I see it every day: more and more cars on the road with their lights out because owners equate illuminated dash instruments with illuminated head & tail lights.
My thought is to put back the link between the car's external lights and the dash lights: if the light switch is in the 'off' position, the instrument lights will, when it gets dark, go off as well. To light them back up, turn the switch to either "on" (or "auto" if so equipped - and with an ambient light sensor, why would a car not be so equipped?)
I've noticed this a lot as well.
1. Auto lights should be more common. How expensive can a light sensor be?
2. Some DRLs are bright enough to fool the driver, but no taillights.
C. Some companies have ambiguous dash lights to tell the driver when different lights are on. The icons for DRLs, headlights, market lights, and/or foglights look the same to me.
Side note: why aren't auto-off lights more common? My MR2 has it, but my parent's Suzuki doesn't. I've left lights on far too often because of habit.
I see this everyday too, and I swear I'm seeing more of it. However, at least in my car, the gauges are pretty much impossible to read without the dash lights so as a default no head lights = dash lights on (and brightest setting). I think a lot of it is drunk, impaired, and distracted drivers though.
I see two other subsets to the lighting issue also. Pretty much every day I also see blown tail lights and random random tail light lighting (reverse lights or brake lights stuck on), especially on Volvos.
Quote from: Speed_Racer on December 12, 2011, 01:04:45 PM
I've noticed this a lot as well.
1. Auto lights should be more common. How expensive can a light sensor be?
I think sometimes that's part of the problem -- someone is used to automatic lights and don't think to check if they've been accidentally switched off.
Quote from: GoCougs on December 12, 2011, 01:11:57 PM
I see this everyday too, and I swear I'm seeing more of it. However, at least in my car, the gauges are pretty much impossible to read without the dash lights so as a default no head lights = dash lights on (and brightest setting). I think a lot of it is drunk, impaired, and distracted drivers though.
I see two other subsets to the lighting issue also. Pretty much every day I also see blown tail lights and random random tail light lighting (reverse lights or brake lights stuck on), especially on Volvos.
I think with the Volvos, you're seeing the rear fog light on. Some people are retarded and turn it on when it's not needed.
Most cars in NYC are POS Crown Vics so I haven't noticed
It happens mainly with cars which have electroluminescent IP lighting. It's lit up all the time so there is no longer a visual cue within the car to turn your headlights on.
I think manual lights are the way to go. All of this automatic nonsense just makes the problem worse when it's not automatic for some reason (faulty sensor, driving a different car, etc). And if you leave the lights on and kill the battery once, you don't tend to do it again.
There's no way to shut off the headlights on my car, save for engaging the handbrake. The HIDs are the DRLs, which are enabled whenever the handbrake is engaged. My HIDs are burning through the day, when they shouldn't be. I'd love to shut that feature off using VAGCOM. Such a waste.
Quote from: CALL_911 on December 12, 2011, 07:44:44 PM
There's no way to shut off the headlights on my car, save for engaging the handbrake. The HIDs are the DRLs, which are enabled whenever the handbrake is engaged. My HIDs are burning through the day, when they shouldn't be. I'd love to shut that feature off using VAGCOM. Such a waste.
WOW! Usually the regular bulbs are used as DRLs!
Quote from: Gotta-Qik-C6 on December 12, 2011, 07:46:19 PM
WOW! Usually the regular bulbs are used as DRLs!
(http://archive.caranddriver.com/var/ezwebin_site/storage/images/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/vw_audi_central/2010_volkswagen_golf_rabbit_gti_official_photos_and_info_car_news/2010_volkswagen_golf_rabbit_gti_official_photos/vwgti_10_real_9/1674365-1-eng-US/vwgti_10_real_9_cd_gallery.jpg)
Trouble is, the only halogen bulbs the car has, except for the signal lights, are the fog lights. I mean, I guess those can be used as DRLs?
Honestly, I'd rather have no DRLs than what I have now. I never found DRLs to be that advantageous, or that great a safety feature.
