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holmgangCore t1_j4yzkz1 wrote

I’m firmly in the camp of: Lights On All the Time

Lights On during the day has apparently been shown to reduce car accidents. That’s enough for me.

And, having a non-computer car, always having the lights on means that I am in the habit of always turning the lights off when I park & get out, so I never accidentally leave my lights on.

“Computer cars” should just have the lights on all the time, day or night, IMHO. I’ve heard this is true in Canada. It’s insane to me that it’s not also true in the US.

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Nothing_WithATwist t1_j4z4fx8 wrote

Preach! Even if it only helped safety a TINY BIT, it would be worth it. And in reality they help visibility and therefore safety quite a bit. Headlight bulbs last years even when used daily, and they cost ~$10 to replace. It’s an absolute no brainer.

Edit: I’d like to add TURN SIGNALS. They are not optional. How am I supposed to know if you’re merging or just drifting between lanes?? Because I see both every single day.

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ice-titan t1_j51xbsc wrote

Agreed on everything you said. On the merging part, in addition to not signaling, I also hate it when people pull out onto a busy street to merge in when they are using a TURN lane. People need to understand the difference between a turn lane and a merge lane, and if they cannot turn onto a street cleanly in one go, then wait for enough traffic to clear before attempting to turn.

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PiningForTheFnords t1_j57cj58 wrote

Cars need to come with very bright daytime running lights with replaceable LEDs.

I agree with you on the lights being on all the time, but not so much for $10 for headlight bulbs.

I wish they were $10 - modern HID bulbs and ballasts can run in the hundreds of dollars, and if an LED burns out in a headlight cluster you’re probably looking at thousands for a replacement. On top of that, some modern vehicles require extensive labor to even get to some of those parts.

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dokelyok t1_j5fanqg wrote

Yeah, I was going to say, I just spent 50 bucks on a LED bulb that I had only had for a little over a year before it went out. Luckily my car is older and I was able to replace the bulb myself both times so I saved on labor.

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_former_self t1_j4z5a4l wrote

That and there are a lot of trees on my commute which can make it darker on the roadway.

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Doughop t1_j50enue wrote

My old Toyota is lights always on with no way to turn it off. My motorcycles, including ones from the 90s are lights always on.

I was surprised to learn than newer cars aren't lights always on and I don't understand why.

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Dogrug t1_j51dj9f wrote

I noticed the other day that my computer car does that. I have my lights set to auto so I never have to think about it, and when I turn my wipers on my lights come on during the day. Thought that was pretty cool.

That being said I’ve driven in some crappy weather around here and when it’s raining and the spray is coming off the road, it doesn’t matter if your car is hot pink, you are invisible to the cars around you if you don’t have your lights on.

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MischiefXO t1_j51wk7a wrote

My dad was a truck driver for 30+ years and reinforced into my brain to ALWAYS have my lights on when driving because it's easier to see you with them on than without. Trucks, semi's, big rigs, all have a hard time seeing and have big blind spots. Help those around you see you there. I make sure to always have them on.

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dokelyok t1_j5f9yiq wrote

Yep, I too am in the same camp of lights on always. I still can't believe how many idiots I see on my commute without lights on when it's dark, raining and foggy. It stresses me out so much because my commute involves a lot of newly constructed roundabouts (highway 9) and sometimes it's basically impossible to see a dark car with no lights in that type of weather and I always panic thinking I'm going to some day not see one until it's too late. I take those roundabouts so incredibly slow though and triple check I'm clear so hopefully it'll never happen but it still is frustrating that it could be so much safer if other drivers just had their damn lights on!

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duuuh t1_j53tx3u wrote

I used to do this, but my current car won't do it automatically. It's got some "detect light level and turn them on setting" which I leave it on. But I'm not prepared to have to remember to turn them off when I get out of the car.

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dokelyok t1_j5fb1lf wrote

Does your cars lights not automatically go off when you lock your car? That sucks if it doesn't. My car is older and not fancy at all but locking it turn my lights off which I really appreciate because I always have them on so I know I would forget to turn them off constantly.

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duuuh t1_j5lbw4j wrote

They only do that if I use the 'auto detect light level' setting. I'd rather have them on when the car is running and off when it's not, but it won't do that.

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[deleted] t1_j4yzb5c wrote

[deleted]

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holmgangCore t1_j4yzr9m wrote

Or just install infrared headlights, & drive with infrared goggles. You’ll be fine. Probably.

^/s

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Capable_Nature_644 t1_j4yzorj wrote

Trust me a lot of people are clueless around here to turn on lights.

