PSA: Please don't do this and inform others not to do this as well

"LJ909" (lj909) 08/08/2018 at 11:59 • Filed to: None

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STOP FUCKING DRIVING WITH JUST YOUR LED DRL’S ON AT NIGHT! THAT SHIT IS DANGEROUS. I cant tell you how many cars I see on a nightly basis that are just driving along with just LED DRL’s on and no headlights. It may look cool but its not when you wreck because of it.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 12:08

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I always flash my brights at these people but it never seems to help

nj959 > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 08/08/2018 at 12:09

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I don’t even bother trying to tell them anymore unless I can pull up next to them at a red light or something. Stupid is as stupid does.

Nothing > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 12:10

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It’s ignorance, not “looking cool”. People get in their car, the interior lights are all bright like a Christmas tree, and all is good. Away they drive. My father in law has done that in my wife’s Jeep. He’s not used to automatic headlights, so he turns the dial instead of leaving it where it is. The gauges are lit up, so, boom to him, the head lights are on.

My hometown police call DRLs “drunk runner lights”. They’d sit in a bar parking lot and wait for people to pull out with their headlights “on”, but no tail lights.

LJ909 > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 08/08/2018 at 12:13

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I would do that. But here in Southern California (and maybe some other places) for years that had been a gang initiation  tactic. They would drive around in cars with no headlights on, and when someone flashed them to let them know their lights weren’t on, they would then follow you until they killed you. So I just avoid it.

Takuro Spirit > Nothing 08/08/2018 at 12:13

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This ^

Cars with mandatory DRLs should have mandatory light sensors that turn on ALL the lights when its dark enough.

No ‘Auto’ position.

No option to turn it off.

My 19fucking98 truck had DRLs and a light sensor that worked just fine to turn on the low beams/running/tail lights. .

LOREM IPSUM > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 12:13

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It’s incredible how oblivious an absolutely stunning cross-section of the driving public is. You’d think the unlit cluster and dash would be a clue to them, but nope.

On one hand, maybe they should force the manufacturers to default the system to auto unless explicitly disabled upon each start, kind of like traction control. On the other hand, they should be more discerning about whom they issue licenses to begin with.

Some people really should be forced to take transit, because even a bicycle might be too much for them to handle.

Ash78, voting early and often > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 12:14

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I heard that years ago, but then also heard it was just a rumor.

Ash78, voting early and often > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 12:15

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Conversely, ELIMINATE ALL THESE STREET LIGHTS!

Only when people can no longer read their dashboard will they remember to turn their lights on.

And while we’re at it, ELIMINATE DIGITAL DASHBOARDS. The only way people will remember to use their lights is to make sure they can’t see it.

Maybe we should put a Captcha on the dash before you can drive. And I don’t mean that stupid “I AM NOT A ROBOT” check box.

LJ909 > Nothing 08/08/2018 at 12:15

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Some people, especially older folks, I can believe its just them thinking that the lights are on. But most times its just dumbass people thinking that shit looks cool, especially on the higher end cars. 

fintail > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 12:16

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The one that catches my eye is cars that obviously have auto lights, but the function is disabled.  Late model Lexus SUVs/CUVs seem especially into it, which says a lot about the ownership demographic dinking around with settings they don’t understand.  More people who shouldn’t be driving at all.

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 12:16

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The new LED DRLs are as bright as low beams in some cars and people are too stupid and/or careless to realize that. I see one a week at least. They don’t realize it until they drive through a dark part of the road and realize something’s off

Gerry197 > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 12:16

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I don’t think they are doing it on purpose, at least not all of them. Sometimes they have enough light around them they don’t realize their main lights are not actually on.

Heck, I’ve spoken with people with no lights on in the city and didn’t realize all their lights were off. 