Quote from: hotrodalex on December 12, 2011, 07:39:55 PM
I think manual lights are the way to go. All of this automatic nonsense just makes the problem worse when it's not automatic for some reason (faulty sensor, driving a different car, etc). And if you leave the lights on and kill the battery once, you don't tend to do it again.
Agreed.
Also, on bright but overcast days, a lot of cars seem to have a problem with the lights cycling on and off continuously. OK, so that's not really that much of a problem, but it annoys me.
Quote from: CALL_911 on December 12, 2011, 07:48:55 PM
(http://archive.caranddriver.com/var/ezwebin_site/storage/images/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/vw_audi_central/2010_volkswagen_golf_rabbit_gti_official_photos_and_info_car_news/2010_volkswagen_golf_rabbit_gti_official_photos/vwgti_10_real_9/1674365-1-eng-US/vwgti_10_real_9_cd_gallery.jpg)
Trouble is, the only halogen bulbs the car has, except for the signal lights, are the fog lights. I mean, I guess those can be used as DRLs?
Honestly, I'd rather have no DRLs than what I have now. I never found DRLs to be that advantageous, or that great a safety feature.
I despise DRLs! The first thing I do when I get in the Vette is cycle them off!
We've had DRLs for 22 years in Canada. I'm glad we have them, especially in the winter months and at dusk.
Quote from: Gotta-Qik-C6 on December 12, 2011, 09:11:51 PM
I despise DRLs! The first thing I do when I get in the Vette is cycle them off!
:huh: Most of the time it seems like they're just the fog lights for a car, which I don't have a problem with, or high beam halogen bulbs run at a lower brightness, which seems fine too. Extra bright/visible orange "parking"/indicator lights would work too, and I think I've seen this on some GM models. The new Audi inspired LED DRLs look sharp on most cars and last for a very long time, which seems like the logical progression anyway. In mediocre weather or lower lighting they can be quite nice for other drivers since a lot of people are dumb and don't turn on their headlights in the rain/snow/fog or wait until it's pitch black to turn them on at night.
Mine illuminate the blinkers (same in the Z28) but I still turn them off. Just a pet peeve of mine.
I remember my my mom used to holler at people for driving around with their lights ON during the day when I was a kid.
Quote from: hotrodalex on December 12, 2011, 07:39:55 PM
I think manual lights are the way to go. All of this automatic nonsense just makes the problem worse when it's not automatic for some reason (faulty sensor, driving a different car, etc). And if you leave the lights on and kill the battery once, you don't tend to do it again.
What? No. What you just said is nonsense.
Automatic lights = bleeding edge technology. Better give them a century to work the kinks out. :lol:
(I love 'em on the TSXagen.)
Dad has them on his car. They work very well, but I find them so damn pointless.
I disabled my DRLs.
Quote from: S204STi on December 12, 2011, 11:50:00 PM
I disabled my DRLs.
I can't wait to make a friend with a VAGCOM. I'll disable DRLs stat.
Quote from: SVT666 on December 12, 2011, 09:31:57 PM
We've had DRLs for 22 years in Canada. I'm glad we have them, especially in the winter months and at dusk.
Consuming all that extra gasoline has to play havoc with your carbon emissions; you'll probably end up leaving the Kyoto Treaty. Oh wait, you just did.
Welcome to the dark side :devil:
Quote from: Morris Minor on December 12, 2011, 12:56:45 PM
My thought is to put back the link between the car's external lights and the dash lights: if the light switch is in the 'off' position, the instrument lights will, when it gets dark, go off as well. To light them back up, turn the switch to either "on" (or "auto" if so equipped - and with an ambient light sensor, why would a car not be so equipped?)
If you are going to have the money to have such a sensor, you might as well have automatic headlights. Automatic headlights cost money, no matter how small it may seem to be.
My friggin SHO had autolights, pretty cool- you could even set the timer for how long they stayed on after you shutoff and got out of the car.