I was taught:

Lights on = safety.

lights off = certain doom for an accident or mishap.

I commute home any where from 10p-2am and I can't tell you how many vehicles do not have any lights at all. I'm sorry people but if you get into an accident wit ha driver that has zero lights: The driver driving the no lights car is more at fault for driving an unsafe vehicle.

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Braunsweig t1_j4zeopa wrote

Including Highway Patrol. 01-18-2023 3 different vehicles with no lights, one tailing a speeder without lights on the 5 southbound. Could also be the sheer number of student drivers of all ages on the road. They may be new to driving and may not understand.

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dokelyok t1_j5fbfj3 wrote

That's terrifying. God I hate driving in this state. Sharing the road with a clueless 16 year old glued to their cell phone ended up with me getting rear-ended while I was at a dead stop and she was doing over 60mph. Now I'm looking at needing surgery on my neck. Ugh.

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_former_self t1_j4z5dyg wrote

The law states that lights are required during inclement weather. (If I remember correctly).

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markphil4580 t1_j4yqtd8 wrote

For anyone with a newer car: the car decides when the lights need to be turned on.

Even if they know how to manually activate the lights, and it should not be assumed that they do, they will still let the car decide whether it's necessary.

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LBK2013 t1_j4ywd26 wrote

If you have automatic headlights they come on when the wipers are engaged. Or at least that's been the case for every car I've driven since 2013.

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blaaguuu t1_j4yxonv wrote

My car is from 98, and has automatic headlights, which are pretty good about turning on when it is the slightest bit dark... But I don't think they are also triggered by the wipers - though now I'm gonna have to check that. But in recent years I think I've been pretty good about turning them on manually, since it's an old car and some random stuff has stopped working, so I don't trust it.

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Seranthian t1_j508oub wrote

If you have that little bubble on the center of the top of your dash, try to give it a cleaning. It’s the sensor for your headlights

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themayor1975 t1_j4zcetk wrote

I have automatic headlights, but I need to put the switch to that position.

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Capable_Nature_644 t1_j4yzt6f wrote

There's a lot of bad drivers in wa state. Even those that think they're good drive like aff holes half the time. Not sure why but people think the speed limit is 12+ over and they'll drive like d*ks trying to keep that speed up. Come across someone doing 4-6 over and all hell brakes loose. Good lord people if you want to do 55 on surface streets just take the damn freeway!

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Timmy98789 t1_j4ysmbp wrote

I bet you're expecting them to be properly insured next. /s

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jesseboyphotos t1_j4z3zte wrote

I see this on a daily basis. Most people are good with wipers but the amount of idiots I have to flash my brights at as a signal to “turn on your fucking headlights because it’s dark outside” is insane.

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benadrylpill t1_j4zewzo wrote

Also stop going 50 on the freeway. You're causing a hazard by making everyone have to pass you.

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Cpt_Buzz_Killington t1_j50k2bf wrote

If it's pounding rain, and visibility is low, especially with the freaking invisible lane markers we use here, 50 is an appropriate speed for the middle/right lanes. IMO.

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RustyDoesRituals t1_j522nwc wrote

Could be the appropriate speed for the left lane too. We can bitch and whine, but... too fast is too fast sometimes.

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NationalElderberry39 t1_j4zzm1j wrote

Everyone is a bad driver from another drivers perspective. No one is going to cater to your sense of safety on the road. Half those people probably don’t have insurance either so you better make sure you see them anyway.

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whitepawn23 t1_j52pd2l wrote

My lights are just on whenever I drive. Key, lights, go. Why not? Less divided attention while driving which is already a divided attention task.

Seriously though. This is only one tiny piece of the problem with the I5 from Tacoma to Vancouver. That shit has some scary assholes weaving their lane worse than a Wisconsin drunk. Watched one tailgating in the left lane recently, weaving hard over the line, onto the shoulder, and back again.

Or the fuckers who try to pace you as their lead car while they read their phones clutched in both hands on the drivers wheel.

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lavender_tailor t1_j52y1w0 wrote

I took a defensive driver's course some years ago. Something interesting I learned is that even on the most beautiful, sunny day without a cloud in the sky you still can't really see an oncoming car at about 1 to 2 miles out. They showed us a few slides and then a video clip of an oncoming car with and without headlights on, on a very long, very straight stretch of highway. Even from a couple miles out in those pristine conditions, you could just barely see them but with their headlights on you could very easily spot them. Ever since then it's habit for me to always have mine own.

