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.

I think my car would do a better job than some of the numpties in government.

I wish bike manufacturers were forced to apply the same rule, ie mandatory lights, always on

My car has running lights so they're always on. Not as bright as headlights though.

For reference RTA = road traffic accident.

Long time Volvo driver here, back in the day I'd get flashed all the time to let me know my day running lights were on.

It's for safety. I do wish drivers would realise that day running lights are only in the front of their cars, the amount of people I see driving with no back lights is frightening.

I was taught if you need wipers on, put lights on, back in the day when you had to switch them on yourself😂

Our car is 20 years old so everything needs to be done yourself 🤣

I think years ago there was a study in Copenhagen or somewhere like that where it was proven fewer accidents with lights on in the day. And it's probably a safety thing now, same as (bloody horrible) lane assist.

It’s been proven safer to have headlights on during the day - it’s more noticeable, pedestrians can tell which car could move and which car is parked (even more helpful with electric cars). As a result of the study it’s now a legal requirement for all cars post 2011 have to have them.
Volvo have always been ahead of the curve with this - much like them inventing seatbelts.

You can turn lane assist off. I do every trip, can’t stand it.

It's safer. It also means I never forget to turn them on in the evening, when it rains or gets foggy.

It's bloody dangerous to drive without lights on in poor visibility, eg heavy rain, especially if your car is a dark colour.

To improve visibility.
For example: on a very sunny day, if you drive into a very shaded section, it can be hard to see cars in the distance without their lights on. It’s important to be able to see cars in the distance as you are always needing to think ahead when driving (you need to be aware of potholes or plan overtaking manoeuvres etc).

Because they're automatic, if I drive under a bridge the sat nav also has a panic attack and puts itself into night mode.

I agree. I also wish the flashing rear lights on bikes would be banned. My migraines are triggered by flashing lights and bikes with those lights are my worst nightmare.

Unless it's a Volvo then it's a modern car thing. All good unless they're the stupid automatic blinding LED's that make it harder for other drivers.

Yes I agree. I never understand those people who have no lights on in horrendous weather conditions. Perhaps they have forgotten to put them on. Or do they think the car lights are linked to their electricity bill😂. I always wonder why it doesn’t register with those particular drivers that all the other cars on the road have their lights on for a good reason. I think in the olden days car batteries used to be drained by the headlights? Maybe some folk still think that.

More visible. In my country you're legally obliged to have headlights (not just running lights) on at all times when driving. They didn't make that rule just for fun.

Mine aren’t automatic and I don’t have them on if it’s sunny although do if I’m in a shaded area.

I read an interesting article about Volvo recently.Apparently they shared their technology regarding the invention of seat belts with all the other car manufacturers for free! Volvo was purely interested in the safety aspects of seat belts in all cars rather than any financial gain to their company.

Mine just decide. One more thing for me not to worry about.

Probably daytime running lights or automatic headlights (which in daytime usually means it is s bit overcast).

Some vehicles (and I am thinking motorcycles mainly) have had permanent headlights (not to be confused with DRL's) for years with no option to switch them off.
I bought a BMW in 2003 and that did not even have a headlight switch, just Hi/Lo.

Idiots are gonna idiot

most cars have daylight running lights, this has been the norm since 2014 at least.

This.

My car has running lights on all the time. As soon as it's low-ish light or overcast I turn my lights on. My car is grey and becomes almost invisible.

It has an auto lights option but I don't think it comes on early enough so I don't rely on them.

I know that's how they're set up but I do think it looks stupid. Like wearing a safety harness to walk to the corner shop.

I don’t understand. Who are the idiots?