Just chaps my *** .

[dmccarty]

Driving with 4 ways on as in your example comes under #3 here. During extreme weather conditions such as snowy whiteouts or fog it is much easier to see a vehicle you are approaching if they have them on. This may not be legal in some states. ...

I use my flashers when visibility has gotten very bad. This would happen often in FLA during heavy rain storms and most everyone would use their flashers, at least the natives did back in the day. I believe this is illegal in NC and might have been in FLA, but the flashers let you know a car was in front of you, where as the regular tail lights were all but useless until you were too close. In NC, I have only seen a few white outs from heavy rain, nothing in comparison to FLA, but the fog and snow storms, yes we do get them from time to time, are far worse than FLA. If one can't see, then it is hazardous and that is what hazard lights are far. That is my story, and if I have to tell it to the judge, so be it. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Pulling over is not often a good idea, even if possible since you are just as likely to be rear ended by a vehicle that either focuses on your tail lights or if they drift over the fog line. The only way I will pull of the road is if I can get into a parking lot, or if on a highway, drive under an over pass and then park behind the overpass embankment. For the later you better have 4x4. In other words, get the heck off the road but that is not always possible to do safely.

Later,
Dan

 

[Al 2]

DRL's here also but I put a small piece of black tape over the sensor on the dash so that the tail lights are also on all the time.
Al

 

[prichard]

Automatic lights have been around for at least 15 years. My truck is a 10 year old model now and the low beam headlights are also the daytime running lights, but the tail lights come on automatically, and when they do the dash gauge lights come on and the LED displays dim. It took me a few years to figure this out but it also turns on the tail lights and dash lights automatically after the wipers have been on for a certain length of time, but if it's not dark enough the LED displays don't dim.

However, if you're used to having daytime running lights and automatic lights, when driving an older vehicle without automatic lights or daytime running lights, and you get in a situation where you don't need lights to see but you should have them on, you forget to turn them on.

This has gotten me a few times with rental. They had DRL but they turned on the dash lights and I am used to auto lights so didn't notice right away that headlights were not on.

I've had auto headlights for probably 10 years.

 

[prichard]

Can someone explain the difference between DRL and parking lights? I thought they were both the marker lights. Only one setting on vehicles I've owned.

 

[fidowanttobe]

I had a rental that had the whole dash lit up as if it had automatic headlights. Only after I left the parking lot at night did I notice the headlights weren't on. I think people forget to turn them on in town because the dash is so lit up and the street lights are on. Not like the old cars where the dash was dark.

In ND, the state spend ridiculous amounts of money on billboards, electric signs, and commercials for seatbelts, DUI, and smoking. I think they need to portion off some of that for basic driving skills reminder/refreshers. Yes, I know, "Can't fix stupid" but it wouldn't hurt. Learn to merge, turn signal use (NOT WHEN you're actually turning but before!), Headlights in weather conditions, left lane is passing lane, cell phone use, etc. etc. Or maybe a re-new driving test every 10 years?

I always said, all drivers need to drive in a big city for a few weeks. It would either cull the herd, or they would learn how to drive.

 

[jerrybob]

You just can't fix stupid......a few weeks ago......a guy was killed during a serious rainstorm. He was driving a two lane highway at an estimated speed of 80mph trying to pass another car going 50mph. No headlights on.....speed limit was 55mph......he passed on a double yellow line going up a hill. Luckily....no car was coming the other way. While passing......a cow elk crossed the road......the stupid driver hit it.......killing the elk and rolling his car down a ravine.....they say he drowned in a creek where his car landed upside down. Just glad he didn't kill anyone else with his stupidity.....felt sorry for the elk.

 

[dickfoster]

Can't believe I passed a CHP coming the other way on hwy 20 yesterday in the rain, snow and fog and the idiot didn't have his lights on so I flashed mine at him and he got them on. He could have gotten a ticket fer pity sake.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

You just can't fix stupid......a few weeks ago......a guy was killed during a serious rainstorm. He was driving a two lane highway at an estimated speed of 80mph trying to pass another car going 50mph. No headlights on.....speed limit was 55mph......he passed on a double yellow line going up a hill. Luckily....no car was coming the other way. While passing......a cow elk crossed the road......the stupid driver hit it.......killing the elk and rolling his car down a ravine.....they say he drowned in a creek where his car landed upside down. Just glad he didn't kill anyone else with his stupidity.....felt sorry for the elk.

That story could have happened at any speed, your in the wrong calling him stupid cause he hit a elk and lost control.

Sure speeding and passing on a double yellow was wrong but I have heard of and seen more wrecks from people trying to avoid animals in all conditions.

 

[turnkey4099]

I don't know how many folks ran down their battery by leaving on the headlights prior to the auto on lights AND daytime running lights being added to cars. I cant remember when those two items pretty much became standard features on cars but at least 15 maybe 20 years or more. I have no idea why anyone would want to defeat them permanently. Perhaps if your alternator went out and you wanted to extend your driving range to a repair shop then maybe but to run all the time without running lights or not using lights in low light or white out is plain stupid.
Most states have laws against using parking lights when moving, but I still see some folks with older cars doing it rather than turn on the lights.

What I hate is the guys with the super bright fog lights running them when there is no fog in daytime and night, I guess they think it is cool to show them off.

If you think drivers here in the USA are bad about not using headlights in bad weather, try driving in Peru. Everyone there runs without lights even in heavy fog. I have seen passenger busses travelling before sun up without lights while in a heavy fog. Where I was at was on the coast so it was fogger every day beginning at around sundown and lasting well into the morning the next day and no one used lights. I asked a local why and she said they were afraid of ruining their battery. NOW THAT IS STUPID of at least un-educated. I also saw plenty of car crashes while there because of no lights or passing on blind hills and curves. Most places had no shoulders so there was no where to go when you met someone in your lane so horrible crashes occurred that blocked the highway for hours.

I rode a taxi from Ankara, Turkey to Samsun Turkey at night. 50-60 mph no lights over very bad roads.

 

[turnkey4099]

That is our company policy, even though we have Daytime Running Lights.
DRLs don't put the tail lights and marker lights on. A simple flick of a switch and a quick look at the dash to make sure the high beams are off.

That is one of my pet hates. What idiot engineer designed 'automatic on DRLS' to come on high beams is beyond me.