Turn on your lights!

[lillibet]

I have been meaning to write this rant for years now. I think of it every time I'm driving in the rain, but never when I'm sitting--safe and snug with no oncoming traffic--in front of my computer.

When you turn on your wipers, turn on your lights.

Your lights are only secondarily on your vehicle to illuminate your path. They are there to make you visible to other drivers. When you are driving up Route 2 on a dark, rainy day without your lights on, you are as close to invisible as makes no nevermind. This is especially true for the very popular silver and taupe cars on the road, but I've nearly creamed more than one big black SUV that couldn't imagine how I might not have seen it. Visibility is low, people. Turn on your lights.

This applies to all conditions of precipitation, fog and twilight. It doesn't matter that you can see fine--if I can't see you, we're all doomed. Turn on your lights.

Comments

Indeed!

[srakkt.livejournal.com]

In North Carolina and Connecticut, at least, it is a matter of law to turn on your headlights if your wipers are on. I keep my headlights on regardless of driving condition - there are plenty of full-brightness conditions which can make an unilluminated vehicle very difficult to see.

Re: Indeed!

[lillibet.livejournal.com]

Yup--I also figure that since I'm driving a car smaller than most people expect, anything I can do to increase visibility is a good thing. I think having lights on all the time is a fine thing--I do it myself--but it only annoys me that people don't have them on when it's an obvious risk.

[dpolicar]

Yeah. I just got into the habit years ago of always turning my lights on... it rarely hurts and sometimes helps.

[lillibet.livejournal.com]

Yup. As I said to srakkt above, I think having lights on all the time is a fine thing--I do it myself--but it only annoys me that people don't have them on when it's an obvious risk.

[orbitalmechanic.livejournal.com]

Amen.

[hammercock.livejournal.com]

YES. Seriously.

[persis.livejournal.com]

Ditto to what they all say... I too have my lights on at all times. I believe it is the law in Ontario to have your lights on at all times when the car is in motion, precipitate or no precipitate.

[muffyjo]

Use your headlights:
• Use your headlights from onehalf hour after sunset until onehalf hour before sunrise
• In rain, snow, fog, or other inclement weather that makes it hard to see
• Anytime you have trouble seeing other vehicles
• To flash another vehicle to alert the driver to turn on his/her headlights Use
-Page 10, Chapter 3 of the Mass. Driver's Manual.

IOW, AMEN!