PartyPooper2012 > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 12:16

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biggest crock of shit. It’s a rumor as old as dirt. Flash your lights all you want.

facw > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 12:17

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It’s really mind boggling to me that there are still cars without auto headlights/DRLs. And even more mind boggling to me that in cars with that feature, a decent number of people turn of the automatic functionality.

Textured Soy Protein > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 08/08/2018 at 12:18

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This past weekend someone in a previous-gen Accord that I think was before the facelift where it gained LED DRLs was in front of me on my way home from the movies. They had no lights on and Texas plates, in Maryland. This was on a well-lit main road. I flashed the brights at them repeatedly, through multiple intersections, and they kept driving with no lights on. 

LJ909 > LOREM IPSUM 08/08/2018 at 12:18

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On one hand, maybe they should force the manufacturers to default the system to auto unless explicitly disabled upon each start, kind of like traction control. On the other hand, they should be more discerning about whom they issue licenses to begin with.

This. But even then, you cant fix stupidity and sense is obviously not common. People just need to be more aware. But mostly a lot of people dont need to drive as well.

Chariotoflove > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 12:19

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I would haver thought that the newer cars with DRLs would also have auto headlights that turn on at night. So, for those drivers to only have DRLs on, they would have to consciously turn off headlights.

LJ909 > Ash78, voting early and often 08/08/2018 at 12:19

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I thought it was a rumor too until some people came up dead in LA because of it.

Nothing > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 12:21

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People in mean Wranglers with red halos? I completely agree it’s intentional. Most people in regular stock vehicles, it is not. My wife isn’t old. I’d be willing to bet that if I switched the dial on her Jeep, she’d eventually notice, but not at first. Brightly lit digital gauges that are always “on”, and being in a mostly well lit area are a recipe for this to happen.

When it’s dark out and I’m in the Tacoma, it’s easy. My infotainment screen is blindingly bright, and my analog gauges are dark.

Just Jeepin' > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 12:21

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I’m skeptical about “most”. E veryone I spot who I’m able to communicate with is surprised.

Just Jeepin' > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 12:22

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Citation needed. How would anyone know that’s why they died?

Just Jeepin' > LOREM IPSUM 08/08/2018 at 12:23

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Dashes are increasingly lit whether your lights are on or not. That’s a big part of the problem.

gmctavish needs more space > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 12:23

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I think the people running around with just DRLs at night are the same people with high beams on in the middle of the day 

LOREM IPSUM > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 12:23

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After a few times, they should be forced to have their vehicles retrofitted by Takata.

For the greater good.

LJ909 > fintail 08/08/2018 at 12:23

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It really is them dinking around with settings they dont understand. And for that the blame can go all the way around: manufacturers (especially luxury makes) making these cars too complex and with too many settings, sales people not taking the proper time to explain these features and people themselves not bothering to read the owners manual or take the time to learn what everything does.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 12:24

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Always been a proponent... if your car has automatic DRL... it should have automatic low-beam activation.

If your car has automatic DRL, and an always lit or LCD panel dashboard... it ABSOLUTELY needs automatic headlights.

DRLs during daylight are bright enough to illuminate things in front of the car, and the dash indicator for side marker lights being on, hence the main headlights being on... is an extremely minor thing to notice or overlook.

The trigger for manual headlight activation always used to be that you couldn’t see or read the dashboard without the lights, and the headlights turned on the dash illumination, too.

If those aren’t linked... it is not too much to ask for an electric eye sensor to turn on the headlights automatically, and dim the dash for dusk and dark mode... and a link to the wipers, too.

This is the 21st century, after all, and almost everyone, down to a person above the age of 12 years old is carrying more digital computing power in their pocket, than an Apollo lunar spacecraft had. Let’s live in the present, shall we?

LOREM IPSUM > Just Jeepin' 08/08/2018 at 12:24

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Really? Well that's just dumb as nails.

LJ909 > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 08/08/2018 at 12:25

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In some cases they are dimmer. The cops need to be on it more with ticketing these people.

