People Leaving Car Headlights On During Daytime!?

@gudheart (12659)
July 26, 2016 8:46am CST
I am not sure the reason behind this but it seems to be a common occurrence. During the day when it is bright and clear I notice a number of cars driving with their headlights on but can't figure out the reason why? Any ideas? Surely it can't just because they forgot to turn it off right....? lol
17 people like this
21 responses
@msiduri (5687)
• United States
26 Jul 16
When I rode a motorcycle, I often had the headlights on all the time. In some states (not the one where I live), it's required by law for motorcycles. This, in theory, makes you more visible to oncoming cars. There are other goofy laws, though. For example, in California, if you run your windshield wipers, you have to have your headlights on. Yeah, go figure. There are areas of road where you have to have your headlights on. Some cars are manufactures to have day runners—not headlights, but a second set of lights nearer the ground—on at all times. And so on.
2 people like this
@shaggin (71573)
• United States
26 Jul 16
PA is the same way if your wipers are on your headlights have to be on.
3 people like this
@shaggin (71573)
• United States
26 Jul 16
@msiduri It is because when you run your wipers for more then cleaning its due to rain so when it rains headlights must be on to make you more visible to other drivers. If you literally only turned them on for 30 seconds to clean the windshield you probably wouldnt get a ticket.
2 people like this
@msiduri (5687)
• United States
26 Jul 16
@shaggin Which makes sense HOW? If I run my wipes to remove bug remains, why are headlights necessary? I simply give up, swear a little and do it.
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
26 Jul 16
This is considered good practice and is even a legal requirement in some European countries - e.g. Sweden. In fact, some cars are designed to have their lights on at all times.
2 people like this
@gudheart (12659)
26 Jul 16
I wonder why though? Does it not just waste battery when not needed? Surely it is not hard to remember to turn them on when it is dark.
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
26 Jul 16
@gudheart If you live in Scandinavia, in the middle of the winter - and for months either side - it's never really fully light. So Volvos and Saabs are built with always on side lights. As for people remembering to turn their lights on, if the idiots I see driving around with no lights on are anything to go by, it's not so easy as you think.
1 person likes this
@akalinus (40352)
• United States
26 Jul 16
I have been in several states that require headlights or running lights during the day.
2 people like this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
9 Aug 16
They surely did not notice it. My husband is sometimes guilty of that.
1 person likes this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
9 Aug 16
@gudheart Yes, sometimes it is automatic and so the driver hardly notices.
1 person likes this
@gudheart (12659)
9 Aug 16
I think they either forget that it is on or it is on automatically.
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Jul 16
I'm sure people already told you that the lights are supposed to be on in daylight - it's automatic. Maybe not where you live. I would worry if ours were out.
1 person likes this
• United States
27 Jul 16
@gudheart It think that function has been around many years here.
1 person likes this
@gudheart (12659)
27 Jul 16
@AbbyGreenhill I must be slightly behind on technology then LOL
@gudheart (12659)
27 Jul 16
Yep, guess most new cars have this new function.
@simone10 (54192)
• Louisville, Kentucky
27 Jul 16
I have noticed this and wondered the same thing. Unless it's raining during the day, I don't have my lights on.
1 person likes this
@simone10 (54192)
• Louisville, Kentucky
28 Jul 16
@gudheart Yeah, fog or rain. Otherwise, why would you have them on?
@gudheart (12659)
27 Jul 16
I don't either unless visibility is low
1 person likes this
• United States
26 Jul 16
My car has automatic lights that come on when it starts getting dark (I think they are called running lights)
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@gudheart (12659)
27 Jul 16
@Marilynda1225 It is pretty smart to have something like that.
@gudheart (12659)
27 Jul 16
That sounds pretty useful :D No need to remember to turn them on yourself, clever technology lol
1 person likes this
• United States
27 Jul 16
@gudheart nope they come on by themselves when it gets dust and then turn off themselves. It's a great feature cause I never have to remember whether I have my lights on or if I turned them off
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
26 Jul 16
They required them here for awhile, but stopped, I guess, because people don't do it any more (at least not so much). The idea was so they would be more visible on our flat, long highways, but I think the human mind gets used to anything and doesn't respond to it as well after awhile.
1 person likes this
@gudheart (12659)
27 Jul 16
It seems many still do it here in my part!