I'm seeing lots and lots of 1-2yr old cars with blown tailights. Wussupwithat?????
Quote from: CJ on December 12, 2011, 04:48:32 PM
I think with the Volvos, you're seeing the rear fog light on. Some people are retarded and turn it on when it's not needed.
Oh, that makes sense then. I just couldn't get it through my head that Volvos had such pervasive issues with tail lights.
Two things I hate the most about modern cars is DRL and doors that lock when you put the car in drive. I can turn my lights on and lock the fucking door when I want thank you.
Quote from: Onslaught on December 14, 2011, 07:24:33 PM
Two things I hate the most about modern cars is DRL and doors that lock when you put the car in drive. I can turn my lights on and lock the fucking door when I want thank you.
You can turn the autolocks off on our Explorer.
Quote from: Onslaught on December 14, 2011, 07:24:33 PM
Two things I hate the most about modern cars is DRL and doors that lock when you put the car in drive. I can turn my lights on and lock the fucking door when I want thank you.
Most cars are programmable for stuff like door locks, but sometimes it's complicated to get into the programming mode. On, off, on, off, parking brake up, on, brake down, off, up down up down B A start.
Quote from: 280Z Turbo on December 12, 2011, 10:10:48 PM
What? No. What you just said is nonsense.
I'd hate to drive a car with automatic headlights that stay on after you shut the car off and close the door. I feel like I'd walk away every time wondering if the lights are going to turn off or if I'll have a dead battery soon. With manual headlights, I turn them off every single time and know they are off. If you need a reminded to turn them off, that's what the buzzer is for when you open the door with the lights on. And when I want to turn them on, I turn them on. It's not that hard. Automatic headlights just seem pointless to me. If you're too dumb to tell it's dark outside and you need to turn your lights on, you shouldn't be driving.
(/thread resurrect)
I've driven a few blocks on well-lit roads at night without realizing my lights aren't on. It happens.
In the Prelude the instruments were actually much brighter when the headlights were on compared to when they were off.
In the Subaru my parents also just left the head lights on (they turn off when you pull the hand brake). I have been turning them off and on with the switch since that's my reflex, but I am not sure how long that will stick.
Quote from: Onslaught on December 14, 2011, 07:24:33 PM
Two things I hate the most about modern cars is DRL and doors that lock when you put the car in drive. I can turn my lights on and lock the fucking door when I want thank you.
Worse than that are the cars that unlock the doors when you come to a stop! :rage:
Quote from: Morris Minor on December 12, 2011, 12:56:45 PM
I see it every day: more and more cars on the road with their lights out because owners equate illuminated dash instruments with illuminated head & tail lights.
My thought is to put back the link between the car's external lights and the dash lights: if the light switch is in the 'off' position, the instrument lights will, when it gets dark, go off as well. To light them back up, turn the switch to either "on" (or "auto" if so equipped - and with an ambient light sensor, why would a car not be so equipped?)
I prefer it simple. If your headlamps aren't on, your instruments are dark. No sensors. Just plain "I can't see, so let me turn on the lights".
Quote from: Morris Minor on December 12, 2011, 12:56:45 PM
I see it every day: more and more cars on the road with their lights out because owners equate illuminated dash instruments with illuminated head & tail lights.
My thought is to put back the link between the car's external lights and the dash lights: if the light switch is in the 'off' position, the instrument lights will, when it gets dark, go off as well. To light them back up, turn the switch to either "on" (or "auto" if so equipped - and with an ambient light sensor, why would a car not be so equipped?)
I seldom see people driving without lights when they need to be on as night approaches. More often I see people without their car's headlights on in the rain.
Quote from: Speed_Racer on December 14, 2011, 11:08:45 PM
Most cars are programmable for stuff like door locks, but sometimes it's complicated to get into the programming mode. On, off, on, off, parking brake up, on, brake down, off, up down up down B A start.
There's a reason for that.