Just Jeepin' > LOREM IPSUM 08/08/2018 at 12:26

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Agreed. I firmly believe the automakers are far more responsible for this situation than drivers.

fintail > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 12:28

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I’ve gotta blame the driver. Don’t mess with things you don’t understand. If you don’t know what happens when you turn a switch, don’t turn the switch. A car is more complex than a toaster, but most semi-skilled drivers treat it like a toaster.

I drive a complex car, but I know how the functions work, because I looked it up. 

LOREM IPSUM > Just Jeepin' 08/08/2018 at 12:29

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Now that I've learned this, I tend to agree. If your dash is lit AND you can see where you're going because of bright assed drl's, I now understand how one could go along on their merry way without a clue. Hell, I've accidentally switched mine from auto to off whilst signaling before, so I can actually see this happening even to an otherwise competent driver.

LJ909 > facw 08/08/2018 at 12:34

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Because they didnt have it explained to them nor did they care enough to take the time to learn.

LJ909 > Chariotoflove 08/08/2018 at 12:36

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Exactly. Most times its on purpose.

AestheticsInMotion > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 12:38

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I know a lot of people do it to avoid tickets. If you've got a headlight out, pretty much a gaurenteed pull-over, but if you use running lights instead of showing off your burnt bulb... Much lesser chance of being pulled over. People are lazy

LJ909 > Nothing 08/08/2018 at 12:42

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Yea and Challengers with yellow,green or red halos etc. Definitely intentional. With me though i just dont get as to why dont people read? If it says auto on the headlight switch that means that they will automatically come on. I dont get why people would switch from that. Force of habit I guess.

LJ909 > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 08/08/2018 at 12:49

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facw > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 12:50

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But there’s nothing to learn... You just... don’t do anything, and it works!

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Takuro Spirit 08/08/2018 at 12:50

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Mine has the following layout:

Off-AUTO (All 4 corners, not just headlights like I see so often)-Parking Lights (Manual ON for all exterior lighting but headlights)-Headlights (All exterior lights manual ON).

Trick is, the default position is “AUTO”. You can turn the knob to “Off” but it’s springloaded and goes back to “AUTO”. All it’s for is turning off all lighting while you’re parked with the engine running. As soon as you move the shifter everything is on again.

Why all vehicles don’t do this I dunno

LJ909 > fintail 08/08/2018 at 12:51

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Right. This is why Im kinda against these older people in these luxury cars. 80 year olds in S Classes and LS’s etc with more features than probably all of the stuff in their house. But sadly they are usually the ones with the money.

BigBlock440 > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 12:53

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With me though i just dont get as to why dont people read?

How often do you read a headlight switch? Or any switch for that matter? For the past several scores, a vehicles headlights turned on when you turned/pulled/etc. the switch, no need to read. Along with the headlights came the dash lights. Pull switch, dash lit up? Good, lights are on. Now, the dash lights are always  on.

beautimouse > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 12:56

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I s e e t h i s q u i t e o f t e n f o l l o w i n g t h e “ D i m l i g h t s f o r s e n t r y. ” s i g n s . L o t s o f p e o p l e f o r g e t t o r e v e r s e t h e d i m m i n g p r o c e s s .

LJ909 > BigBlock440 08/08/2018 at 13:03

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When I bought my car I read everything because I wanted to know what did what, as it should be. You cant just go pressing buttons. A lot of cars are too complex now to just go around doing that.

RPM esq. > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 13:09

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It’s less the lack of headlights that trouble me than coming up on them from behind with their taillights off....and I see it every single day. Last night I had a longer drive home than usual and must have seen it five times. I don’t think it’s on purpose, I think the light from the DRLs makes people think their headlights are on. I base that largely on the fact that 90% of the offenders where I live are women of middle age or older—not the type you’d think would leave their headlights off because the DRLs look cool. It’s inexcusable that these cars don’t have automatic headlights/ taillights.

