Why do you have your car lights on in the day?

[Rubbleonthedouble2]

It's a bright, sunny day and we're driving to my mum's on the motorway and I have seen so many cars with their headlights on.

I don't drive. DP helpfully says "they just do" 🙄 what am I missing?

No I will not be googling this, it's a long drive and I'm bored.

They're probably automatic. I have a Volvo and they're always on.

My car headlights are on auto. The car decides.

I'm something of a car expert so I can explain. The reason so many cars always have their headlights on is because they just do. Hope that helps.

You're more visible with lights on so it's safer. Because of that most modern cars are on automatically during the day.

I put mine on for visibility as my car is not a bright colour and cars pull out on me a lot

New EU regulations are that all cars built after a certain year have running lights on all the time. That is the best I can remember without me googling!

same - the car decides. Though, I’m pretty sure that also means mine are not on in bright light, tbh.

Mine are on auto.

Yep, it’s on auto. I never put my lights on myself (unless I need high beams)

Are you one of these who doesn't put your lights on in the rain either? Mine are always on. It costs nothing and improves your cars visibility.

Do you mean the daytime running lights?

Mandatory on new cars in the UK since 2011 to improve the visibility of the car?

This. This is your answer OP.

It makes you more visible, cars with lights on during the day are less likely to be involved in RTAs.

Same

That isn't true in the daytime.
Al they do is provide glare and make it uncomfortable for other drivers.
I hate the very bright headlights many cars have these days

The daylight running lights are always on, on mine. I also put my normal lights on when it's foggy, rainy/dull or when we have that awful bright sunshine glare on winter mornings because it makes you much more visible to other road users.

DP, you shouldn't be driving and Mumsnetting! Even in standstill traffic!

^ this.

I have no way to manually override the setting.

The evidence would suggest otherwise. They didn't bring in the new rules on a whim. They shouldn't be on full during the day though so shouldn't be glaring at you. If they're bothering you, could it be your sight that is the issue?

I don't drive and don't know what DP does. Fiddles with things, clicks, tuts and sighs mostly, from what I can tell.

Why would a car get involved in a regional trade agreement in the first place? 🤔

There shouldn't be any 'glare' from daytime running lights. They are like the old 'sidelights' that cars used to have although you can't switch them on and off manually, they are automatic.

But if you are seeing glare from the daylight lights you might have ocular issues that ought to be checked out.

If I turn it off I forget to put them back on and when I finish work it’s always dark. it’s a brightly lit car park and then i realise when I’m on a main road. Therefore I just never turn them off now.

With my car it's two options headlights on or smaller white parking lights on. No lights is notable option.

To be more visible. In some European countries you have to have them on 24/7, 365 days a year.