Road Safety - Auto Headlights Should Be Mandatory

Skramit on 15/07/2016 - 09:53

I regularly commute home around dusk and am sick and tired of seeing motorist in the near darkness or proper darkness driving around with no lights on. Not only is it a danger to other motorists and pedestrians who can't see you, but it's dangerous for the motorists behind you who will also be a blinding recipient of oncoming cars flashing their high beams at you to encourage you to turn you lights on. Nearly every night on the way home I see 1 or 2 muppets driving around with no headlights.

Auto headlights are standard on many new cars but not all models. The base models of new cars often don't have auto lights or wipers.

Rather than legislating 30 kph in zones and putting breathalysers on car park exits, how about legislating something useful like mandatory auto headlights for all new cars sold in Australia from 2020 or something. Gives manufactures time to catch up and clear existing stock.

Governments have legislated many other road safety items before, why not this relatively cheap and easy solution since the technology already exists?

Automotive

Comments

  • Savas on 15/07/2016 - 09:54
    +50

    That was probably a fellow OzBargainer trying to save money

    • Skramit on 15/07/2016 - 09:55
      +5

      +1 vote

      • altomic on 15/07/2016 - 10:21
        +3

        +1 vote

  • Euphemistic on 15/07/2016 - 10:09
    +5

    The more you use your headlights, the sooner you have to change the headlight washer fluid.

    • geek001 on 15/07/2016 - 10:20
      +13

      Or the headlight bulb burning out. Main reason why people don't use indicator lights as well, for the fearing of burning out their indicator light bulbs sooner. :)

      • kima on 16/07/2016 - 10:38
        +2

        i know people who don't use their handbrake because they don't want to wear it out.

        • fwdcelica on 16/07/2016 - 12:23
          +6

          I know someone who doesn't want to wear out their car so they limit their driving.
          Beats me why they bought it in the first place.

        • Thenarrator on 17/07/2016 - 18:29
          +1

          @fwdcelica: I know people who dont drive so they dont waste petrol

        • AsSeenOnTv on 17/07/2016 - 21:20
          +1

          wearing it out or not it is still the best way to take a corner.

        • WhatWouldBiggieDo on 19/07/2016 - 08:57
          +1

          @fwdcelica: A wise man once said:

          "Not putting miles on your Ferrari is like not having sex with your girlfriend so she'll be more desirable to her next boyfriend."

      • fwdcelica on 16/07/2016 - 12:22
        +1

        @ geek001 or fear of running out of blinker fluid!

  • SnoozeAndLose on 15/07/2016 - 10:24
    +3

    Even Auto headlight is fitted with the car, the car owner can decide not to use it.

    Reason of this could be auto turning on and off if going under bridge or short tunnel will trigger the headlight on and off, so for halogen headlight it is OK but HID light it is hurting for quick on and off.

    • Seiko on 17/07/2016 - 17:26
      +2

      I've been driving my Subaru for 10 years now and drive with the hid headlights on whenever the car is running. Still running the factory bulbs.

      • jason101 on 17/07/2016 - 17:56

        I thought I read somewhere HID bulbs last significantly longer than Halogens - my last 3 cars have had HIDs from factory, I dont think I've ever changed a bulb or a starter in a HID ever.

  • spackbace on 15/07/2016 - 10:53
    +16

    Yeah I have auto-headlights on all my cars, it's called my brain and my hand. Same with auto-indicators, something that a lot of people lack the skills to do…

    Seriously, we don't need auto-everything. As good a feature as it is, it's not perfect. I'm a car salesman, I drive multiple different types of cars, and I can assure you that auto headlights don't always come on when they should be on. So then the onus is actually on the driver to turn the switch on.

    Plus, how many people don't buy a brand new car? So auto headlights wouldn't cover a driver education problem for a long time, until people have worked their way up to cars sold today (for example).

    As far as rants go, this lacks the proper thought process before deciding to make a forum post over it to properly formulate an argument.

    • Skramit on 15/07/2016 - 11:16
      -4

      The auto headlights in both my cars work perfectly. So you're "counter' argument to my rant is that…. some cars auto lights don't work properly? Weak. Make manufactures build ones that them work properly and we'll all be safer for it.

