to driving.

 

[Newfie]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
Agree with OP and it seems to be more of a problem in the USA. We drove down to Kirkland for breakfast a few weeks ago, ended up in a torrential downpour on the I5 (could not see 2 feet in front of me) and over half of the American drivers did not have their lights on. Dangerous as all hell and I do not understand why someone would want to drive around like that.

KT

I really think the advent of auto lights plays a significant role as mentioned. That and folks just don't seem to be safety minded when it comes to driving.

Everybody has the "I'm invincible" mentality. My pet peeve is failing to indicate a lane change as that is an accident waiting to happen.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: spidey07
If visibility is so bad that I'm using my hazards so you can see me then you shouldn't be doing any passing or lane changes. The DOT recommends turning on your hazard lights in very poor visibility - blowing snow, fog, heavy rain.

Drive safe. Don't be the cause of accidents.

Please cite that source...in many states it's illegal to drive with your hazards on in any condition.

 

[Modular]

Originally posted by: shocksyde
Some people disable their daytime running lights. Don't ask me why. ALL THE COOL KIDS DO IT!

Running headlights at all times wastes gasoline.

Edit: just read that this was mentioned. An electrical load on the alternator makes it harder to turn, which in turn causes the engine to work harder to spin the thing. This uses gas and decreases mileage. It's for this very reason that Honda uses a specialized "electrical load detector" that actually decreases the voltage output of the alternator if there is little electrical load being placed on the system. The less voltage the alternator is outputting, the lower the total wattage and the lower the drag on the engine.

 

[eits]

i completely agree, op. i don't understand why it's so hard to turn on your lights when the sun isn't out (cloudy, rainy, snowing, dusk, night, etc.).

my headlights are on all the time, even if it's sunny out. that way i don't have to worry one way or the other.

 

[speedy2]

Agreed. I've always known that rain=lights on.....period. Also, fog=lights on. There's not a day that goes by that I don't see at least 5-10 people without their lights on. And I live in a rural area and drive 6 miles one way to work. My 3rd car was a 1998 Cadillac Seville STS. Daytime running lights. And the lights would come on when you turned the wipers on. This should be a standard feature on all cars by now.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: speedy2
Agreed. I've always known that rain=lights on.....period. Also, fog=lights on. There's not a day that goes by that I don't see at least 5-10 people without their lights on. And I live in a rural area and drive 6 miles one way to work. My 3rd car was a 1998 Cadillac Seville STS. Daytime running lights. And the lights would come on when you turned the wipers on. This should be a standard feature on all cars by now.

I think canada mandates day time running lights. Should be standard feature. But I can see that actually causing LESS people to turn on their headlights in low visibility scenarios - "hey, I can see so what's the big deal?"

The big deal dummy is so that everybody else can see you. Turn them on for everybody else for safety.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: speedy2
Agreed. I've always known that rain=lights on.....period. Also, fog=lights on. There's not a day that goes by that I don't see at least 5-10 people without their lights on. And I live in a rural area and drive 6 miles one way to work. My 3rd car was a 1998 Cadillac Seville STS. Daytime running lights. And the lights would come on when you turned the wipers on. This should be a standard feature on all cars by now.

I vote the driver should be able to control their lights.

Headlights aren't that great in a rainy fog.

 

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: iFX
My car has automatic headlamps. I can't remember the last time I fiddled with the settings. The lamps come on automatically if the wipers are being used or if it's dark. The sensor is tuned very well IMO because at dawn and dusk the lamps are still on. Also, it takes about two seconds or so after driving into a tunnel, underpass or parking garage for the lamps to flick on. When you turn the car off the lamps stay illuminated for a pre-set amount of time (up to two minutes IIRC).

If my 1996 Ford has this I don't see why every modern car doesn't also have it.

Exactly my thoughts.

I think we all agree DRLs and headlights that come on automaticallly with wipers are good. It can be argued that fully automatic headlights make drivers less aware of their "headlamp status" and may make them not have them on when they should be, but myself and others seem to feel our auto lights come on at pretty much all appropriate times. What way is there to keep people more aware though? I really don't know. Interior lights being off really should be an obvious indication. Sadly, as others have said, people are probably not watching their speedo, or would assume their interior lights are broken.

 

[zerocool1]

Originally posted by: joshsquall
It's illegal in VA to not have your headlights on if your wipers are on.

I think that's the case in IL. I've got an auto setting, so I think they turn on when I turn on the windshield wipers or when it gets dark.