tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6239694080870817712.post3779509655044843363..comments2024-03-01T01:07:13.368-07:00Comments on No, but seriously: The problem with automatic headlightsSteven Pricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01856604112181023270noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6239694080870817712.post-66587259551186290212017-03-08T19:13:48.500-07:002017-03-08T19:13:48.500-07:00I like the auto-hedlights on my 2012 Charger. The ...I like the auto-hedlights on my 2012 Charger. The DRLs are a setting, not a switch position as is the "lights on when it's raining" mode. The sensor works very well in that the lights are turned on when it's dim/dark enough to need them, whether for illumination or so others can see me.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15041821712022471596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6239694080870817712.post-4552061113332604732017-01-13T15:43:47.364-07:002017-01-13T15:43:47.364-07:00In 1996 I bought a new Subaru Legacy. In this car,...In 1996 I bought a new Subaru Legacy. In this car, you had the standard three-way off-parking-on light configuration. However, when the headlights were on, and the ignition was not in the run position, the car turned the headlights off. This encouraged you to leave the headlights on all the time, since there was no danger of walking away leaving them on and running down the battery.<br /><br />It baffles me that cars don't have this as a standard. In 1996 it wasn't even a new idea -- my father's 1980-something Saab 900 was similar.<br /><br />My 2010 Mazda 3 has a "auto headlight" position which will turn the headlights on or off depending on what some sensor says how dark it is, but for me I think the Subaru's solution was superior for exactly the reason you say, in inclement weather your car is less visible.<br /><br />And I don't know if my driving habits have changed, but it seems I see far more of these idiots driving around with daytime running lights illuminated at night -- like one or two per night, whereas in the past it was more like one or two per quarter.<br /><br />I don't understand what this reluctance to run full headlights and parking lights all around all the time is. If your budget for operating a vehicle can't stand some $10 bulbs a couple times a decade -- frankly most people probably change leased vehicles more frequently than they change parking light bulbs -- you really can't afford to be driving anyways.David Mackintoshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15148450087963670098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6239694080870817712.post-21919855509204890592016-12-21T02:06:03.413-07:002016-12-21T02:06:03.413-07:00Not to mention the problem of entering and leaving...Not to mention the problem of entering and leaving a tunnel. Some systems are keen on switching on an doff as soon as possible - be it necessary or not. Even a small tunnel of 150 ft makes cars turn on their lights automatically. Some shadowed areas under a tree - lights go on.<br /><br />Other manufacturers avoid this unnecessary waste. The cheaper the car the cheaper the sensors ad the more primitive the programming. Markushttp://www.bdhw-law.eunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6239694080870817712.post-4811579604064038042016-12-19T23:59:51.888-07:002016-12-19T23:59:51.888-07:00I never touch the headlight switch in my car - the...I never touch the headlight switch in my car - they're always on, and go off when the ignition is turned off. For some reason, my ancient Volvo seems to need the help; people seem not to notice it.<br /><br />Given how many jurisdictions in the US require headlights to be on when the wipers are on, I wonder sometimes why makers haven't yet taken to wiring the car and programming the computer such that whenever the wipers are in a persistent state (intermittent or continuous sweep, but not wash or single-sweep) the headlights are on regardless of whether the driver's had the wit to turn the switch.Silas Humphreyshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10639832677140104872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6239694080870817712.post-25730556537052699192016-12-19T08:44:20.490-07:002016-12-19T08:44:20.490-07:00I drive with the lights on at all times (day/night...I drive with the lights on at all times (day/night, city/out-of-city). So I really don't have an issue with forgetting to have them on in the required conditions.<br />But I can see your point, especially regarding the confusion about daytime driving lights. Normally this comes down to people knowing how to operate their own vehicles. Which the majority do. One might get confused with a rental, though.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10509013573518553035noreply@blogger.com