      Plus I'm not saying retro fit older cars, but surely a $10 part at the factory could be mandated for future new cars.

      Arguing against a new safety feature because 'it might not work 100% of the time' is just ridiculous. You would probably argue airbags are not worth it because if your car rolls 9 times you'll die anyway?

      • spackbace on 15/07/2016 - 11:20
        +6

        Wow, angry much lol

        No auto headlights work 'perfectly'. This is gathered from knowledge of multiple cars and brands. Some with 2 sensors to detect bridges and overpasses, some with better sensitivity, nothing is as perfect as your own head (well, speaking of my own anyway). I've seen auto headlights not turn on when it's grey and overcast, I've seen them turn off when they see the slightest bit of sunshine in between rain clouds.

        People have been driving cars now for over a century now, but you seem to think everyone needs driving aids? No, they need better education, and if you don't realise that then maybe the other drivers aren't the only ones requiring educating.

        • saintmagician0 on 17/07/2016 - 23:24
          +1

          Mandating something for new cars doesn't mean we think every single person does need them. It just means we think enough people will benefit from them, that it's worth the cost to mandate it.

          The fact that people have been driving cars for over a century is irrelevant. I'm sure when air bags were invented, there were people saying - people have been driving cars for over a decade now. New safety features appear, and if they're worth making mandatory (in terms of increased safety), then it's worth changing things up. 20 years ago we didnt' ahve the tech to make cheap auto headlights. In 20 years time I'm sure auto headlights will be better than they are today (if not auto driving cars).

          You think drivers need education, other guy thinks cars need auto head lights. For gods sake those two things are essentially achieving the same things - trying to make the roads safer by avoiding the situation where someone who needs lights on, does not have them on. (The reverse, when someone has lights on but does not need them, comes at no large cost to the driver or to road safety).

          It's just a question of what's better bang for the buck - the cost and effectiveness of educating the public, or the cost and effectiveness of slapping some laws on car makers.

      • spackbace on 15/07/2016 - 11:22

        Wait, hang on, you're the same person that ranted about Subway

        OK, a thought out argument isn't going to occur here obviously, so I think I'll leave it at that.

        • Skramit on 15/07/2016 - 11:27
          -3

          Not angry, just arguing? That is allowed right? And now you have to go with snide remarks… clap Glad you felt the need to look me up :)

          I still maintain my auto lights work perfectly on my Ford and my Skoda, so not sure what cars you sell but I have no issues with these two brands light systems.

          There's also nothing wrong with them turning on in with an overcast day.

          And yes the more driving aids the better. I agree we need more education as well, but it's not an OR argument, you can do both. One hand the light sensor is a cheap part for car makers, the other is an expensive, difficult task for governments (i.e. good luck!).

          Still don't understand why you would poo poo a safety feature on the basis that it's not 100% perfect and relies on driver education to operate - seatbelt is identical - it requires education and operational knowhow and it saves thousands of lives per year.

        • spackbace on 15/07/2016 - 11:34

          @Skramit:

          DRLs are becoming a common feature in all variants of new cars (including base models), the government (and car manufacturers) would likely laugh at the suggestion of mandating auto headlights. While DRLs aren't perfect, they help in the situation you're referring to, whilst still assuming that 99% of drivers aren't stupid.

          You say you spot 1-2 drivers/day not using headlights, yet how many do you see using headlights? So basically you think the government should mandate something, that in your own words, affects less than 1% of the country…?

        • Skramit on 15/07/2016 - 11:39

          @Spackbace:

          Many of our laws in Australia are added/changed for the 1%. That's not really a reason to not do something.

        • tomsco on 16/07/2016 - 10:12
          +1

          @Skramit: funny, in my ford I find it's light but low visibility, my headlights don't turn on.

          I would criticise it in the sense that if people become complacent with auto headlights, there will be occasions where they won't come on and numpty drivers won't turn them on.

        • keepupwiththejonseys on 16/07/2016 - 22:08

          Inspector spackbace mails it again.