Quote from: MiataJohn on January 09, 2012, 01:49:24 PM
I seldom see people driving without lights when they need to be on as night approaches. More often I see people without their car's headlights on in the rain.
Fog. People don't turn their lights on in the fog either.
Quote from: SVT666 on January 09, 2012, 03:03:38 PM
Fog. People don't turn their lights on in the fog either.
Seems all the more reason for better driving education, not electronic fixes.
Quote from: Onslaught on December 14, 2011, 07:24:33 PM
Two things I hate the most about modern cars is DRL and doors that lock when you put the car in drive. I can turn my lights on and lock the fucking door when I want thank you.
Ghetto locks are a rudimentary anti-carjacking measure, and with the advent of GPS, could easily be made to trigger only on entry to our less salubrious ZIP codes.
I definitely see more than necessary number of people without their headlights on at night, and most of the time, they're either Toyota/Lexus or Fords. I don't know why.. I rarely see cars of other make with the same problem. I don't know if it's the cars, or just those manufacturers seems to attract those buyers. And what makes it worse is, those drivers when you flash them to let them know, they just ignore you, probably because they're not paying attention to it.
And then there's also increasing number of people who drives with their high beams on, and those same drivers typically drives slow/lane camp, and are just as oblivious ... argh
OK, I fell victim to this a few nights ago.
Issue is that I'm used to the automatic lights so I never touch it. My spouse flipped it from AUTO to OFF out of habit.
When I realized this I was like "oh no, I'm one of THOSE people!"
Quote from: Laconian on January 10, 2012, 04:14:58 PM
OK, I fell victim to this a few nights ago.
Issue is that I'm used to the automatic lights so I never touch it. My spouse flipped it from AUTO to OFF out of habit.
When I realized this I was like "oh no, I'm one of THOSE people!"
You people!!! :rage:
:lol:
Quote from: hotrodalex on December 12, 2011, 07:39:55 PM
I think manual lights are the way to go. All of this automatic nonsense just makes the problem worse when it's not automatic for some reason (faulty sensor, driving a different car, etc).
Quote from: Laconian on January 10, 2012, 04:14:58 PM
Issue is that I'm used to the automatic lights so I never touch it.
:praise:
Quote from: Laconian on January 10, 2012, 04:14:58 PM
OK, I fell victim to this a few nights ago.
Issue is that I'm used to the automatic lights so I never touch it. My spouse flipped it from AUTO to OFF out of habit.
When I realized this I was like "oh no, I'm one of THOSE people!"
This is why automatic lights should be illegal or not have an off position. On and automatic.
Gate guards at military bases would be fucked at night...
That's what usually nails me in the Mustang. It has dash lights that are totally separate from the headlight switch (they have their own "brain" on when they come on vs the headlights).
So, I have to flip them to off when I roll through the gate... but the dash lights are still on. And parts of the base have really good street lighting so it takes me a while to realize my headlights are off.
Miata is great, on or off :lol:
Quote from: Raza link=topic=26284.msg1647499#msg1647499 date=1326320053
This is why automatic lights should be illegal or not have an off position. On and automatic.
Quote from: HotRodPilot on January 11, 2012, 03:34:31 PM
Gate guards at military bases would be fucked at night...
That's what usually nails me in the Mustang. It has dash lights that are totally separate from the headlight switch (they have their own "brain" on when they come on vs the headlights).
So, I have to flip them to off when I roll through the gate... but the dash lights are still on. And parts of the base have really good street lighting so it takes me a while to realize my headlights are off.
Miata is great, on or off :lol:
Maybe as a tradeoff between those two interests, some sort of indicator could light up on the gauge cluster when the sensors think the lights should be on at a time while they're switched off.
Quote from: HotRodPilot on January 11, 2012, 03:34:31 PM
Gate guards at military bases would be fucked at night...
That's what usually nails me in the Mustang. It has dash lights that are totally separate from the headlight switch (they have their own "brain" on when they come on vs the headlights).
