Lights on for Safety

This is kind of tongue in cheek, but whose safety?

Am I a safer driver if I have my headlights on in the daytime? Are other drivers safer if I have my headlights on? Are the highways safer to drive on if my lights are on?

Of course we want headlights on at night so we can see the road and in fog or when it’s raining so others can see us. That brings me to an interesting observation.

Many states have laws that say you need to put your headlights on if you are using the windshield wipers. Unfortunately the dumb thinking of drivers who don’t is, “why do I need the headlights on, I can’t see any better.” Of course you can’t but the reason is so other people can see you. Try this test, when it is raining look in the rear view mirror and tell me which vehicles you can see better, those with lights on or those without? In a truck we only have outside mirrors and in heavy rain, about the only thing we can see is headlights. Forms and shapes of cars are about obliterated. The same goes for fog too. It’s easier to see a vehicle behind you if their lights are on.

Many manufacturers build cars that have headlights on all the time. I don’t have a problem with this, but they fail to have tail lights on too. Take the rain or fog condition. The headlights may be on, but is it easier to see a car in front of you with or without tail lights lit? No brainer. Why car makers don’t realize this is a mystery to me.

Automakers are creating so many new electronic gizmos and gadgets that I can’t figure out why they don’t come up with a sensor that automatically turns on headlights and taillights when ambient light lowers to a certain level. Who knows they might think of something useful one of these days.

Here’s my rule for headlights and it’s simple one. If the sun isn’t shining the headlights are. Period.

Enjoy the day

Geezer

Category Posted: General