        • spackbace on 16/07/2016 - 23:28

          @keepupwiththejonseys:

          I do what I can :)

        • Kangal on 17/07/2016 - 12:17
          +1

          @Spackbace:

          Some say the real Spackbace died years ago, but his spirit still haunts the internet today…

    • RockyRaccoon on 15/07/2016 - 11:23

      Seriously, we don't need auto-everything

      Ah yes me greatgrand dad used to say that if you couldnt drive a car without using the clutch then you couldnt drive (crash gearbox), heaven helped us when he died before Automatics became the norm. 😄

      • spackbace on 15/07/2016 - 11:26
        +3

        Yeah and you have no idea how many customers I get that refer to autos as being lazy… well sorry, but a super car can change gears quicker than you can clutch in and clutch out, deal with it lol

        • smartazz104 on 16/07/2016 - 19:18
          +2

          I'm sure people used to be against automatics way back when, much like how you are against auto headlights :) One day a similar argument will be had for and against car auto-pilot.

        • apple2016 on 16/07/2016 - 23:02
          +1

          Agree most modern transmission will change fast than a human changing a manual gear. But it's just so much fun and engaging using a manual gear.

        • spackbace on 16/07/2016 - 23:29

          @apple2016:

          Eh, personally it depends on the gearbox

  • [Deactivated] on 15/07/2016 - 11:03
    -2

    I dont trust auto headlights

    • RockyRaccoon on 15/07/2016 - 11:12
      +1

      ROFL,

      OFFICER - why are you driving without your lights on. Surely you must have thought something was wrong when you couldnt see where you were going?

      DRIVER - But it has Auto on, so I thought it was ok to drive

      Auto Headlghts are an enhancement, not a substitution.

      • [Deactivated] on 15/07/2016 - 11:14

        Cops are overrated. I am more concerned about my car battery to be honest.

        • RockyRaccoon on 15/07/2016 - 11:16
          +2

          Ah honesty is a good policy, however, Auto on doesnt work if ignition is turned off, so unless your car has a very old alternator, there shouldn't be an issue for your battery.

  • IceCreamBandit on 15/07/2016 - 11:28
    +4

    It's a good idea but not a new one. Daytime running lamps have been around for a while, it's quite common in newer cars and they've been mandatory in new cars in the EU since 2011. It's something that I believe should become mandatory here too.

    Auto-headlights are not perfect though, as some have already pointed out, going under bridges can cause lights to turn on and off unnecessarily for that second or two. Another issue with them is human error. People may choose to force them off for whatever reason and another is the car's colour. Headlights are useful in providing visibility for the driver (to see the road etc.) and for other motorists (so they themselves can be seen) which a lot of people seem to ignore/forget. On overcast/rainy days, grey/silver cars are a lot harder to see, this causes those cars to be much less visible than say a bright red or yellow car. This problem is compounded when the auto-headlights don't see it as 'dark' enough to turn the headlights on. Of course what 'dark enough' is can be open to interpretation, but it's always good to be on the safe side and have them on anyway, something DRL can resolve.

    • Skramit on 15/07/2016 - 11:31

      True I forgot about DRLs, they are good. You can always see a car fitted with them day or night. Why can't we mandate the same as the EU? Since half of new cars bought today have them anyway…

      • IceCreamBandit on 15/07/2016 - 11:37
        -1

        Why can't we mandate the same as the EU? Since half of new cars bought today have them anyway…

        Yeah that would be good, since they are mostly just LED based systems these days it can't be too expensive to build or run.

        The Australian College of Road Safety is a body pushing for them to be mandated in Australia, there are some good stats to back up their recommendation too.

      • spackbace on 15/07/2016 - 11:41

        Why can't we mandate the same as the EU?

        I don't think there will be a need. Within the next 12 months, there's going to be no local manufacturing, everything is coming from Europe/Korea/Thailand. Most manufacturers are effectively copying others with features like DRLs, and it'll be so common they'll need to have them fitted or risk losing sales. It's not going to stop someone buying a car really, but if the competition offers it, why not?

