Why do cars drive with their headlights on in broad daylight?

Question

This is a phenomenon I noticed when I was on holidays in USA and now it's happening in Australia. I can understand turning headlights on during a rain storm or overcast conditions, etc but why on a clear, sunny day?

Answer 1

In Canada, any car manufactured after 1990? must have Daytime Running Lights (a little "DRL" trouble light comes on in the dash if they aren't working properly). It has always been recommended to drive on major highways with your headlights turned on, even before the advent of "Daytime Running Lights". These are  a lower powered headlight and in most newer vehicles, they come on when you turn on the car.(some go off when you set the parking brake). By the way, most vehicles REAR TAIL LIGHTS don't come on when the Daytime Running Lights are on. Therefore, when driving under poor weather and visibility conditions, just turn on your headlights and you will also have your rear tail lights visible to other drivers behind you.

Yes, they makes your vehicle more visible to other drivers  which has been statistically proven to reduce crashes to a significant degree (I don't know the numbers).

For example, if you pull up and STOP at a stop sign at a busy intersection, and you look left and right (look both ways twice because that "A" pillar on both sides of your windshield hides oncoming vehicles), you will see the vehicle coming WITH the daytime running lights working, but you may "miss" seeing  the vehicle which is in front of it with no headlights on.

Also, all aircraft, watercraft and motorcycles MUST use lights in order to be identified by other users of the AIR, WATER and ROADS.

Also remember, no equipment prevents crashes. The operator of that equipment should always be in control.

S.I.P.D.E.

Scan - well ahead, beside, behind (mirrors)

Identify - any hazards and potential danger

Predict  - what might happen

Decide - to take measures to prevent or avoid a situation (increase following distance, brake, change lanes, etc)

Execute - the decision you have made - safely and skillfully

We all come up on unexpected situations. By taking a "pro-active" attitude in driving, you will develop habits which will keep you safer on the roads.

Taking a Driver Education course will give you a lot of information to use behind the wheel and you will feel more confident and skilled as well.

Answer 2

its called day time running lights. most cars it comes standard with them.

Answer 3

They are called daytime running lights or DRL. They come in standard for most new cars now because there has been a study that DRL's significantly helps in avoiding head-on collisions and accidents.

Answer 4

I can say most of this due to carelessness of drivers,

Answer 5

For safety reasons and many of today's vehicles have what is know as (Daytime Running Lights).

Answer 6

some cars have a sensor for their lights

Answer 7

Studies have shown it reduces the number of accidents.

Answer 8

i guess people just don't care and just leave them on.

Answer 9

Many new vehicles are made (manufactured) to have their lights on anytime they are running.  In any case, it is a safty thing...notice as vehicles approach you, you can see those with their lights on much easier than those that don't.  It's all a matter of visability!

Answer 10

Law in Canada, daytime running lights

Reduces accidents by ?(can't remember  amount)

UK in the 60's it seemed a contest to see who was last to turn on their lights

Answer 11

Like my Geo, they are called daylights and stay on all the time.

Answer 12

Some cars have automatic lights these days that stay on regardless if its night or day.  I know when I had my pontiac Grand Prix the lights would automatically come on when I turned the car on.

Answer 13

It makes you that much more visible.

Answer 14

Some cars have what's called "daytime running lights" which are always on, because it makes you more visible.

And then, some people turn on their lights early in the morning, when they're still nescessary, and just forget to turn them off.

Answer 15

This first started with Volvo in Europe - being the first car manufacturer to make cars more visible in daylight by keeping dip beam headlights on all the time - they cannot be turned off.

A lot more manufacturers are now taking this on, especially those of motorcycles.

Answer 16

It is safer, and some cars the light cannot even be turned off.