Headlights

[DJM83]

Ever since i have been driving i have always drivin with my headlights on daylight night time whenever.
Ok after all the threads about foglights, spotlights, lighthouse's and DRL's this one is simple do you drive with your headlights on in the day time?

THIS THREAD HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FOGLIGHTS ITS THAT SIMPLE.

[Riksta]

Bright clear sunny days, no. Unless I'm on the highway - highway trips they're always on regardless.

Cloudy/overcast day - depending how dull the light is, I will tend to put them on just to aid my car being seen by others.

[BFZF8]

Originally Posted by Riksta

Bright clear sunny days, no. Unless I'm on the highway - highway trips they're always on regardless.

Cloudy/overcast day - depending how dull the light is, I will tend to put them on just to aid my car being seen by others.

I do exactly this. The rest of the time I don't touch the switch on the XR8 it just stays on "Auto". I didn't vote because this puts me somewhere in the middle.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Riksta

Bright clear sunny days, no. Unless I'm on the highway - highway trips they're always on regardless.

Cloudy/overcast day - depending how dull the light is, I will tend to put them on just to aid my car being seen by others.

+1. highway trips they are always on. anyone saying its a waste of time obviously hasn't driven a lot inter state. you can see a car with its lights on long before one without.

as for round town, mine stay on auto, unless its poor conditions (rain) and then i turn them on. at least with the fg you can adjust how early they come on and how late they turn off.

i didn't vote as i basically only do it on the highway.

[Cooper69S]

Originally Posted by prydey

as for round town, mine stay on auto, unless its poor conditions (rain) and then i turn them on. at least with the fg you can adjust how early they come on and how late they turn off.

wish you could adjust the sensitivity on BF's. I find that if I'm driving at dusk with the lights on auto, most other people will have their lights on before mine decide to kick in.

My VE work car has the lights left "on". afaik commodore's have had an auto-off function on the headlights for years, instead of Ford's beeper system. Switch in the commo never gets touched. on when you start up, off when you get out... Ford should do that I reckon

[Halfmo Rocks]

Originally Posted by Cooper69S

wish you could adjust the sensitivity on BF's. I find that if I'm driving at dusk with the lights on auto, most other people will have their lights on before mine decide to kick in.

+1...i notice that all the time

[smciner1]

If it is very Overcast and or Raining, yes.

[GreenR]

Voted no. Maybe it is proven to be safer to have them on but find it pointless. In the middle of daylight If you can't see another car because they don't have their headlights on time for a visit to the optometrist

[BIGJB]

I voted yes for this and as far as I am concerned it should be law. I spend a lot of time on the road
and have done for a number of years and anyone who says it makes no difference is kidding themselves.
You can see an on coming car long before if it's lights are particularly if it is a silver or grey coloured car.

[Coyote mk3]

Yep, clear sunny 30 degree day they're still on.
Dark Green tends to blend in with trees.
But I do it in what ever car I am driving, I just believe it is just safer.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by T2TE50#134

I voted yes for this and as far as I am concerned it should be law. I spend a lot of time on the road
and have done for a number of years and anyone who says it makes no difference is kidding themselves.
You can see an on coming car long before if it's lights are particularly if it is a silver or grey coloured car.

Agree John it should be law but i think it will just cause trouble, maybe every new car made should have a feature where as soon as the car is on the lights turn on like and auto function that cant be turned off (eliminate the headlight switch even) I miss the auto headlight function in my old AU.

[BIGJB]

On both the TE and the Ghia I never actually turn the headlight switch off, I am surprised that the new toy doesn't
have auto lights off Dallas. Thought that would have been a standard feature on most cars these days.

[T3man]

Originally Posted by T2TE50#134

I voted yes for this and as far as I am concerned it should be law. I spend a lot of time on the road
and have done for a number of years and anyone who says it makes no difference is kidding themselves.
You can see an on coming car long before if it's lights are particularly if it is a silver or grey coloured car.

Absolutely.

In most European countries it is now becoming mandatory for DRLs to be fitted. The fast moving safety conscious Australian authorities will probably move to do the same in about 2020.

[fmc351]

Car in bad weather, yes. On the bike, always.

Originally Posted by plarazza

Voted no. Maybe it is proven to be safer to have them on but find it pointless. In the middle of daylight If you can't see another car because they don't have their headlights on time for a visit to the optometrist

Yeah, but you dont see your own headlights. The only person you choose for is you. Its for the guy who doesnt want to see/doesnt think he needs to see, the optometrist, so he has a slightly better chance of seeing you.