        • RockyRaccoon on 15/07/2016 - 19:19

          Actually Telstra mandated that this was to be on all it's fleet cars way back in 2000 or so. (DRL)

        • Kangal on 17/07/2016 - 12:20

          @RockyRaccoon:
          Telstra… as in our telecommunications ?
          Or Tesla… as in Elon Musky?

        • abb on 18/07/2016 - 08:53

          @RockyRaccoon: Many big companies (Telstra included) have long had their fleet vehicles with "always on" headlights. Not quite the same as DRL, but same effect.

      • [Deactivated] on 15/07/2016 - 21:18

        The cars tail lights don't come on with DRLs so that plan is flawed. Back to the drawing board Skramit.

        • Euphemistic on 16/07/2016 - 07:38

          Why is it flawed? The whole idea of headlights on in the day is to enable you to see a car coming towers you easier. Tail lights in the daytime isn't necessary.

        • [Deactivated] on 16/07/2016 - 07:50

          @Euphemistic:
          The thread started as idiots not turning their headlights on at dusk/dark. Then someone mentions DRLs and he said yeah that'd be good if all car had them. Yes it would help during the dusk/dark to see the idiots from the front, but since the tail lights don't come on, it ruins the argument for 'true, you can see the cars day or night' and ' it's dangerous for the motorists behind'. We are not talking about daytime safety, we are talking about the idiots ha don't turn their lights on. And I have also noticed an increase in ppl with DRLs not turning their lights on, maybe they forget cause the dash is lit up and they have forward light, maybe they are f***wits thinking their cool, but no tail lights is a Nono on a dark side street. Plus the DRLs on in the rear view are blinding.

        • Kangal on 17/07/2016 - 12:23

          @Test Tickles:
          Especially with cars coloured Gun-Metal Gray (also Matte). It camouflages with the pavement colour during the night, moreso than a full-Black car.

    • dji1111111 on 16/07/2016 - 10:54
      +1

      So what if it comes on when you drive under a bridge? Big deal… Are you seriously annoyed by that or concerned that it will shorten the bulb life? Never seen mine come on under a bridge, it will in a tunnel but not under a bridge. You should have your lights on in the tunnel anyway.

    • btst7000 on 18/07/2016 - 17:01

      Also, they look sick as shit on Audis, BMWs and VWs

  • spychiatrist on 15/07/2016 - 11:39

    guilty offender here - good thing I was still in the mall car park when I realised (when the car faced a shop front). also, bikers and pedestrians will benefit (to be aware that car is running)

    • Skramit on 15/07/2016 - 11:42

      Forgiven….in fact many people have done it. It's common. That's why I don't understand why such a basic electronic part isn't mandadory :) Or as above, at least DRLs.

    • Chris Topher on 15/07/2016 - 19:36

      By bikers you mean cyclists, hopefully.

      A lot of motorbike riders use their headlights to be visible even though a lot of motorists still can't see them until the bike hits their car.

      If cars have mandatory headlights on motorbikes will be more invisible than they are now.

      • trongy on 17/07/2016 - 12:09

        Daytime running lights on cars typically means a dimmed headlight or a separate LED light bank that's not as bright as the normal headlight.

        DRLs first became mandatory in countries like Canada and Sweden where they have long winters with short dark days. In my opinion DRLs will not do a lot to improve safety in a bright country like Australia.

      • Kangal on 17/07/2016 - 12:30

        Uh what?
        Motorbikes are already visible, they have mandatory headlights on at all times. And tail lights.

        Most modern cars come with Daytime Running Lights. It's usually a thin LED strip in, or below the headlights.
        Some modern cars come with DRL and Auto-Lights.
        And usually the pricier models have DRL's in the tail-lights, or down around the exhaust area.

        I think one major company will end up implementing that mandate (cough Merica cough).
        So all car companies will design their cars with DRLs and Autos in mind.
        So Australia/New Zeland will benefit respectively.

  • Peace Maker on 15/07/2016 - 12:45
    +3

    Motorcyclist here, Australian Design Rules mean our headlights are hardwired on permanently, we cannot turn them off. I was opposed at first, but meh, I'm used to it now.