So, I have to flip them to off when I roll through the gate... but the dash lights are still on. And parts of the base have really good street lighting so it takes me a while to realize my headlights are off.
Miata is great, on or off :lol:
Why do you have to turn them off when you go through the gate?
Blinds the guards. If the lights are off they have situational awareness of what the driver is doing since they can see them, at least a little bit at night
Quote from: TBR on January 06, 2012, 11:03:31 PM
In the Prelude the instruments were actually much brighter when the headlights were on compared to when they were off.
In the Subaru my parents also just left the head lights on (they turn off when you pull the hand brake). I have been turning them off and on with the switch since that's my reflex, but I am not sure how long that will stick.
In Subarus, the lights also turn off once you switch the ignition off, so that you don't inadvertently drain the battery.
Quote from: HotRodPilot on January 11, 2012, 03:34:31 PM
Gate guards at military bases would be fucked at night...
That's what usually nails me in the Mustang. It has dash lights that are totally separate from the headlight switch (they have their own "brain" on when they come on vs the headlights).
So, I have to flip them to off when I roll through the gate... but the dash lights are still on. And parts of the base have really good street lighting so it takes me a while to realize my headlights are off.
Miata is great, on or off :lol:
See, if you had an NA you'd know when the headlights are on. The barn doors would be up. :praise:
Quote from: HotRodPilot on January 11, 2012, 04:00:30 PM
Blinds the guards. If the lights are off they have situational awareness of what the driver is doing since they can see them, at least a little bit at night
Probably also makes it easier for them to see the base sticker. When I was at NAS Oceana the sticker was on the front bumper under the right headlight. They are probably on the windscreen now since most cars don't really have bumpers.
Quote from: sportyaccordy on December 12, 2011, 04:57:32 PM
Most cars in NYC are POS Crown Vics so I haven't noticed
:rage:
Quote from: Raza on January 09, 2012, 11:51:02 AM
I prefer it simple. If your headlamps aren't on, your instruments are dark. No sensors. Just plain "I can't see, so let me turn on the lights".
Quote from: Raza on January 11, 2012, 03:14:13 PM
This is why automatic lights should be illegal or not have an off position. On and automatic.
I don't know what you get in the USA, but I leave always lights on AUTO and the dashboard lights comes on ONLY when the headlights comes on.
Quote from: cawimmer430 on January 12, 2012, 10:16:56 AM
:rage:
Please do not make posts with gigantic type sizes. Stick to default. :nono:
Quote from: MiataJohn on January 12, 2012, 07:06:23 AM
Probably also makes it easier for them to see the base sticker. When I was at NAS Oceana the sticker was on the front bumper under the right headlight. They are probably on the windscreen now since most cars don't really have bumpers.
Most bases have done away with the decals, they are being phased out. 100% ID check
Quote from: AltinD on January 12, 2012, 01:08:13 PM
I don't know what you get in the USA, but I leave always lights on AUTO and the dashboard lights comes on ONLY when the headlights comes on.
Varies from car to car. Many newer Toyota and Honda products have the gauges illuminated all the time.
Quote from: 93JC on October 02, 2011, 01:38:07 AM
I am convinced all Honda and Toyota drivers are idiots. Seen tonight:
- black 7th gen. Accord
- gold 7th gen. Accord
- greenish last-gen. Corolla
All of which were driven by assholes who didn't turn their taillights on, probably because their instrument panels are permanently lit all the time and they didn't even realize they didn't have their exterior lights on.
The black Accord is especially lucky someone didn't hit him. There were a couple times passing through areas with inoperative light standards where he just flat-out disappeared from view.
No amount of highbeam flashing and turning lights on and off got these bozos' attention. Eventually the gold Accord wised up though.
Quote from: Laconian on January 10, 2012, 04:14:58 PM
OK, I fell victim to this a few nights ago.
Issue is that I'm used to the automatic lights so I never touch it. My spouse flipped it from AUTO to OFF out of habit.
When I realized this I was like "oh no, I'm one of THOSE people!"