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by plarazza

Voted no. Maybe it is proven to be safer to have them on but find it pointless. In the middle of daylight If you can't see another car because they don't have their headlights on time for a visit to the optometrist

What about the other motorist that has pushed it a bit too long since their last refraction or perhaps their eyes have started deteriorating faster without them knowing? Them getting a refraction after the crash because they did not see your car against a similar colour background will not help you when you are dead.

Play it safe, put your lights on, it does not hurt and yes your globes don't last as long but I still get 3 years out of a quality globe, $40 every 3 years does not break the bank.

Food for thought. The hands down clear winner in the most common reason for all crashes that I attend is "I looked but I just did not see them".

Increase your chances of being seen.

By the way, lights on for me, everywhere, any conditions and any time. Our mini turns the lights on automatically when you turn the engine on and off automatically when you turn it off if the switch is on. I think the switch has been moved about twice in the 3 years we have owned it.

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by geckoGT

Them getting a refraction after the crash because they did not see your car against a similar colour background will not help you when you are dead.

Absolutely spot on. There is no down side to having the lights on, it's proven to be safer to have them on during the day, why are we even having this discussion? It might only save you once in a lifetime. It might never, but it just increases the chance of avoiding an accident. It's certainly never going to be the cause of an accident. Better to be safe than dead or severely injured.

[pauljh74]

Originally Posted by plarazza

Voted no. Maybe it is proven to be safer to have them on but find it pointless. In the middle of daylight If you can't see another car because they don't have their headlights on time for a visit to the optometrist

+1,000,000

If people can't see my red Falcon at 200 metres with clear line of sight, they don't just need glasses, they need a white cane

[grandpa_spec_F6]

Originally Posted by pauljh74

+1,000,000

If people can't see my red Falcon at 200 metres with clear line of sight, they don't just need glasses, they need a white cane

-1,000,000 for me.

I own a black car, and when driving through tunnels or even shady areas you get all sort of people who don't see you. Pull up to the lights and get the usual obligatory shurg from them and an "I didn't see you there"

[pauljh74]

Originally Posted by grandpa_spec_au

-1,000,000 for me.

I own a black car, and when driving through tunnels or even shady areas you get all sort of people who don't see you. Pull up to the lights and get the usual obligatory shrug from them and an "I didn't see you there"

The problem isn't they couldn't see you - it is they didn't look.

[grandpa_spec_F6]

Originally Posted by pauljh74

The problem isn't they couldn't see you - it is they didn't look.

I'd hazard a guess that the majority of the time that's true too, scary stuff no?

Either way, I keep them on just in case, and I like the look of them

[Matty4]

Originally Posted by pauljh74

The problem isn't they couldn't see you - it is they didn't look.

That's it in a nutshell right there. It's not that they make you more visable to others, it's just that most drivers don't make a concerted effort to look properly before changing lanes/pulling out etc.

In 22+ years of driving I have always had either dark coloured cars (blue, black and currently Ego) or colours that supposedly blend (Silver and light grey). Not once have I felt someone move into my path nor have I ever heard the "I didn't see you there"

I only use them at night or in really bad weather.

[Falcon Coupe]

Originally Posted by plarazza

Voted no. Maybe it is proven to be safer to have them on but find it pointless. In the middle of daylight If you can't see another car because they don't have their headlights on time for a visit to the optometrist

Agreed, looks like AFF is the daytime headlight fanboi club.

[Jimmyd]

Voted yes - when you play dodgems with rubberneck tourists all day its just one of many self preservation measures I apply........

[XCwillo]

Like i said in the other thread
I always drive with em on, but not cause of safety, its just when an XC has its lights on, it looks mean as hell and like its alive (Y)

[Mechan1k]

As a courier ... I do ... regardless.

I have found that some people catch the glimpse of headlights in their mirror before just swapping a lane. It can make a difference.

Also in and out of loading docks as well ... saves switching lights on and off all of the time. Makes it easier for me.

I guess it is one reason why Telstra have the auto headlights on feature that is hard-wired in from factory.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by Mechan1k

I guess it is one reason why Telstra have the auto headlights on feature that is hard-wired in from factory.

I was aware of that, i think its a great idea.

[The Monty]

I always drive with headlights on. Its just the way I was taught.

[grandpa_spec_F6]

Headlights are on all the time, used to drive without them on but people do see you coming a lot sooner if you have them on.

I used to notice people a lot who had their headlights on and think "what idiots, it's the middle of the day"... then one day I realised I had noticed every car with them ON, and hadn't given any of the cars with them OFF a second thought.

[Road Games]

Originally Posted by grandpa_spec_au

Headlights are on all the time, used to drive without them on but people do see you coming a lot sooner if you have them on.

Same here , probably why i keep replacing bulbs every few months ?

[Franco Cozzo]

Yeah i turn on the lights in my car all the time when I'm driving, if it means someone can see me better then its well worth it.