    • Skramit on 15/07/2016 - 13:23

      Wow didn't know that. Good to know.

    • peteru on 15/07/2016 - 17:25
      +1

      Ah, in that case I'll stop being upset with the effing bike riders always blinding me with their effing headlight. I though they were just tools, but apparently it's the government that makes them do it!

      It would be nice if the permanent bike lights could be the equivalent of low beam - enough to let someone see that you are there, but not enough to cause their pupil to close and impair their vision for the next 30 seconds.

      • dji1111111 on 16/07/2016 - 10:57

        Wrong… Many effing bikers turn on their high beam , probably in an effort to make themselves more visible but pisses me off. I'm a biker too and it really pisses me off when a selfish prick rides behind me very close with their high beam on. Can't even see anything in the little side mirrors that bikes come with, making it difficult to change lanes safely.

      • abb on 18/07/2016 - 08:54

        It is low beam.

        The blinding ones either have aftermarket bulbs, have switched on their high beams, or have the light angled up too high.

    • Chris Topher on 15/07/2016 - 19:44

      Have they put that stupid law in again?

      I have 2 questions:

      1: It's a nice sunny day, you go for a ride… if your helmet is lost, stolen or badly damaged (not when it's being worn of course) and you were say… 100kms from home/town/anything, would you ride home helmetless anyway?

      2: It's a nice sunny day, you go for a ride… if your headlight failed (fuse/filament/rock hit it) and you were say… 100kms from home/town/anything, would you ride home anyway?

      • RockyRaccoon on 15/07/2016 - 21:30
        +2

        3- It's a nice sunny day, you go for a ride… if your brakes failed and you were say… 100kms from home/town/anything, would you ride home anyway?

        4- It's a nice sunny day, you go for a ride…you run out of petrol, and you lost your wallet, 100kms from home/town/anything, would you pinch some from a car nearby if no one was around?

        5- It's a nice sunny day, you go for a ride… you have an argument with your girlfriend… 100kms from home/town/anything, would you ride home without her?

        😷

        • Chris Topher on 16/07/2016 - 19:40

          No brakes, stupid to go without them, petrol? You're getting silly now. Girlfriend? Proving you're sillyness.

          How dangerous is it to ride without a headlight on?

          Personally, I was written off by a tin-top who "didn't see me" even with my headlight on. Bright sunny day good road, clear vision. I didn't notice if he had his headlights on, it's a bit hard to tell from the side.

        • saintmagician0 on 17/07/2016 - 23:27

          @Thatwey: I think Rocky's point is that there is always another option to "ride home anyway", and you know what this option is. Otherwise you'd be well and truely screwed if you ran out of petrol or if your brakes failed. Whether or not you take it, well that's up to you and the police officer who may or may not happen by and try to book you…

      • abb on 18/07/2016 - 08:57

        1. No - I don't even ride in the car park without a helmet.

        2. Yes - 100km from nearest town means no traffic to see my light anyway.

      • Chris Topher on 18/07/2016 - 19:37

        I know I'm wasting my time but… your m/b headlight is hardwired, 12noon a bright suuny day, a 100k's out bush and a cop pulls you over and proceeds to book you for riding without your headlight on.
        "But it is" you protest, flicking on the ignition to find the globe is blown.

        Have fun with that one while you see a car go past with a blown right-hand headlight.

        I'm posting real world stuff, 1 example, 5 k's from home I had a bee fly into my helmet when cruising home. Humungous sting so I stopped and pulled my helmet off, big swelling coming up just in front of my ear, couldn't get the helmet back on without great pain. Waddaya reckon I did next?

        I started riding back early 70's. I've seen and experienced a fair bit in that time.

  • peteru on 15/07/2016 - 17:22

    If it was a real or serious problem, the police would have a blitz on headlights (or for that matter inappropriate use of fog lights), just like they have blitzes on drink-driving, speeding or mobile phone use. It's revenue raiser.

