Nighttime driving rant

[wildcard50]

This has happened twice this week and i find it scary. I find many drivers are driving at night with thier daytime running lights only. I almost rear ended a car in the 404 at night ,the car was black too so it was invisible.the highway near newmarket has no street lights so it was pitch black. Especially those new civics with the digital dash.are drivers so dense that they dont know to turn thier nightime lights on.and why arn t these people getting ticketed?

[old-guy]

why arn t these people getting ticketed

Cops are too busy giving speeding tickets :chuckle Seen alot of this in my days and I just figure that they have been drinking - avoid at all costs!

[boyracer]

This has happened twice this week and i find it scary. I find many drivers are driving at night with thier daytime running lights only. I almost rear ended a car in the 404 at night ,the car was black too so it was invisible.the highway near newmarket has no street lights so it was pitch black. Especially those new civics with the digital dash.are drivers so dense that they dont know to turn thier nightime lights on.and why arn t these people getting ticketed?

+1000 Wow, My wife made the same observation last night here in Mississauga. It`s getting quite common now a days. The police need to start coming down hard on these individuals

[Jeff-TheBiz]

Too bad every car doesn't come with auto headlights...

[TheMAN]

Too bad every car doesn't come with auto headlights...

exactly
it's a good thing corollas come with that feature... my mom's corolla LE has those optitron gauges like the mazda3 GT... it's always lit no matter what, and with DRLs it's hard to know whether your lights are really on or not (if you're car stupid that is)... so toyota added a light sensor on top of the dash and it'll automatically force the lights on when it's dark!

for those who are DRL fans, this is one reason why I hate DRLs... it is a big disadvantage and safety issue because people always believe their cars have automatic headlights... if there's no DRLs, then people will be forced to turn on their lights manually like the good old days

[FoXy]

I dont know why they don't put it on all cars, even my old 93 grand am had auto headlights, it should be a given nowadays with how dense ppl are.

[TheMAN]

because it costs money
if they can save $1 not putting it in, they save $1000000 with 1000000 cars

[Thrizzl3]

i see cars like this all the time..mostly lexus rx series and toyota camry's...lol

[The Wolf]

This drives me nuts. I see it nearly every morning on my commute. In the country where there are no street lights, I don't see it as much... but as I come into the city, it never fails.

Not sure why every car doesn't have auto lights. Government should mandate it.

[Hyperion]

If I see that, I flash my high beams at them. Might blind them, but it might also get their attention

[The Wolf]

If I see that, I flash my high beams at them. Might blind them, but it might also get their attention

I usually try that... but if they're the type of person who doesn't know their lights aren't on, they're probably the type of person who would have no idea why somebody is flashing their lights at them lol

[Dreamliner]

My 2004 EL and my mom's 2007 CSX both lack auto headlights. However, when it gets dark, the high beam symbol (blue headlight) glows (or is dimly lit) which indicates it's time to turn on the headlights. There is a light sensor on the dash though so why they didn't just make it an automatic system I don't know. I definitely agree that the new dashboards that are always lit up are really bad for allowing people to forget to turn on their headlights.

Even with mandatory auto-headlights, you'd still have people who don't put the switch to AUTO. I've seen enough cars which I know for a fact have auto headlights with them off at night.

[ElectroJay]

haha I recently thought about this the other night while observing the same thing on the roads :/

[Hoodzy]

I find people driving in bad weather without there lights on about 100000000 times more often then driving at night without headlights.
I don't think people don't turn on headlights at night because they have auto lights. It's because they are morons. Not even parking lights on.. how do you see your damn gauges?? NOTE: mazda 3 and civic are the only car i've seen that always has its gauges lit up.)

However I would assume most people don't turn on there headlights in bad weather usually when it's still light out because they just have auto headlights and think they go on when needed. Obviously not the case.

Manual is the way to go.. You shouldn't be driving if you are so damn dense you need your headlights to come on automatically when it's dark. Or just have the headlights to know when it's a bloody downpour and lights should be on.

