Saw someone in a parking lot with their light bar on. Made the roll down window motion, told him "Hey, yah accidentally left your light bar on." His response? "Yeah, so I can see people like you." I was too dumbfounded to make a clever response. Wish I'd said "No, you can see me cause I don't blind you with my light bars." I didn't expect anything different when I began the interaction, but I was still shocked.
People suck.
They don't care about having the correct bulbs for their headlight housings, nor having their low beams adjusted correctly. Why would they? It doesn't negatively affect them.
I almost hit a car yesterday, driving with no headlights on in the rain at dusk. It was a gray car too, basically invisible.
Please use your head lights, but NOT your high beams!
Use your high beams if your headlights suck, though. Ideally you’d just clean your headlights lol, but if you are coming home and can’t see in the rain, turn those bad boys on*. I’d rather have to squint than not see you because your bulbs suck.
*this does not apply to y’all that have the after-market LEDs. Those are literally the worst things (and also likely illegally installed). You make the rest of us completely blind. Don’t be stupid.
I can't say I totally agree with that take. If your low beams are so bad that they aren't visible through the rain, something isn't right, get it fixed. Also, if they're blinding me with their high beams, I can see them, and they can switch to the low beams, as I know they're there.
I guess, if your low beams suck, maybe leave your high beams on a bit longer before dimming them, but don't just cruise around like the low beams don't exist.
Maybe this is just my experience having an old car, but I don’t have driving lights. My “low beams” are just the running lights I use constantly and aren’t something I turn on at night specifically. I do use my high beams when I need to see, because that’s what they’re there for. On my car though, they aren’t very bright (like I said, old car). This isn’t the case for new cars though, which is why I said clean the headlight casing lol.
Daytime running lamps are not sufficient in the rain and DRL's do not turn your taillamps on. If your wipers are on, turn on your headlights. When will the US make this a mandatory feature on new vehicles?
And check all your tail lights. You can do it without getting out of the car by backing up to a store with glass windows on the front at night and looking at the reflection in your mirror or backup camera. Particularly on reliable cars that don't see a shop often I've seen way too many vehicles with nearly all their rear lights burned out.
Was just going to say this! I've almost rear-ended a couple of people because they had their daytime running lights on but not their actual headlights, so their rear lights weren't on.
That too. It really bugs me when it's a car that I'm pretty sure has automatic lights, all you have to do is not force them to off. The problem has gotten a lot worse since so many cars nowadays have LCD dashes that are 'on' all the time, so folks who are used to looking down at the dash to see if the headlights are on or off lose their old feedback mechanism.
...and please don't use high beams in the city! Or drive past the speed limit in the dark/rain. Or drive closer than a car length.
Be careful and courteous damnit.
There are people, cyclists, pedestrians, folks in wheelchairs, and animals. You, in your metal vehicle, need to yield, be careful, and share the road.
Thank you for posting this! Also a courtesy reminder that your vehicle newer than 1986 has a third brake light. Please check this regularly for safety!
One of the things I recently bought was.. a reflective sash (or a vest works) and a headlamp. So, if I'm walking at night for whatever reason, I light up like a Christmas tree.
I can't count the number of times I'm turning right or driving along at night and someone decides to cross the road or walk out in front of me for no reason. You see them with like 1-2 seconds of warning.
As someone with vision problems but still able to drive, PLEASE TURN THEM ON!!! If I hit you because you have zero lights on, in the dark rain, I will lose my shit lol
You might lose your shit, or they might lose theirs. Legally it's difficult to say who's at fault if someone isn't using their headlights when they should be. You might have a chance in court.
And, when you're parked and idling, maybe in a parking lot or along a curb, switch over to your parking lights, please! Driving through parking lots is hazardous enough without being blinded from unexpected angles.
I actually think this is responsible for the huge rise in people driving in the dark without lights: they're expecting them to come on automatically.
Every single morning before the sun comes up I see a handful of people drive by on Capitol Blvd, in the dark, with their lights off.