    Some countries have laws that require the headlights on the cars to be on permanently (well, any time the engine is running or the car is moving) and so manufacturers just hardwire them that way. Effectively zero cost to the car maker and a trivial after market modification. I think it's silly.

  • Mumbles on 15/07/2016 - 21:43

    I'm not looking forward to the near future. All cars will become electric cars so you'll have less people wanting to turn on the their lights.

    One day cars will become driverless. At that point all aspects of driving will be taken over by a computer.

    Another option is to price people out of cars like what happens in all mega cities.

    I like the low tech solution which is for all car drivers to switch to motorcycles since they already run their lights 100% of the time.

    • RockyRaccoon on 15/07/2016 - 21:46
      +1

      The future is now

      Check out the family "car"

      https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Fws1XkcTHys/maxresdefault.jpg

    • affable on 16/07/2016 - 07:31

      Both of our family cars are EV, and I have no problem turning headlights on at dusk and dark. Compared to energy used in driving, headlights add negligible extra demand on the battery. Heating on the other hand can reduce range by around 15% or so as its not a waste product of explosions as it is in an ICE vehicle.

      • Euphemistic on 16/07/2016 - 07:39

        And LEDs use negligible power compared to a motor. DRLS tend to be LED.

  • affable on 16/07/2016 - 07:27
    +1

    I have my auto lights set to off, otherwise they come on every time I enter or leave the garage.
    How about auto fog lights, people often have them on in clear conditions just so they can see better at the expense of oncoming traffic which is then more likely to crash into them!

    • Kkuba on 18/07/2016 - 13:35
      +1

      I have my auto lights set to off, otherwise they come on every time I enter or leave the garage.

      And… ? I don't get it…

  • Euphemistic on 16/07/2016 - 07:44

    Does the op think that auto headlights should be coming on all the time or only working when it is dark enough. There seems to be some discussion around auto headlights being annoying if you drive through a short tunnel etc. my Subaru has auto headlights, but the type that come on when the ignition is on, and go off when the car is off. with that my headlights are nearly always on when I drive, i don't normally turn them off after driving in the dark, there is no need.

    What I would like from that style auto headlights is for them to delay turning on after I turn the ignition on until after the engine is started. That way if the battery is running low the starter doesn't have to fight with the headlights to get the car running.

    • Skramit on 16/07/2016 - 09:36

      All the time is actually perfectly fine if you don't have DRLs - but the technology exists where if its a bit ovecast the headlights come on, so why not go with that? :)

      Whatever the solution as long as people can;t drive around in the near-dark or dark without head and tail lights.

  • davidmwilliams on 16/07/2016 - 07:57
    +3

    I have auto lights on my car and I like this feature though I always glance down and check the light indicator is on.

    I agree with the general sentiment/concern about people who drive in low-light conditions without their lights on. It makes me wonder how they are simultaneously so ignorant of the conditions and the many other drivers around them with lights on.

    From the comments here it looks like others don't support auto lights and that's fine; for me personally I like this feature on my car. I haven't had it before and didn't look for it but appreciate having it.

    However, I am sure we would all agree that we need to be safe on the road and visible and predictable to other road users.

  • dji1111111 on 16/07/2016 - 11:04

    What's more concerning is that I've come across idiots driving cars that i know are fitted with auto headlight and they still drive around in the pitch dark without any light on. Obviously they turned it off and are too ignorant/distracted to realise.

    Turning on headlights in low light conditions should happen automatically without the need to even think about it just like how most people wouldn't even have to think about putting on seat belts. If you are constantly forgetting to turn on your lights, you're a bad driver. Simple as that

    • Peace Maker on 16/07/2016 - 11:12
      +4

      I honestly think that because in newer cars the dash lights are always on, they think their headlights are on. In my older cars if you didn't have headlights on you couldn't see your dash and speedo and that would remind people.

      • Windows7forever on 16/07/2016 - 15:48

        ^this

      • dji1111111 on 17/07/2016 - 10:07

        It is but still not an excuse for not being aware of it

        • Peace Maker on 17/07/2016 - 10:39
          +1

          True, but helps explain why it is happening. Just us talking about it might even help remind a few people.