[PR3Y11]

I've been doing this sometimes lately but only to avoid getting pulled over with one working headlight. I do have the rear lights on however so no one should he rear ending me. On another note you should be able to see them in front of you regardless of whether they have any lights of any sort or lack there of. That's lime saying "oh man I didn't know the road turned" and you ending up in a ditch. If you hit someone in front of you while they areoving and going straight that's your own fault. If they're behind you and you don't know then thats a different story.

[TheMAN]

My 2004 EL and my mom's 2007 CSX both lack auto headlights. However, when it gets dark, the high beam symbol (blue headlight) glows (or is dimly lit) which indicates it's time to turn on the headlights. There is a light sensor on the dash though so why they didn't just make it an automatic system I don't know. I definitely agree that the new dashboards that are always lit up are really bad for allowing people to forget to turn on their headlights.

Even with mandatory auto-headlights, you'd still have people who don't put the switch to AUTO. I've seen enough cars which I know for a fact have auto headlights with them off at night.

there's actually no "auto" selection on my mom's corolla... it's either off, parking lights, or on... and when the auto system kicks in, it overrides all the other settings, you can't turn the lights off at all!

[greardon]

yeah i agree that's stupid to run like that on the highway. On another note I hate the opposite, these HID's on like a stock junk box are so bright its blinding, not sure why these are even allowed on the road.

[Harbour Rat]

I see lots of people driving around with just the DRLs too. A couple of weeks ago I saw a reasonably new pickup on the highway, new enough it definitely would have factory DRLs and he had no lights on, so DRLs disabled. This was before 8AM and he just suddenly appeared out the fog about 50 m in front of me, creeping along at about 40 km/h, fortunately in the on-coming lane. Farmers, whattaygonnado?

Every car should work like my 91 VW Golf: If the key is on, all the lights are on, parking lights and headlights. The only way to turn off the lights is to turn off the car.

[r4BBiT]

I've been doing this sometimes lately but only to avoid getting pulled over with one working headlight. I do have the rear lights on however so no one should he rear ending me. On another note you should be able to see them in front of you regardless of whether they have any lights of any sort or lack there of. That's lime saying "oh man I didn't know the road turned" and you ending up in a ditch. If you hit someone in front of you while they areoving and going straight that's your own fault. If they're behind you and you don't know then thats a different story.

That is ignorant, basically you are saying that is okay for those people to drive without their lights on at night (or when it's pouring)?

Have you ever been to Europe? That kind of behaviour is simply not acceptable over there and you would get a huge ticket for either not having lights on or blown bulb and that would go for fog/heavy rain/night conditions.

[SomeGuy]

Also upsetting (even more so than headlights) is people who have ALL their brake lights burnt out....christ that's dangerous.

[ElectroJay]

That is ignorant, basically you are saying that is okay for those people to drive without their lights on at night (or when it's pouring)?

It seems like people like to call others ignorant all the time these days. Anyway, I believe PR3Y11 is just stating that he uses daytime headlights when he has only one working headlight. His post doesn't even imply anything to do with poor weather... that is you saw how he wrote "whether" and thought that me meant "weather"

I can tell you that, with one working headlight, I would also use just daytime lights during night until I can get the light fixed.

[Fuyuzora]

I used to try the "high beam flash" to alert people that their lights were off (or only DRLs running)... I've since given up since most of them just slow down to let you pass and/or look at you like you're insane and/or get really aggressive with you as a result. As depressing as it is, it's easier to simply stay 5~6 lengths behind them, so that you can safely monitor them.

That said, I definitely don't think mandatory auto lights is the answer... Better driver training, stricter licencing and better enforcement would serve society better than catering to the lowest common denominator.


Also upsetting (even more so than headlights) is people who have ALL their brake lights burnt out....christ that's dangerous.

I once had to follow a contact for work up in Northern Ontario who had a busted wiring harness (or something), and neither brake lamp worked. It was actually good that I had to follow him around though, since I quickly caught on to that fact and drove accordingly, and thus we had proper brake lights at the end of the two-car formation; better than than having someone who doesn't know slip in there and risk a collision.

