People Leaving Car Headlights On During Daytime!?
By Gudheart
@gudheart (12659)
July 26, 2016 8:46am CST
I am not sure the reason behind this but it seems to be a common occurrence. During the day when it is bright and clear I notice a number of cars driving with their headlights on but can't figure out the reason why?
Any ideas? Surely it can't just because they forgot to turn it off right....? lol
17 people like this
21 responses
@msiduri (5687)
• United States
26 Jul 16
When I rode a motorcycle, I often had the headlights on all the time. In some states (not the one where I live), it's required by law for motorcycles. This, in theory, makes you more visible to oncoming cars.
There are other goofy laws, though. For example, in California, if you run your windshield wipers, you have to have your headlights on. Yeah, go figure.
There are areas of road where you have to have your headlights on.
Some cars are manufactures to have day runners—not headlights, but a second set of lights nearer the ground—on at all times.
And so on.
2 people like this
@shaggin (72131)
• United States
26 Jul 16
@msiduri It is because when you run your wipers for more then cleaning its due to rain so when it rains headlights must be on to make you more visible to other drivers. If you literally only turned them on for 30 seconds to clean the windshield you probably wouldnt get a ticket.
2 people like this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
26 Jul 16
@gudheart If you live in Scandinavia, in the middle of the winter - and for months either side - it's never really fully light. So Volvos and Saabs are built with always on side lights.
As for people remembering to turn their lights on, if the idiots I see driving around with no lights on are anything to go by, it's not so easy as you think.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
26 Jul 16
I'm sure people already told you that the lights are supposed to be on in daylight - it's automatic. Maybe not where you live. I would worry if ours were out.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
27 Jul 16
@gudheart It think that function has been around many years here.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (82798)
• United States
26 Jul 16
My car has automatic lights that come on when it starts getting dark (I think they are called running lights)
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (82798)
• United States
27 Jul 16
@gudheart nope they come on by themselves when it gets dust and then turn off themselves. It's a great feature cause I never have to remember whether I have my lights on or if I turned them off
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
26 Jul 16
They required them here for awhile, but stopped, I guess, because people don't do it any more (at least not so much). The idea was so they would be more visible on our flat, long highways, but I think the human mind gets used to anything and doesn't respond to it as well after awhile.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (166970)
• Boise, Idaho
26 Jul 16
I rented a car one time that the lights automatically came on. I think some new models may just come on. Drivers probably don't even know that the lights are on. I sure didn't.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (166970)
• Boise, Idaho
27 Jul 16
@gudheart ......Yes, it is odd but I think it may be a safety feature of the car. Better on all day than not at all.
@akalinus (43196)
• United States
26 Jul 16
There are some states that require headlights on during the daylight hours. Also, you need to turn them on during rain. If the wipers are on, the light also needs to be on. My car has running lights that are on all the time unless I turn on the main lights.
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15505)
• United Kingdom
26 Jul 16
Lots of cars and most motorbikes have lights on permanently.
On a new bike there is no off switch for the lights.
It doesn't use the battery as such when driving as the alternator charges the battery when driving.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
26 Jul 16
Many newer cars these days have day running lights. They go on automatically and there is no way to turn them off.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29820)
• Momence, Illinois
27 Jul 16
@gudheart I have one car that does that and one car that doesn't. Soon all cars will do it and you won't have a choice. I see no way in my car to turn off the running day lights.
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
26 Jul 16
The lights on our car aren't on all the time, but do come on automatically whenever the car thinks they need to be on {tunnels, grey skies, lots of rain, plus nighttime obviously!}
1 person likes this
@shivamani10 (11035)
• Hyderabad, India
26 Jul 16
In some countries, it is necessary to keep the headlights on at all times
1 person likes this