RPM esq. > Chariotoflove 08/08/2018 at 13:11

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It seems to me that it’s more like they never turned them on since they bought the car. I’ve never once seen this done by a person who I would think did it on purpose--almost always older women.

RPM esq. > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 13:13

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That is 100% an urban legend, and I lived in Southern California at the peak of this dumb myth.

LOREM IPSUM > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 13:15

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https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/lights-out/

RPM esq. > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 08/08/2018 at 13:15

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Me too. It doesn’t work because they think their headlights are on. You have to pull up at a stoplight and get them to roll their window down or something. Where I live, the middle-aged white ladies are too scared to roll down their windows to talk to a stranger at a stoplight and the old Asian ladies don’t understand what you’re saying, and those two demographics account for nearly all of the offenders, so even that usually doesn’t work. It’s infuriating.

LJ909 > LOREM IPSUM 08/08/2018 at 13:22

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Thanks for this.

Just Jeepin' > LOREM IPSUM 08/08/2018 at 13:23

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Amusing/depressing from that link to see how many people in positions of authority are just as gullible.

and 100 more > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 13:30

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I’m fine if the cops don’t ticket, but at least pull them over and tell them. PLEASE pull them over and tell them.

And then don’t let them drive off UNLESS AND UNTIL they’ve fixed the problem.

Under_Score > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 13:50

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My car has automatic headlights. Before I started driving it on a regular basis, I had it on Auto and my dad kept flashing at me because my headlights weren’t on. It was an afternoon but raining. Now, I never use automatic headlights. Drop of rain or dark out? I turn the headlights and fog lights on, never using Auto.

Takuro Spirit > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 08/08/2018 at 13:51

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I have this

I leave it on Auto.

It’s perfect 90% of the time.

Unless its foggy.... or rainy but that’s what this setting is for:

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Takuro Spirit 08/08/2018 at 13:58

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That’s one thing I’ve never checked, whether my lights come on in the rain. I should... especially considering I drive a grey vehicle.

At least I know my DRLs are on which is more than can be said for a lot of people even though they are required in C anada. But I should check my other lights

Takuro Spirit > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 08/08/2018 at 14:08

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Oh yeah, quick note, I don’t have DRLs.

marshknute > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 14:35

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I don’t blame people for this. Technology has failed the people.

Years ago, you never forgot to turn your lights on because the dashboard only illuminated when your headlights were turned on. Nowadays, all cars have illuminated dashboards.

Additionally, DRL’s give off enough light to make it difficult to discern whether or not your lights are on at dusk. It slowly gets darker, and people mistakenly assume their lights are on.

Want to fix the problem? Look to motorcycles. If your motorcycle is on, your lights are on. Turn off the bike, and the lights turn off.

There’s no excuse for automobiles having an operable light switch.  The headlights should be tied directly to the ignition.  Car is on, lights are on.  Car is off, lights are off.

Urambo Tauro > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 08/08/2018 at 14:37

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The trigger for manual headlight activation always used to be that you couldn’t see or read the dashboard without the li ghts, and the headlights turned on the dash illumination, too.

That’s the way it’s worked on every car I’ve owned thus far. It’s super effective! Too dark to see the instrument panel = too dark to go without headlamps. Simple as that, and almost impossible to ignore.

marshknute > Chariotoflove 08/08/2018 at 14:37

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Auto headlights don’t work.

I’ve been in modern Audi’s, Porsche’s, Lexus’, etc. Auto headlights NEVER work properly at dawn/dusk, nor do they EVER turn on in the rain.

Headlights should be tied to the ignition.  Car is on, lights are on.  Car is off, lights are off.  Get rid of the light switch in the cabin altogether.

LJ909 > marshknute 08/08/2018 at 14:57

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There’s no excuse for automobiles having an operable light switch. The headlights should be tied directly to the ignition. Car is on, lights are on. Car is off, lights are off.