1 person likes this
@egdcltd (12060)
26 Jul 16
I've had a bunch of Volvos over the years, and you couldn't turn the lights off on those if you wanted to.
1 person likes this
@egdcltd (12060)
27 Jul 16
@gudheart I used to get people telling me that my lights were on. Had to keep telling them I knew. I think it was the law on Sweden that they couldn't be turned off.
@gudheart (12659)
27 Jul 16
LOL that is strange isn't it. Should have an option to at least turn them off.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (157593)
• Boise, Idaho
26 Jul 16
I rented a car one time that the lights automatically came on. I think some new models may just come on. Drivers probably don't even know that the lights are on. I sure didn't.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (157593)
• Boise, Idaho
27 Jul 16
@gudheart ......Yes, it is odd but I think it may be a safety feature of the car. Better on all day than not at all.
@gudheart (12659)
27 Jul 16
It is kind of cool that some come on automatically. But still little odd it comes on when bright and clear outside lol
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17714)
• South Africa
27 Jul 16
I drive with my headlights on during the day - its a safe option to be seen on the roads at all time and its also recommended by the traffic ordinance
1 person likes this
@gudheart (12659)
27 Jul 16
Ohh right, never knew it was recommended by traffic ordinance
1 person likes this
@akalinus (40352)
• United States
26 Jul 16
There are some states that require headlights on during the daylight hours. Also, you need to turn them on during rain. If the wipers are on, the light also needs to be on. My car has running lights that are on all the time unless I turn on the main lights.
1 person likes this
@gudheart (12659)
27 Jul 16
Okay, that makes sense. I do put mine on when visibility is low.
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@Mike197602 (15489)
• United Kingdom
26 Jul 16
Lots of cars and most motorbikes have lights on permanently. On a new bike there is no off switch for the lights. It doesn't use the battery as such when driving as the alternator charges the battery when driving.
1 person likes this
@gudheart (12659)
27 Jul 16
Oh right, so doesn't use much battery power even in normal cars not motorbikes?
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@Mike197602 (15489)
• United Kingdom
27 Jul 16
@gudheart yes it won't use the battery power unless the engine is off then it will.
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
26 Jul 16
Many newer cars these days have day running lights. They go on automatically and there is no way to turn them off.
1 person likes this
@gudheart (12659)
27 Jul 16
I am kind of glad mine doesn't, waste battery power for no reason.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
27 Jul 16
@gudheart I have one car that does that and one car that doesn't. Soon all cars will do it and you won't have a choice. I see no way in my car to turn off the running day lights.
@RubyHawk (99437)
• Atlanta, Georgia
26 Jul 16
I believe some of the new cars headlights come on when you start the car. I see lots of car lights on.
1 person likes this
@gudheart (12659)
27 Jul 16
All that time I was thinking drivers just forgot to turn them off!
@shaggin (71573)
• United States
26 Jul 16
In PA and NY in construction areas you have to have headlights on during the day or you get a fine. Some vehicles have all day running lights that turn on as soon as you start your vehicle and can't be turned off.
1 person likes this
@gudheart (12659)
27 Jul 16
It is really interesting, as I had no idea!
@dodo19 (47034)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
26 Jul 16
I really don't know why people would do this. It makes absolutely no sense.
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@gudheart (12659)
27 Jul 16
I was thinking the same thing, but guess most are automatic lights.
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@jaboUK (64363)
• United Kingdom
26 Jul 16
I usually take it as a sign that they've driven through some bad weather, even though it's fine now.
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@gudheart (12659)
27 Jul 16
possibly, you could be right there.
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@Poppylicious (11133)
26 Jul 16
The lights on our car aren't on all the time, but do come on automatically whenever the car thinks they need to be on {tunnels, grey skies, lots of rain, plus nighttime obviously!}
1 person likes this
@gudheart (12659)
27 Jul 16
I would be worried if it did not come on at nighttime!
@shivamani10 (11038)
• Hyderabad, India
26 Jul 16
In some countries, it is necessary to keep the headlights on at all times
1 person likes this
@gudheart (12659)
27 Jul 16
I did not know this until reading the comments on here :D
@Dena91 (15776)
• United States
26 Jul 16
Most newer models cars have running daylight headlights. If you don't want to run them it tells in the manual how to turn them off. Mike turned them off on our van and car. Have a blessed day
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@gudheart (12659)
27 Jul 16
I think many must have them near me too, which explains why they are on most of the day.
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