car lights in bad weather

[cheyenne]

ive just driven home from work,the weathers really bad ,its raining cats and dogs!how come only a few cars have there lights on?okay its the middle of the day but surely its saver to have your dipped headlights on. i know in sweden its the done thing .if your coming out of a side road and the windows are slightly hazy with rain etc at least you stand a chance if other cars have there lights on .should this be made law???

[andy hughes]

the problem is, most people live their lives on the basis of what affects them directly. Most people driving in bad weather reckon they can see OK, the notion of being seen does not enter their heads. i agree, it should be law, or we should do as the Swedes have done, and have working lights built in to the car's design.

[pinus]

It's not only in bad weather (although that's when it's a major problem). A lot of people still think that lighting-up is ages after sunset. How many times are you driving along and are not able to see the car immediately behind, because the lights aren't on, whereas you know exactly where a vehicle two or three further back is, because the lights *are* on (That's a very clumsy sentence!!) If I can't see the car behind because it hasn't got its lights on, the car in front would have the same problem with me if my lights aren't on. And I don't know how many times I've heard sensible(!)people justify it by saying that it's more expensive to put the lights on and wears them out.

[nykkieberry]

I always drive with my lights on whatever the weather. My dad taught me to do this when he taught me to drive as it draws attention to your car. People make fun of me for it - but it makes sense! At the end of the day, what do emergency vehicles etc. do to draw attention to their cars so you don't crash into them? Lights! And of course, there's always the fact that I am indeed a hazard on the road...

[BenDToy]

As a further point, what about the people who drive around with parkinglights only. These are not for use when driving. They are not intended as mini headlights. Read your highway code! In true Letterman style here are the top 5 reasons for switching on your car lights.
5 Because its easy to do, you just flick a switch
4 Because it doesn't cost much
3 Because the street lights are on
2 Because everyone else has their lights on and
Because it's f'ing dark

[Numbers]

Can we also bring back hanging for all those who insist on using fog and spot lights even when there's no fog around?

[BenDToy]

Nice one Lodekka - I forgot about these morons. Especially when it's raining. By the way, my post has an "edited" label, but I can't see where it was edited. Strange....but true!

[cheyenne]

fog lights !isnt that against the law already,but you still get these idiots who thinks its cool to dazzle other drivers??i also forgot about those tw**ts.

[andy hughes]

One way around the fog lights problem is to design cars that disconnect the fog lights as soon as the ignition is switched off - this will eliminate everyone who has simply left them on after that misty morning eight months ago, and then the police can prosecute those who are obviously conciously flouting the law.

[Phantaxus]

I also drive with my main lights on all the time for the same reason as nykkieberry I also only use my fog lights when I am the last one in a line of traffic I wish more people would do this.