I was also behind a Mitsubishi Eclipse in Ottawa one time, who for god knows what reason (mis-wired harness?) had bright white brake lights. Was like being in the same lane as oncoming traffic.

[Dreamliner]

I used to try the "high beam flash" to alert people that their lights were off (or only DRLs running)... I've since given up since most of them just slow down to let you pass and/or look at you like you're insane and/or get really aggressive with you as a result. As depressing as it is, it's easier to simply stay 5~6 lengths behind them, so that you can safely monitor them.

That said, I definitely don't think mandatory auto lights is the answer... Better driver training, stricter licencing and better enforcement would serve society better than catering to the lowest common denominator.



I once had to follow a contact for work up in Northern Ontario who had a busted wiring harness (or something), and neither brake lamp worked. It was actually good that I had to follow him around though, since I quickly caught on to that fact and drove accordingly, and thus we had proper brake lights at the end of the two-car formation; better than than having someone who doesn't know slip in there and risk a collision.

I was also behind a Mitsubishi Eclipse in Ottawa one time, who for god knows what reason (mis-wired harness?) had bright white brake lights. Was like being in the same lane as oncoming traffic.

I have seen Ford Escape's (or perhaps the same one) with the REVERSE lights on ALL the time. I don't know what was going on with that car.

[wildcard50]

I've been doing this sometimes lately but only to avoid getting pulled over with one working headlight. I do have the rear lights on however so no one should he rear ending me. On another note you should be able to see them in front of you regardless of whether they have any lights of any sort or lack there of. That's lime saying "oh man I didn't know the road turned" and you ending up in a ditch. If you hit someone in front of you while they areoving and going straight that's your own fault. If they're behind you and you don't know then thats a different story.

So in your opinion its ok drive with drls at night ,but its the fault of the driver who rear ends a car with no night lights on?

[STeeLy]

My parents are like that, it really frustrates me.

I keep telling my mom that the stalk has to click twice as the first click is only DRLs.

My dad didn't believe and he finally got a ticket for it. If I could, I would have laughed in his face.

[Booostin]

You guys are talking about people driving with just drls... what about people driving without any lights at all! Are these people retarded? How can you not notice that you have absolutely no light in front of you? I usually see this on older vehicles. Also, does anyone ever see people in front of them with brake lights on but the person isnt braking... I think its just a glitch in the brake pedal but it always confuses me.

[TheMAN]

it's either a glitch or those idiots use the brake pedal as their foot rest!
I've seen a good number of people who use their left foot to brake (and thus also use the brake pedal as a foot rest), and that's a dangerous habit

[Fuman]

I've told people to turn on their lights, usually they just laugh at themselves in good spirit, thank me and go on with their night.

As for no brake lights, or lack of, I've been told a few times that yeah I know I'm not going to fix it. <-- most infuriating.

[greaves82]

You guys are talking about people driving with just drls... what about people driving without any lights at all! Are these people retarded? How can you not notice that you have absolutely no light in front of you? I usually see this on older vehicles. Also, does anyone ever see people in front of them with brake lights on but the person isnt braking... I think its just a glitch in the brake pedal but it always confuses me.

They could be two footed drivers. They use their right foot for the gas pedal and their left for braking. Usually when their arent braking their foot is resting on the pedal and their applying pressure witout even knowing, activating the rear brake lights

[wildcard50]

Last night i saw a driving school car driving with drls only, so i guess morons are teaching morons.

[vinnierap]

Last night i saw a driving school car driving with drls only, so i guess morons are teaching morons.

Driving chool instrutors are one of the worst drivers. You ever see how they drive when they are by themselves in the car? HORRIBLE!!!!

[GoForTires]

i find quite a bit that honda civic drivers would have their hi beams on as well.
and they drive as if they dont even know that they are on

[tweak_s]

Which is also hilarious because at 8:45PM (mind you... this was in the summer so it wasn't that dark), that a cop wanted to give me a ticket because my fogs were on. He eventually "gave me a break" (due to him finding another charge, long story.. everything dropped lol).