Significant others shouldn't be borrowing YOUR car. :lol:
Quote from: Rupert on January 12, 2012, 07:27:10 PM
Please do not make posts with gigantic type sizes. Stick to default. :nono:
:lol:
Quote from: HotRodPilot on January 12, 2012, 08:39:57 PM
Most bases have done away with the decals, they are being phased out. 100% ID check
Really? How long are the wait times in the morning? Remember the Arab Israeli was of 1973? I was at NAS Oceana then, living on base. When the war started they tried to check all ID's on the people in cars entering the base. Traffic was literally backed up for over a mile; it was a real mess. Finally they gave it up.
Quote from: Laconian on January 10, 2012, 04:14:58 PM
OK, I fell victim to this a few nights ago.
Issue is that I'm used to the automatic lights so I never touch it. My spouse flipped it from AUTO to OFF out of habit.
When I realized this I was like "oh no, I'm one of THOSE people!"
+1
I actually think the auto lights make this easier. People get so used to not thinking about it, that of the switch someone gets switched off of auto, they don't notice right away.
Also, modern cars often have dashboard illumination during the daytime. With my old Camry and my Miata, if the lights weren't on then the dashboard, would be completely dark. Now the dash is on all the time. Brighter, in fact, during the daytime.
Precisely. As I said this seems most common in Honda and Toyota products.
Quote from: 93JC on January 16, 2012, 03:21:25 PM
Precisely. As I said this seems most common in Honda and Toyota products.
Claimed to be a safety feature. You go in a tunnel or dark area suddenly and you at least have dash lighting.
Quote from: MiataJohn on January 17, 2012, 06:19:50 AM
Claimed to be a safety feature. You go in a tunnel or dark area suddenly and you at least have dash lighting.
I just turn my lights on. When I was in Altoona, I had to drive through a couple of long tunnels, under mountains or what not. They had signs "Lights on, Sunglasses off". Turning your lights on when it gets dark shouldn't be such a difficult concept for people.
Quote from: Raza link=topic=26284.msg1651351#msg1651351 date=1326808742
I just turn my lights on. When I was in Altoona, I had to drive through a couple of long tunnels, under mountains or what not. They had signs "Lights on, Sunglasses off". Turning your lights on when it gets dark shouldn't be such a difficult concept for people.
No it shouldn't, and that's why I don't like the autoheadlamp on and off feature. If one can't remember when to turn lights on and off while driving one might want to reassess their ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.
Quote from: MiataJohn on January 17, 2012, 08:16:01 AM
No it shouldn't, and that's why I don't like the autoheadlamp on and off feature. If one can't remember when to turn lights on and off while driving one might want to reassess their ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.
Agreed. Maybe I'm too stuck in the dark ages, when people had to interact with their cars to make them do things, but I think there's way too much automation in cars today. Maybe if driving were stressed as a dangerous action that you need to be involved with to do, people wouldn't text while driving. And, like they said on Top Gear, if you have no interest in driving, maybe you shouldn't do it; if you have no interest in the human body, don't become a surgeon either.
BUMP!
New safety standards aim to rid roads of 'phantom vehicles' (http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/transport-canada-phantom-vehicles-1.4585686)
QuoteTransport Canada is bringing in new lighting rules for vehicles to improve road safety.
New manufacturing standards will kick in for all new cars sold in Canada beginning September 2021 to stop so-called "phantom vehicles" — cars operating without lights in the dark.
As of 2021, vehicles will be required to be more visible in low-light conditions by having one of three features:
- Daytime running lights and tail lights that come on when the vehicle instrument panel is illuminated and the vehicle is in operation.
- Headlights, tail lights and side marker lights that automatically turn on in low-light conditions.
- A driver's instrument panel that stays dark so the driver knows to turn on all the lights.
The new rules also will allow for new, advanced lighting technologies that boost driver visibility without blinding oncoming traffic.