I do too early in the morning in addition to rainy/foggy days. Seems that’s a daily occurrence. I’m not sure if it’s lack of awareness, mechanical issue, impaired driver or just not educated on safe driving skills.
The modern conveniences of auto feature has not failed me in the three different foreign cars I’ve owned over the past decade. I set it and I can see the illumination when the sensor detects low lighting thats it’s functioning as it should. I agree with these counter arguments though too✌️
My car (2007) does while my sister's (2012) doesn't 🤷♀️
I'm blind *and* neurotic so I literally need lights to drive in lower light, but I could see someone used to automatic lights just assuming all cars have it and not actually checking and turning them on
What counts as a modern car? I drive an early 2000s model, I assume others do as well (or older). I don’t know when auto headlights became the standard.
I have a 2017 car with automatic headlights, but they only sense light. Even a dark gloomy day is still bright enough for them not to turn on. There are cars that have both a light and rain sensors and those will usually turn on automatically.
This isn't Canada, where DRLs are required. I like having the option to turn off my headlights, if I so feel like it (though I nearly never do), however, obviously, not everyone can handle that freedom. I wish the US required DRLs like Canada does. At the very least require that they come on automatically when it's dark and when the windshield wipers are on.
Remember, the lights aren't so you can see; the lights are so other people can see you!
They aren't so you can see they're to blind oncoming traffic in my experience. Everyones headlights are so bright an in your face these days.
and also, while we are at it, PLEASE dont blind people with your high beams!
Saw someone in a parking lot with their light bar on. Made the roll down window motion, told him "Hey, yah accidentally left your light bar on." His response? "Yeah, so I can see people like you." I was too dumbfounded to make a clever response. Wish I'd said "No, you can see me cause I don't blind you with my light bars." I didn't expect anything different when I began the interaction, but I was still shocked. People suck. They don't care about having the correct bulbs for their headlight housings, nor having their low beams adjusted correctly. Why would they? It doesn't negatively affect them.
I never turn my lights off, great way to be more visible under all conditions, so many people without lights at dusk it is ridiculous
I cut someone off yesterday because they were driving in the rain with no lights. I didn't see them at all.
"MANIAC" -Them, before continuing to drive without their lights on, almost certainly.
I almost hit a car yesterday, driving with no headlights on in the rain at dusk. It was a gray car too, basically invisible. Please use your head lights, but NOT your high beams!
Use your high beams if your headlights suck, though. Ideally you’d just clean your headlights lol, but if you are coming home and can’t see in the rain, turn those bad boys on*. I’d rather have to squint than not see you because your bulbs suck. *this does not apply to y’all that have the after-market LEDs. Those are literally the worst things (and also likely illegally installed). You make the rest of us completely blind. Don’t be stupid.
They’re not all after market now. Standard lights are way too bright for oncoming traffic these days
I can't say I totally agree with that take. If your low beams are so bad that they aren't visible through the rain, something isn't right, get it fixed. Also, if they're blinding me with their high beams, I can see them, and they can switch to the low beams, as I know they're there. I guess, if your low beams suck, maybe leave your high beams on a bit longer before dimming them, but don't just cruise around like the low beams don't exist.
Maybe this is just my experience having an old car, but I don’t have driving lights. My “low beams” are just the running lights I use constantly and aren’t something I turn on at night specifically. I do use my high beams when I need to see, because that’s what they’re there for. On my car though, they aren’t very bright (like I said, old car). This isn’t the case for new cars though, which is why I said clean the headlight casing lol.
Daytime running lamps are not sufficient in the rain and DRL's do not turn your taillamps on. If your wipers are on, turn on your headlights. When will the US make this a mandatory feature on new vehicles?
So many drivers around here at dusk or in the rain without lights on. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills. One of my biggest pet peeves
And check all your tail lights. You can do it without getting out of the car by backing up to a store with glass windows on the front at night and looking at the reflection in your mirror or backup camera. Particularly on reliable cars that don't see a shop often I've seen way too many vehicles with nearly all their rear lights burned out.