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Designer_Hotel_5210 t1_j4yv88z wrote

A lot of drivers think about, what they need to do when they get there, about family, about work, about anything except driving.

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PepeLePuget t1_j4zei0y wrote

The fact that some people can’t/shouldn’t drive is a good reason to invest more in public transit.

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paulRosenthal t1_j4zeya6 wrote

But driving at night without lights is what all the cool kids are doing, I want to try it too

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thejanuaryfallen t1_j5017cj wrote

Many folks are just not that bright nor do they have the ability to think of the safety of others. You don't realize how visible a car is in rain or fog until you switch your lights on.

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AliveAndThenSome t1_j50sx49 wrote

I saw a cop in North Bend last evening with its lights out when it was raining and the sun was nearly down, if not already -- hard to tell with all the clouds and mountains.

I've said this many times, but cars need to have either fully-automatic headlights or an obvious warning light on the dash when headlights should be on. Too many people see their dashboard lights on with some puny DRLs and think they're good to go, when in fact their headlights and taillights are out. Only when they get into a completely dark area might they notice they can't see sh*t.

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Agreeable_Situation4 t1_j52h44g wrote

I never left headlights on during day when I lived in south. Up here, with windy mountain roads, I run them all the time. Plus it's a lot more cloudy up here.

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BananaPeelSlippers t1_j52wt6x wrote

On new cars it’s actually an effort to have your lights off. Idiots always find a way.

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boing757 t1_j53j2m3 wrote

Why do feel the need to post this ? Nobody is going to turn on their lights just because you said so.

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Pogchamp_Mcpoggers t1_j51v31q wrote

Some people don’t have fancy new cars with lights that turn off automatically, and it’s hard to remember to turn off your headlights when it daytime, leading to dead batteries in parking lots.

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SparrowAgnew t1_j4yo89n wrote

Californians don't know the rules of driving in rain.

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[deleted] t1_j4ypw2c wrote

You can’t blame everything on the Californians.

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_noncomposmentis t1_j4yqrhc wrote

Especially this. It's actually law in CA to have headlights on whenever wipers are on and has been for about two decades.

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archaemes t1_j4z4x6v wrote

Native Californian here and definitely Washingtonians drive like crap, relatively speaking. Don’t know how much of it has to do with recent transplants, but definitely noticeable difference. I will say Washingtonians are a hell of a lot more courteous and for that, I’ll take the granny drivers any day of the week 😁

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holmgangCore t1_j4z6vbs wrote

Just a tangent off your comment that “Wa’s are a hell of a lot more courteous”..:

I think it’s very interesting that one can perceive the “driving culture”, or to be more specific, “driving norms” in any given city or even region sometimes. Interstate highways too.

I’ve driven in many places and I first noticed this in Detroit. The street style there is basically, “you can do anything as long as you don’t impede someone else”. It’s extremely casual & you can feel it just driving around, but it’s chill & safe.
. I’ve seen people do full U-turns in the middle of a standard 4-way stop-light intersection, but hindering no one, it didn’t matter. And the cops there sure have better things to worry about.

I’ve heard that Boston drivers are “uptight” somehow, and tend to cut people off, especially when it comes to highway exits. But that’s hearsay.

In Seattle my sense is that people are “polite to a fault”, or otherwise kind of oblivious. I’ve seen more right turns done too early with oncoming traffic than I would expect. Which remains puzzling to me.
. But it’s generally the former, “polite”. Which is definitely a good ‘problem’ to have.

It’s just interesting that “street style” or “driving normative behaviour” is so readily observed & assessed when living or driving in a new area.

I’m curious: What do you mean by ‘courteousness’ with Washington drivers? Can you give some examples?

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archaemes t1_j50aira wrote

Good perspectives on other cities’ norms. And how road infrastructure is an influence. I can see how the multitude of roundabouts and lack of stop sign at intersections condition people to approach cautiously.

Agreed Wa’s seem to have an obliviousness (funny to see so many with student driver decals, especially funny on luxury cars) as perhaps part of this could be due to later in life vehicle purchase or recent immigrants.

By courtesy, it’s also outside of yielding in traffic. General interactions in my day-to-day, be it businesses (employees in a Bartell Drugs gave multiple suggestions on where to buy an Orca card as they ran out), coffee shops (friendly customer service, above & beyond what I’ve seen in other cities), strangers (morning jogger offered to guide me while I unloaded my car from a carrier), neighbors (welcoming me to neighborhood), etc. The funny part is I never felt the mythical “Seattle freeze.”

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