(https://media.giphy.com/media/b9aScKLxdv0Y0/giphy.gif)
I'm not sure what's worse, no lights on or brights on. I see both every single day.
I see police officers all the time with their cars running and their lights off in the middle of the night :lol:
How can we make a new safety standard to rid the road of idiot drivers? :lol:
This looks like a step in the right direction. I just hope that manufacturers will allow the lights to be off when the car is running but not in gear.
Quote from: RomanChariot on March 21, 2018, 01:46:24 PM
This looks like a step in the right direction. I just hope that manufacturers will allow the lights to be off when the car is running but not in gear.
The third solution is the easiest IMO. No dash backlights when the lights are off.
Saw someone just last night get pulled over for having NO lights on whatsoever...at 9pm. Total night.
Just saw someone today driving with nothing but DRLs at about 6:30 AM. American drivers are fucking hopeless.
Quote from: CaminoRacer on March 21, 2018, 02:02:03 PM
The third solution is the easiest IMO. No dash backlights when the lights are off.
With many cars going to fully digital dashes and instruments, that's actually not as easy at it would seem. Honestly, since Canada already mandates DRLs, making the headlights and tail lights turn on whenever the vehicle is on is probably the easiest solution. Motorcycles have been doing it for years and years.
Quote from: MX793 on March 21, 2018, 02:50:54 PM
With many cars going to fully digital dashes and instruments, that's actually not as easy at it would seem. Honestly, since Canada already mandates DRLs, making the headlights and tail lights turn on whenever the vehicle is on is probably the easiest solution. Motorcycles have been doing it for years and years.
Yup! What needs to happen is when the Auto Head light sensor "Feels" it's dark enough for Headlights it should turn the dash off completely.....
Quote from: Gotta-Qik-C6 on March 21, 2018, 03:51:00 PM
Yup! What needs to happen is when the Auto Head light sensor "Feels" it's dark enough for Headlights it should turn the dash off completely.....
Exactly! Very easy solution!
Or a warning chime like the no seatbelt one. Or instead of a chime, Morgan Freeman repeatedly telling them they're dumber than a bucket of rocks.
Quote from: Gotta-Qik-C6 on March 21, 2018, 03:51:00 PM
Yup! What needs to happen is when the Auto Head light sensor "Feels" it's dark enough for Headlights it should turn the dash off completely.....
Wiring the lighting control module to be on whenever the ignition is on, like on a motorcycle, is cheaper and easier. Motorcycles don't even have headlight switches, just the hi/lo beam selector switch. As a bonus, headlights turn off when the car is off. No more forgetting to turn your lights off when you get out of the car.
Only problem I see with that is interior lights like the radio dim when you turn the headlights on. So there would be an added cost for some kind of light monitor to control to that.
Then again rear view cameras are mandatory now right? That could act as the light meter (assuming they could figure out a way to distinguish between the sky and headlights).
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on March 22, 2018, 10:37:56 AM
Then again rear view cameras are mandatory now right? That could act as the light meter (assuming they could figure out a way to distinguish between the sky and headlights).
No. Rear ends get very packed up with snow and grime due to aerodynamics. Granted, a covered sensor would just mean lights on all the time. But no.
Granted we don't have much snow here but only problem I've had with mine is blurriness when there's water on it. It still gets light. They could back it up with a light sensor in the car.
Wifey's Rabbit (RIP) had the low beams on all the time, but at night you had to turn on the lights to get the interior lights to come on. That might be the way to do it.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on March 22, 2018, 11:21:57 AM
Wifey's Rabbit (RIP) had the low beams on all the time, but at night you had to turn on the lights to get the interior lights to come on. That might be the way to do it.
But the tail lights aren't on until you turn the lights on, AFAIK. And that's part of the problem. People think their lights are totally on, because there's a little bit of light in front.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on March 22, 2018, 11:21:57 AM
Granted we don't have much snow here but only problem I've had with mine is blurriness when there's water on it. It still gets light. They could back it up with a light sensor in the car.