But I found it downright stupid that he'd want to charge me for having those stock fogs on (these aren't subaru huge fogs we have), and not charge people with no lights on at all. There are SO many of them.

[Hoodzy]

Which is also hilarious because at 8:45PM (mind you... this was in the summer so it wasn't that dark), that a cop wanted to give me a ticket because my fogs were on. He eventually "gave me a break" (due to him finding another charge, long story.. everything dropped lol).

But I found it downright stupid that he'd want to charge me for having those stock fogs on (these aren't subaru huge fogs we have), and not charge people with no lights on at all. There are SO many of them.

Using your fogs as DRL's?? or just having them on??

[r4BBiT]

Which is also hilarious because at 8:45PM (mind you... this was in the summer so it wasn't that dark), that a cop wanted to give me a ticket because my fogs were on. He eventually "gave me a break" (due to him finding another charge, long story.. everything dropped lol).

But I found it downright stupid that he'd want to charge me for having those stock fogs on (these aren't subaru huge fogs we have), and not charge people with no lights on at all. There are SO many of them.

That actually pisses me off too. I hate people that drive with their fogs on when their is no need for them. Do you not realize that your lights are now outputting many more lumens and you are blinding oncoming traffic?

I don't care that it looks cool to you, its worse for other drivers and you should be ticketed for it.

Here is couple good pages worth reading:

http://www.garageboy.com/fahrt/fog.html

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/rulings/glare.html

[tweak_s]

Using your fogs as DRL's?? or just having them on??

My fogs are my DRLs now but I had them on with regular DRLs as well. Now, I only have the fogs on as DRL.


That actually pisses me off too. I hate people that drive with their fogs on when their is no need for them. Do you not realize that your lights are now outputting many more lumens and you are blinding oncoming traffic?

I don't care that it looks cool to you, its worse for other drivers and you should be ticketed for it.

Here is couple good pages worth reading:

http://www.garageboy.com/fahrt/fog.html

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/rulings/glare.html

Yes Yes, it will produce more Lumens... However, the fogs on our cars are more like driving lights. They're small and low.. I've never had the issue of "blinding" by fog lights unless it was by HID fogs, and the biggest culprits I've seen have been the tow trucks because their fogs are so damn high up.

If I had HID fogs, then yes, I would agree that this is too bright and should be on un-needingly.

I'm sorry I piss you off. I'll be more considerate next time. There are many people that run these lights now, Audis obviously being one of the biggest culprits. However, my problem still lies with the SUVs. The lower cars don't bother me.

The reason I even brought it up was because its not specifically specified in the HTA. the NHTSA website that you posted is for the US.

We'll leave the topic to go back to people driving WITHOUT lights.

[PR3Y11]

That is ignorant, basically you are saying that is okay for those people to drive without their lights on at night (or when it's pouring)?

Have you ever been to Europe? That kind of behaviour is simply not acceptable over there and you would get a huge ticket for either not having lights on or blown bulb and that would go for fog/heavy rain/night conditions.
nope just saying you have poor eye sight =]

[boyracer]

Last night i saw a driving school car driving with drls only, so i guess morons are teaching morons.


Driving chool instrutors are one of the worst drivers. You ever see how they drive when they are by themselves in the car? HORRIBLE!!!!

LOL, yes it`s a vicious cycle. That`s the same conclusion that I came too `morons teaching morons`

[vinnierap]

That actually pisses me off too. I hate people that drive with their fogs on when their is no need for them. Do you not realize that your lights are now outputting many more lumens and you are blinding oncoming traffic?

I don't care that it looks cool to you, its worse for other drivers and you should be ticketed for it.

Here is couple good pages worth reading:

http://www.garageboy.com/fahrt/fog.html

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/rulings/glare.html

I drive with my fog lights on all the time. If my lights go on automatically then my fogs turn on too. I have NEVER been "blinded" or distracted by fog lights on a car. How are fog lights that are niches off the ground going to blind you or affect your vision?

If you are talking about trucks with "off road" lights or tow trucks like previously stated thats a different story. But "FOG" lights??? Gimme a break!!!!!!!