AIBU in thinking if so many people really are this stupid, a device ought to be fitted in all cars

[janey68]

... to automatically switch headlights on when its dark.

I popped to the supermarket yesterday evening after dark. I mean, early evening but properly dark- not borderline twilight. Obviously the car park itself is well lit, but I was really shocked that walking from my car to the entrance doors I saw four, yes FOUR, drivers leaving without switching on their lights!

One idiot in a range rover actually started moved forwards out of his parking space as I walked in front. I could see that someone was in the drivers seat, I paused momentarily but as his lights were off I assumed he was waiting for someone- until he suddenly pulled forward. I glared at his headlights and threw my hands out as if to say what the fuck?! and he did actually switch them on. The other 3 cars I saw we're driving at quite a speed through the car park to the exit (onto a main road!) blithely unaware that they were a total menace to pedestrians. One switched his lights on when a customer waved frantically at his lights, but god knows about the other two... Presumably they got as far as pulling out on the main road and jeapardising more lives before having the gumption to turn their lights on

I find it pretty shocking tbh because it really isn't THAT hard to remember that when its dark you put on your lights. Before you move. Not half way out of your parking space, or half way to the exit but before you move.

And if it is that difficult to remember then surely some automatic device to turn on lights or remind the driver should be compulsory in all vehicles? If I saw 4 cars do this in one car park within about 3 minutes, i presume many people are being a menace countrywide

You're joking? Really, maid? No way. Are you sure it wasn't just because it wasn't past lighting-up time, rather than because there were street lights?

I do find it odd that many cars have that intensely annoying beeper to tell you the passenger seat isn't strapped in (usually in my case because I plonked a heavy bag on it), but don't beep to let you know your lights aren't on. I get paranoid about forgetting mine.

A few people I know seem to see them as one of those things you do as you're driving off - turn the key, start getting out of the space, oh yeah, pull on seat belt and flick the lights on as you drive off. Which seems daft to me as surely the bit where you're getting out of a space is when someone is most likely not to see you're about to drive off?

forgetting lights isn't a sign of stupidity. It is a sign of 'driving without due care and attention'.

wake up, the lot of you. careless drivers KILL.

I've done this about 4 times in my driving life. Every time I've been driving out of the big Tesco or Lidl in a really built up area with loads of street lights and massive carpark and petrol station lights. It's easily done in a well lit carpark. I've realised my mistake once on the road or an oncoming driver will always flash their lights at me.

'Walked in front of a car without checking the drivers intentions!' That's a new one!
It's a tad tricky to walk through a car park without passing behind or in front of rows of cars

If the driver had put his lights on, his intentions would have been clear. He didn't.

I'm also confused as to how I 'sound like' the kind of person who would have walked in front of a car in broad daylight... Hmm no, if a driver was sitting in the seat looking ready to go, I would wait. But obviously as after dark, you shouldn't manoeuvre with no lights, I assumed the driver wasnt going to go.

Anyway I think some people are getting too hung up about the car I mentioned that I walked past. What concerned me more was the 3 other cars speeding towards the exit without lights which were not at all clearly visible to the many families in the car park. If its genuinely so difficult for so many people to remember to switch lights on after dark, then perhaps cars should default to lights on automatically

I have done this once. I drove out of a very brightly lit car park, out of town and down the motorway - and I got over two-thirds of the way home before someone flashed me to tell me my lights were off. I think I was thrown by the brightness of the lights in the car park - it had its own lighting, and was next to a flood-lit hockey pitch, and genuinely was as bright as day. There is less excuse in the average supermarket carpark, though.

What boggles me is when people drive with no lights on, when the visibility is poor - mist/rain etc.

My car has auto headlights and I've had a few incidents when I've had to drive DH's older car which doesn't. Having auto everything has kind of turned me into a "what, I have to operate this MYSELF??" princess.

Are you sure it wasn't just because it wasn't past lighting-up time, rather than because there were street lights?

Positive. As backed up by government guidelines:

Headlights unnecessary where there is adequate streetlighting

Wow. I so did not know that. I would feel really nervous about it, though I see that you would be able to see someone with just sidelights well enough. Not something I would fancy trying, though.

I wish people would turn on their headlights whenever using their wipers in rain or snow during the day. It's not so you can see, but so others can see you.

all new cars legally now have daylight running lights, so not an issue anymore - have done for a couple of years.

Wow. I so did not know that. I would feel really nervous about it
Completely agree and understand, hence my choice to switch to hazards in the absence of any lights. The realisation that driving with hazards on is a mistake has come with time, but it's still amazing to me that you can drive down a residential and street lit road without headlights.

I think, however, that the direction by the policeman to drive without headlights was very much motivated by getting me to drive without hazards and that, once chatting to me, he realised I wasn't pissed/generally looking shifty etc. I suspect had I just driven past without headlights on and no clear problem acknowledged (by hazards), I'd have been stopped/breathalysed/etc because driving without is headlights is still very much a 'what are you doing???' thing. Telling a a policeman it's not illegal probably doesn't get you very far.

Yes, I bet!

But, I meant, I see why you reacted the way you did, because it would be scary.