  • mattyman on 16/07/2016 - 11:27
    +1

    It's actually pretty easy to add a relay to the headlight switch and the ON position on the key barrel in a car so you can leave the switch on all the time, but your headlights will only come on when your key is in the ON position (i.e the position it sits in just before it cranks the engine).

    • affable on 18/07/2016 - 07:31

      All good if you have a key barrel. What about keyless/pushbutton start? As long as I have a key in my pocket I can unlock and start my Outlander PHEV while my key is never touched.

      • abb on 18/07/2016 - 09:02

        It's pretty easy for the car's computer to turn on the lights after the engine is started…

        If you wanted an after-market mod, you'd have to find something that powers up when you press start. Does your radio turn on only when the engine is running? (I dunno if keyless start cars still have a "accessories" mode somehow, only driven them a few times)

  • [Deactivated] on 16/07/2016 - 11:28

    Isn't it illegal to not put your headlight on at night? (In fact aren't you meant to have your headlights on in the daytime too)?? It's because cars have such confusing dashes now. We need the government to legislate for simpler dashes so drivers can focus on driving and not the array of buttons covering the dash

  • Donaldhump on 16/07/2016 - 13:01

    required in qld, due to lack of daylight savings, sun goes down at 5pm in summer, lucky if it makes 6.

    • johnno07 on 17/07/2016 - 21:56

      sun goes down at 5pm in summer

      Sunset is nearly 7pm in Summer.

  • neonlight on 16/07/2016 - 13:56

    You need to buy midrange to high new cars to get it not everyone can afford new cars

  • Aneurism on 16/07/2016 - 15:44

    Wonder why no one has flagged that those flashing their highbeams onto oncoming traffic should be autoreported to the cops. If the OP's lights were working properly, they would still see those lights.

    • His_Holiness on 16/07/2016 - 19:29
      +10

      How unaustralian. How else would you warn drivers that a speed camera is up ahead.

  • GOFYS on 17/07/2016 - 09:17
    +1

    Aorta make a law for everyone to have their lights on all the time.
    Problem solved , no need for auto lights, lives saved all day long, and the muppets are safe.

    • fwdcelica on 17/07/2016 - 10:54

      Aorta ?

      • GOFYS on 17/07/2016 - 13:48
        +1

        As in, "Aorta, but I don't know if they're gunner"

  • OzzyOzbourne on 17/07/2016 - 16:02

    Op, I also love the fact that there's no annual road worthy check in most states, so even when the driver does put their lights on, half the time they're not all working.

    It's a good job only speeding causes accidents.

  • lonix on 17/07/2016 - 17:47

    I hate when people drive grey cars in the rain, with no headlights on.

    • cameldownunder on 18/07/2016 - 11:28

      Yep. Almost missed one of those, when changing lane.

      • tomsco on 18/07/2016 - 12:07

        Almost missed one of those

        Oh no… how's your car?

        • cameldownunder on 18/07/2016 - 12:17

          Since I am an occasional slow driver, and had an accident in the past because I changed lane too quick, I am now a very defensive driver. So I managed to get back in my lane in time.

        • tomsco on 18/07/2016 - 14:06

          @cameldownunder: Haha, just teasing. So you did miss it :P

  • p1 ama on 17/07/2016 - 18:02
    +2

    Generally speaking, I agree with you. I use auto-headlights and it's great, never have to think about or remember turning on the headlights again. I do wish it were standard on all cars, it's just silly and one of the ways manufacturers try to get you to pay more to upgrade to a better model which is far more expensive than the previous one.

    Ultimately though, I'm not sure if making it mandatory is a good thing. Are we going to legislate to make cars only able to go below the speed limit? What about legislating technology to make sure drivers' eyes are on the road…etc. Ultimately the driver has to take responsibility for their actions and the truth is, the majority of drivers do the right thing.

  • Ivan Krazy on 17/07/2016 - 20:55

    Then you'll get the muppets who accidentally flicked off auto headlights. Totally understand your frustrations, it kills me seeing drivers without lights. They are asking for an accident!

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