Why do drivers have headlights on during the day?

Originally posted by gordstephan
Not sure if anyone else has posted this but DRL's also do not allow anyone to hide in dark areas even at night. One cannot simply idle with the lights off, hidden from view, at least not easily. I think this is more likely a reason for making it mandatory than others.

In Canada, any new car sold must have DRL and they cannot be disengaged.

Nothing that "nefarious intentions" and some basic automotive know-how couldn't handle.

If some has a reason to hide, they'll figure how to do it. And they probably won't be concerned about the laws.

Here in Holland its normal to drive iwth the lights on all day, we even had a campaign some years ago to point out the difference in visibility it makes, thus motivating people to do so, even on a sunny day (and yes, it does make a big difference)

reply to post by Heronumber0



I love the bit about the big red bus. LMAO
I`ve also noticed car`s with their lights on in broad-daylight. It`s the ones at night that don`t, that worries me

We have so many fools driving now they need as much warning they can get, so as to notice people driving. People on cell phones, texting, smoking, playing with radio, talking in the car, looking everywhere but the road, I think this covers just about all of us. So thank god for daylight running lamps!

Originally posted by Heronumber0
If the bus company state that heaving headlights on increases visibility I would say that something bright red, about 9 foot tall and 35 foot long does not really need headlights to be visible...

Train locomotives use huge (and often flashing) lights, as well as the air horns. You'd think that a thundering, 400-ton, half-mile long machine wouldn't need any extra visibility!

That said, daytime headlights on buses do make sense. You're operating in close quarters with pedestrians and traffic, and big cities like London are gonna have dark streets from "urban canyons", and bridges & overpasses. Having the lights always on also gives the drivers one less thing to worry about.

Oh I won't mention London's infamously overcast weather, which compounds the above factors.

One can view this fact as: we are involved in carrying a "signal" that can be viewed by anyone including the ones "in the know". This signal could be a count down per se, the more day-time running headlamps the closer to zero hour.

Another way to look at it is: "THEY" really care about our safety.... NOT.

Yet another way: "THEY" want your battery to run down.. Hmmm NOT.

reply to post by Heronumber0

I have noticed a large number of non-Volvo cars which have headlights on all day including the well lit siummer days.

It's called cheap insurance!! Many do it for just that reason. Many cars blend in with the asphalt, so with lights on, it can help.

The only reason the headlights are on is because this way the bulbs will burn out and you have to buy new ones. They were not selling as much when you don't have them on in the day time only at night. This way they burn out faster so you have to buy new ones. Thats all. You think that they are stupid???

safety, safety, safety.
my vw gti has running lights, and i put my triumph motorcycle lights on bright during the day, and only dim them at night (not to blind people).

Here in South Carolina, they made it a law to have your lights on if there is a continuous rain falling over the area. They argued that causes a low light condition which is often the case since heavy thunderstorms or downpours can block out a lot of sunlight here. However we have been having a drought here and I have seldom turned on my daylight running lights. I also drive a light colored or gray color car. I read the darker colored cars are subject to be involved in more accidents. Plus they tend to heat up more in the bright sun here. I guess some drivers do need all the help they can get. The DMV gives drivers licenses to morons apparently. Maybe I should be more politically correct and say the DMV gives driver licenses to people who don't like to pay attention to conditions on the road. I'm more worried about the drivers who stop on a green light or think it's ok to drive right through a red light or drive down the wrong side of a divided highway at night.

reply to post by skyblueff0


Flash your lights when you are giving permission for someone to move over in front of you, or for them to turn when they can't see you. If you get in front of a truck and he flashes his lights at you, he's telling you that you are clear to move over in front of him if you want to.

I feel your pain.
In London, they also drive on the wrong side of the road too.

I've noticed a lot of cars are like that now, lights on during the day, especially rental cars.

My new car is like that as well, never really thought about it, I guess I'm just getting used to it.

reply to post by Zaphod58
On that same note, try to give the truck some space before you expect him to come over. I am looking back at 53 feet of trailer in my side mirror compressed into about an inch and a half of view. I can't judge 10 feet that accurately like that. Flashing your lights helps, but if it looks like I am too close, I will still hesitate rather than chance spearing your fender from the side with that ICC bumper.

Also, if the truck's rear lights seem to flicker on and off, it's not a malfunction; it's us saying thank you. We have an interrupt switch for just that purpose. I had one four-wheeler get frantic once trying to tell me there was something wrong with my lights after I thanked him. A lot of drivers use flashers as well for the same thing.

TheRedneck

reply to post by TheRedneck


The problem now is that a lot of new drivers don't show any respect towards anyone out there, especially four wheelers. I don't know how many times I have seen these younger drivers (I'm one too, but I learned from an old school driver and would flash my lights at everyone), that don't flash their lights for anyone or say thank you or anything.

reply to post by Zaphod58
Hoo-boy, do you have that right!

I am the same way, only 7 years of mostly OTR driving and I still consider myself a newbie. My trainer (who I still talk to a lot) had over 20 years behind the wheel when I was with him, and he taught me the ways of the road.

The real problem is that there are restrictions for everything to do with trucking except how much training a new driver has to have. Some companies will put a fresh-out-of-school newbie behind the wheel of a 40-ton truck with a trainer who has all of 6 months experience himself. Then they expect the truck to be a team truck to boot! Thankfully, the FMCSA is talking seriously about cracking down on driver training. It's about time!

TheRedneck

Where im from everyone speeds..

we use headlights to warn drivers of police, ahead..
So they dont get a ticket..

I was always amazed that so many people were in on it..

I once heard that if a cop saw you doing this, though...
That they would yell at you.. or even arrest you..

Most people dont do it, anymore..
So its, not as common..

You see alot of people doing this, near speed traps...
Theres alot of speed traps where I live..

EVERYONE SHOULD CONTINUE THE TRADITION...

Not just cause, we wont get any tickets...
But because, we wont be paying the government for hastleing us..

I sometimes drive with my lights on during the day simply for increased visibility for other drivers. I came to the conclusion over my years of driving that cars with their headlights on, even during the day are more visible .( at least for me) So I will continue to do so just for the extra safety. There are so many bad drivers on the roads these days that it pays to be a defensive driver.

reply to post by Heronumber0


This is something we tried out in France a couple of years ago. We had to keep our headlights on as part of a nationwide test, in order to improve visibility. According to our Road Safety specialists, the headlights, in case you're driving a gray car in cloudy/foggy conditions, should prevent cars from ramming each other's front. To me this is a waste of energy. If you're too dumb to see what's coming in front of you, buy a bicycle.

People keep doing this, as there is a real "fog" on the terms of use of this headlights-during-the-day so-called law.

Im sorry but this is one of the worst if not top 1 terrible posts of ATS ever


statistics have shown that this keeps accidents down as people notice cars more due to noticing headlights on

but whatev

reply to post by MurderCityDevil


Hehe, yeah I was surprised to that this could be turn into a conspiracy or something unusual

Come to Denmark, have a drive around... We are required by law to have lights on ALL the time. If we don't that's a ticket in our pocket and it's not something they made up to get money from us. Everyone is happy about this law...

By default most Danish cars have lights on from the time you start it.

So when you think about it, the people you see other places around the world could just be concerned turists, who want to be nice.