I agree with this. But then this would leave to more problems of blown out headlights and dead batteries possibly.

NKato > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 15:24

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The Chevys I drove while the Queen was in the shop had automatic headlights that turned on the low-beams. That was nice. Cruze and Sonic, if I’m not mistaken.

LJ909 > NKato 08/08/2018 at 15:29

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Yea I used to have a Sonic and it had auto headlights. Nice feature to have on a subcompact. 

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 15:32

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Illuminated dashboards should come on with the headlamps or come equipped with automatic headlamps. People forget the lights  if they can already see their gauges.  Myself included.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > LOREM IPSUM 08/08/2018 at 15:50

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Clearly fake. Canada doesn't have gangs! 

LOREM IPSUM > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 08/08/2018 at 16:22

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I know you’re joking, but there are a n absolute fuckton of them here . Just not many black or Latino dominant ones ... Uness you count the Nigerians.

East Indian, White folks, and Iraq i’s though? Li ke you wouldn’t believe. They’re real deal, dealing, murdering, psychopaths too, and m y city is ground zero.

Funny story... I’m not involved in anything even remotely related to that life, but I personally know (knew) 5 homicide victims that I can think of off the top of my head, 4 of whom ( presumably) died at the hands of gang members. Also, m y sister in law was shot by one toting an actual AK47 in a case of mistaken identity, and her boyfriend simultaneously murdered . Shooter got deported to Iraq.

I don’t even know that many people. It’s fuckered.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > LOREM IPSUM 08/08/2018 at 17:48

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Holy shit! All us mericans know about Canada is that everyone is nice! Any we’re too self absorbed to pay attention to news from other countries unless we’re directly involved.

Chariotoflove > marshknute 08/08/2018 at 18:01

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Ours work every time.

LOREM IPSUM > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 08/08/2018 at 18:18

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Glossy maple based veneer, if I’m completely honest.

For the most part though, people are nice, until given the slightest reason not to be. Then that whole nice business goes right out the window in a bigly way, and that’s not limited to the gangsters.

What’s interesting though, is even the really bad people tend to be nice too, on the surface anyway. Even the biggest, bad news bearsi-ist of them would probably return a smile and say hello if you were to pass them on the street. However they may also dump your corpse in a burning stolen car given half a reason. Mind you, for the most part they keep that kind of stuff amongst themselves, so it’s not like your average citizen has much to be concerned about, but they blend in like nowhere else. It’s not like walking through the hood in the states at night, where you can probably spot the bad guys from a block away based on location, dress, and demeanor. Here, literally anyone could be a homicidal gangster and you would probably haven’t the slightest clue.

#SurreyWhat?

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > marshknute 08/08/2018 at 18:35

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Any of the cars I’ve been in with drls also had an auto light setting.  If dipshits would just set it and forget it, the car takes care of it for you.  Hell, most even turn in the headlights if the wipers are on.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 18:36

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The auto setting takes care of this.  

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 08/08/2018 at 18:37

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Have you been in a car with digital dash and no auto headlight setting, I haven’t, so I assume it’s not a thing. But the chuckleheads behind the wheel need to select that function.  

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > marshknute 08/08/2018 at 18:40

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What are you talking about?  I have never had an issue with the auto lights in my audis, nor my older cadillac, or my newer Chrysler’s.  They work great, and if you flip on the wipers they fire up the headlights too.  It’s dead simple.

merged-5876237249235911857-hrw8uc > fintail 08/08/2018 at 18:44

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Exactly, they provide a manual for a reason.  If you can’t be bothered to at least skim it, then maybe don’t try to pilot a 2-ton death machine. 

fintail > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 21:16

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And this isn’t exactly a meritocracy - those who preach personal responsibility likely fail in some regards when it comes to responsibly operating the vehicle they were somehow able to afford.

bob and john > LJ909 08/08/2018 at 23:04

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Mmotorcycles don't have this issue.