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 drove 13 miles on the motorway around 7.45pm last week and counted NINE cars with no lights on at all
flashed them all. None put them on

Oh I used to get told all the time that the car lights were on. I just used to reply. “It’s a Volvo”. 🙄

I like having my lights on all the time. Means I don't forget to turn them on. I have a silver car and I think I'm more visible.

I don't have the super bright one on unless it's very dark at night.

@Jennyathemall Do you know all the features of whatever you are typing on, including autocorrect? What is "double declining", which I most certainly did not say? Sorry, I couldn't resist it!

Always have done, for safety.

Well that explains a lot! Have always wondered why the road ahead gets less illuminated despite it being darker.

It’s automatic in my car

I have an extra reason not already stated - it illuminates my dashboard, so sometimes I could be perfectly okay driving and being seen without the lights but it’s too murky to see my speed etc so the lights go on.

Because most people are stupid, and why on earth would you not want to give yourself that extra 1% chance of catching sight of a car that may have appeared parked before pulling out ? Especially in the UK where it can be so drab and dull that the lights can stand out;

It is not illegal to drive an older car without Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) in the UK, but it is illegal to drive a car manufactured after February 2011 with faulty or missing DRLs if they were fitted as standard, as they are mandatory. Driving with faulty DRLs can result in a £1000 fine and MOT failure.

This is from AI, but is a precis from the government website here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/daytime-running-lights/daytime-running-lights

@Rubbleonthedouble2 do you have any plans to learn to drive? DD is a non driver for medical reasons, but even she knows more about cars and driving than you do.

I have seen plenty of new (i.e. 2-3 year old cars) with their DRLs off. Which tells me immediately that an idiot has been near the car.

I would call the police,.but they go around without DRLs as well. Usually while not indicating. Still at least (some of them) put their lights on when it's foggy.

Exactly. I was trying to kill some time!

I started doing this in around 2008 before most cars had standard DRL.

My car is a lot more visible than those who dont have them on, thats why.

@RampantIvy tbh probably not going to learn to drive. I used to get public transport or taxis if necessary before DP bought his car. I can easily go back to that.

Good on your DP, I've never been interested in cars.

Cars with lights on are 20% less likely to crash. Even in the day.

I drive with my lights on because:

1. I forget to turn them off
2. I can’t be bothered to turn them off
3. I don’t see the point in turning them off

Does that help?

This morning I was driving in to work, it was daylight but cloudy so slightly overcast, so visibility was lower than if it had been sunny. I had to pull out to overtake a parked vehicle on a straight section of road, and as I was along side it I saw a mid grey car driving towards me, almost the exact colour of the road, and because it had no lights on it had blended in like it was camouflaged. Luckily it was just far enough away not to be a huge risk, but I did speed up to make sure I would be out of the way, but I honestly couldn’t/didn’t see it at a distance.

This is why people should always have their lights on.