Wifey's Rabbit (RIP) had the low beams on all the time, but at night you had to turn on the lights to get the interior lights to come on. That might be the way to do it.
If there's a light sensor in the car, there's no point in utilizing the rear camera...?
A sensor on the windshield near the rear-view is, and always has been, the best option.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on March 22, 2018, 10:37:56 AM
Only problem I see with that is interior lights like the radio dim when you turn the headlights on. So there would be an added cost for some kind of light monitor to control to that.
Then again rear view cameras are mandatory now right? That could act as the light meter (assuming they could figure out a way to distinguish between the sky and headlights).
Or you replace the headlight switch with a 2 position switch to toggle the interior lighting between day and night mode. My Mazda had that. I like my gauges dim at night, but they were a little too dim for days when it was raining/snowing and I had the headlights on, so there was a switch to flip the gauges to day/bright mode when the headlights were on.
Quote from: MX793 on March 22, 2018, 11:30:45 AM
Or you replace the headlight switch with a 2 position switch to toggle the interior lighting between day and night mode. My Mazda had that. I like my gauges dim at night, but they were a little too dim for days when it was raining/snowing and I had the headlights on, so there was a switch to flip the gauges to day/bright mode when the headlights were on.
No no no. People cannot do things manually.
Quote from: giant_mtb on March 22, 2018, 11:23:50 AM
If there's a light sensor in the car, there's no point in utilizing the rear camera...?
A sensor on the windshield near the rear-view is, and always has been, the best option.
On a higher margin car like a Porsche or Ford F-150 that's no problem. On a $10K Mirage where every dollar counts it's a stressor.
Quote from: MX793 on March 22, 2018, 11:30:45 AM
Or you replace the headlight switch with a 2 position switch to toggle the interior lighting between day and night mode. My Mazda had that. I like my gauges dim at night, but they were a little too dim for days when it was raining/snowing and I had the headlights on, so there was a switch to flip the gauges to day/bright mode when the headlights were on.
O this reminds me of another pet peeve. Headlights and wipers should be linked. Also thinking there should be some lockout to keep the lights from being on after you turn the car off.
Why should headlights and wipers be linked? :wtf:
Quote from: giant_mtb on March 22, 2018, 11:58:06 AM
Why should headlights and wipers be linked? :wtf:
Because it's a law.
Although it'd be silly for the times when you're just cleaning the windshield.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on March 22, 2018, 11:48:47 AM
O this reminds me of another pet peeve. Headlights and wipers should be linked. Also thinking there should be some lockout to keep the lights from being on after you turn the car off.
My Odyssey turns the lights off (exterior AND interior) after a minute or two. The interiors can be manually turned on and they stay on, but if it's on "door" setting and a door stays open, they still shut off after a few minutes.
Quote from: giant_mtb on March 22, 2018, 11:58:06 AM
Why should headlights and wipers be linked? :wtf:
Because 60% of the cars I see around here driving in low light And rain or snow don't turn their lights on.
Quote from: CaminoRacer on March 22, 2018, 12:09:58 PM
Because it's a law.
Although it'd be silly for the times when you're just cleaning the windshield.
So, like, my wipers are on whenever it's dark? I'm confus.
Quote from: giant_mtb on March 22, 2018, 12:18:46 PM
So, like, my wipers are on whenever it's dark? I'm confus.
No.... if you turn your wipers on, your headlights should come on (but not the opposite). They could put it some kind of time delay so that if you use your squirters they won't come on. But yea it's law and it makes sense.
Wipers on when the lights turn on would be a good prank though
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on March 22, 2018, 12:36:47 PM
No.... if you turn your wipers on, your headlights should come on (but not the opposite). They could put it some kind of time delay so that if you use your squirters they won't come on. But yea it's law and it makes sense.
Oh. Gotcha.
Most wipers I've ever used have a different gesture/switch to use the washer as opposed to actually turning them on, so that wouldn't really be an issue.
Yea they can program all the necessary lock ins/outs.