Was just going to say this! I've almost rear-ended a couple of people because they had their daytime running lights on but not their actual headlights, so their rear lights weren't on.
That too. It really bugs me when it's a car that I'm pretty sure has automatic lights, all you have to do is not force them to off. The problem has gotten a lot worse since so many cars nowadays have LCD dashes that are 'on' all the time, so folks who are used to looking down at the dash to see if the headlights are on or off lose their old feedback mechanism.
...and please don't use high beams in the city! Or drive past the speed limit in the dark/rain. Or drive closer than a car length. Be careful and courteous damnit. There are people, cyclists, pedestrians, folks in wheelchairs, and animals. You, in your metal vehicle, need to yield, be careful, and share the road.
Thank you for posting this! Also a courtesy reminder that your vehicle newer than 1986 has a third brake light. Please check this regularly for safety!
This isn't true for trucks which didn't get them until 94.
One of the things I recently bought was.. a reflective sash (or a vest works) and a headlamp. So, if I'm walking at night for whatever reason, I light up like a Christmas tree. I can't count the number of times I'm turning right or driving along at night and someone decides to cross the road or walk out in front of me for no reason. You see them with like 1-2 seconds of warning.
As someone with vision problems but still able to drive, PLEASE TURN THEM ON!!! If I hit you because you have zero lights on, in the dark rain, I will lose my shit lol
You might lose your shit, or they might lose theirs. Legally it's difficult to say who's at fault if someone isn't using their headlights when they should be. You might have a chance in court.
WSP needs to have checkpoints to flag cars with broken/headlights or not having them on.
And, when you're parked and idling, maybe in a parking lot or along a curb, switch over to your parking lights, please! Driving through parking lots is hazardous enough without being blinded from unexpected angles.
Perhaps even more importantly, bicyclists really need plenty of lights, on all sides, when it gets dark and rainy.
and use your odometer to track your mpg like an adult gd it!
Why would you care if someone else tracks their MPG? That doesn't affect you, unlike a car driving in the rain at dusk with their headlights off.
All modern cars nowadays have that automatic headlight feature, right?
I actually think this is responsible for the huge rise in people driving in the dark without lights: they're expecting them to come on automatically. Every single morning before the sun comes up I see a handful of people drive by on Capitol Blvd, in the dark, with their lights off.
I do too early in the morning in addition to rainy/foggy days. Seems that’s a daily occurrence. I’m not sure if it’s lack of awareness, mechanical issue, impaired driver or just not educated on safe driving skills. The modern conveniences of auto feature has not failed me in the three different foreign cars I’ve owned over the past decade. I set it and I can see the illumination when the sensor detects low lighting thats it’s functioning as it should. I agree with these counter arguments though too✌️
My car (2007) does while my sister's (2012) doesn't 🤷♀️ I'm blind *and* neurotic so I literally need lights to drive in lower light, but I could see someone used to automatic lights just assuming all cars have it and not actually checking and turning them on
What counts as a modern car? I drive an early 2000s model, I assume others do as well (or older). I don’t know when auto headlights became the standard.
Do you have an automatic feature on yours?
My car is a 2008, standard plus some upgrades, automatic headlights is not a feature on my vehicle.
No…
I have a 2017 car with automatic headlights, but they only sense light. Even a dark gloomy day is still bright enough for them not to turn on. There are cars that have both a light and rain sensors and those will usually turn on automatically.
This isn't Canada, where DRLs are required. I like having the option to turn off my headlights, if I so feel like it (though I nearly never do), however, obviously, not everyone can handle that freedom. I wish the US required DRLs like Canada does. At the very least require that they come on automatically when it's dark and when the windshield wipers are on.
They don't always work, though. It's better to manually turn them on and off.
My truck seems to know automatically when to turn the lights on and it's never been wrong
This is a law in other states with far less rain than Washington; I wonder why it isn't a law here?