Over the last few weeks I have been seeing this more and more and in all areas of town at nights. And that is people driving with their headlights turned off at night. I'm not saying that they are completely dark with absolutely no light. What many of these people are doing is driving with just their ultra bright fog lights and with their head lights off. I've especially noticed the newer Dodge trucks that are doing this because their fog lights are so bright. Another thing I see is the people who think just because they have daytime running lights and fog lights on, that they don't have to turn their actual headlights on. DRL and headlights are two different things. Its just like I have seen people driving with just their parking lights on at 9-10 at night.

It really bothers me at night when I see these two little tiny lights come up behind me and then I see that their headlights are off. It really makes it hard to see these people.

If this is a new trend going on, then it is not a very good one. I hope law enforcement, steps up and starts ticketing these people who do this kind of thing. It makes it dangerous for other drivers.

Anyone else ever see anyone doing this? or is it just something going on here in my city?

 

Just another example of an idea carried too far. The whole idea of DRL's has been blown way out of line. What was once just a little idea that might or might not help has turned into an irritating 'feature' built into many new vehicles and has created more problems than it has solved. I'm glad Ford hasn't started forcing DRL's on us yet.

 

I too see a lot of this in my area too, and here in Michigan morning rush-hour is at dawn and afternoon rush-hour is at dusk. With windows dirtied with snow, salt and/or fogged these people are almost invisible until they are right on top of you. Like I always say “surrounded by idiots”

Rocky – I disagree with you 100%, at least with DRL they are somewhat visible, the days where it is foggy or rainy and people say “why turn my lights on I can’t see any better with them on”. They forget other people can’t see them.

 

Well being from Canada...we have mandatory DRL....and the whole idea behind them is to save lives....which it does.

You do see the vehical better from a distance as well as in certain dusk/dawn situations, dusty conditions, snowy conditions.

They do what their supposed to....and I am happy for them.

and I hate ppl who run without lights in those situations.....

 

Ed753,
I don't disagree with using lights in low visibility situations, what I disagree with is the manufacturers making DRL's mandatory to where your headlights come on whenever the engine is running. Just because the lights help you with visibility in a snowstorm at dusk is no reason for me to be forced to have lights illuminated while cruising the beach on a sunny afternoon.

 

uhm.....you are not forced...they can be turned off on your switch....

 

The only vehicle I've driven with DRL's is my dad's '99 GMC Sierra and you cannot turn off the DRL's. If the ignition switch is in the 'run' position, the lights are on. I found myself driving down the interstate one night without my running lights on because the DRL's were on.

Using lights in poor visibility situations is good. Manufacturers and/or government mandating that the lights are on whenever the key is on is bad.

 

I agree with Rinkrat.

"They do what their supposed to....and I am happy for them."

So you are not "cool" running with your DRL's on a sunny day, but if all cars had them that would be a given and not factor into your "coolness"

Sure hope I don't pull out in front of you, for mine and your sake.

 

This is the way I understand it.
F150's built for sale in Canada are equipped with DRL as well as having Kilometers (KPH) predominate on the speedo rather than MPH, right?

Ford is only complying with the law of the land if they want to sell there.

GM on the other hand, just said screw it and made DRLs across the board.

 

Exactly! I agree you 100% on that statement. Just because you can't see any better in the fog with your lights on doesn't mean I can't see you better. Case and point, driving to school today. The last few weeks the fog has been alright, nothing too bad, but enough to disable clear vision of oncoming traffic. When I go to pass someone and it's foggy, I'll turn on my brights just so they can see me better, and let me know if there's someone coming my way.

 

I agree with Rocky. I want the government to be less in volved with my life than they are. I realize alot of these laws are intended to save lives, but at what point do you stop protecting people from themselves? Some of these laws are rediculous. For instance, here in GA, you must wear your seatbelt in a truck (and can be stopped and ticketed for that and nothing else), however it is legal to ride in the bed of the truck with no seat, much less a seatbelt! I don't get it!
On the original topic, I agree. I can't stand the people that don't turn their lights on when it is raining or foggy. That is dangerous. Also, it amazes me how many people I pass at night that don't have ANY lights on. Obviously, these people are not like us, because if they ever looked at their guages, they would realize their lights aren't on.

Finally, in the words of John Wayne, "Life is tough when you're stupid."

 

Ed,
It has absolutely nothing to do with 'coolness' and I am insulted by your insinuation that it does. What DOES matter is that having DRL's on automatically all the time will lull many into a false sense of security and people will be MORE LIKELY to forget to turn on all their lights at night. Let's go back to the original post in this thread, shall we? Just like some of those 'cool' people driving at night with only DRL's and no running lights, I have also found myself driving at night with only DRL's on. THIS SUCKS! If the DRL's had not been on, I would have turned on my headlights.

And I can see where someone from Canada or Michigan might need lights on all the time, because the weather is so friggin crappy most of the time. Boy, I'm glad I'm not dumb enough to live THERE! In the 'Land of Sunshine' we have 300 days of sunshine per year.

 

If they don't have there lights on, its there fault and your problem, should it cause an accident involving you because the oncoming car was "invisible".

Should we do away with speed limits too?

Unfortunately the government is sometimes needed to protect ourselves, from ourselves.............

 

DRL don't turn on the the dash lights so you should figure it out shortly after dusk, in the mean time I'll still see you.

I love Michigan's 4-seasons and its weather.........can you say "mudslide"

 

I don't think we should do away with speed limits. However, in traffic congested areas like I live in, the speed limit doesn't matter because of all the idiots driving slow in the left lane because they are going to turn left 20 miles down the road! I think that some of these laws, like slower traffic keep right, and tuirning your lights on in fog and rain, should be enforced more until speeding really becomes an issue again. At least that's how I feel where I live. I realize some of you have different situations.