# A plea to drivers (bad weather) **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [February 8, 2017, 5:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-plea-to-drivers-bad-weather/99634 "2017-02-08T17:53:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 9:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-plea-to-drivers-bad-weather/99634/21 "2017-02-09T09:04:15Z")
I see many, many people running around with just the DRL’s on in rain and at night with NO taillights. This was such a problem GM started to make automatic headlights standard but they don’t turn on with the wipers and my state can produce rain and sunshine at the same time in the same place (yeah, Florida strange)! I’ve disabled the DRL’s in my GM cars because I believe the light pollution distracts from motorcycles that always have their headlights on by design. I want motorcycles to stand out from cars and DRL’s destroys that. ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 11:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-plea-to-drivers-bad-weather/99634/22 "2017-02-09T11:25:32Z")
I’ve been put on “suspension” several times for calling out some of the idiots on many things on Toyota Nation. It really is hard to believe what some of those kids think is the right way to do things. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 2:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-plea-to-drivers-bad-weather/99634/23 "2017-02-09T14:00:32Z")
My wifes Lexus and Toyota have a nice automatic light mode which we leave in that position all the time. When it’s bright out only the driving lights are one. Then as it get darker the normal nights come on. And turn vehicle off the lights go off. ---
**Author:** ![BillRussell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/billrussell/32/3179_2.png) [@BillRussell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BillRussell)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 2:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-plea-to-drivers-bad-weather/99634/24 "2017-02-09T14:03:18Z")
Yes, but do the automatic lights come on in light fog or light rain? My guess is NO, from checking passing cars under those conditions. ---
**Author:** ![GorehamJ](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/gorehamj/32/24103_2.png) [@GorehamJ](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GorehamJ)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 3:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-plea-to-drivers-bad-weather/99634/25 "2017-02-09T15:37:06Z")
I saw it happen yesterday. About an inch of compacted ice/snow lifted off the roof of a pickup and then hit the car following behind and one lane to the right. This while we were all going about 60MPH. Luckily the car that had it hit them carried on and didn’t swerve or panic and crash. ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 4:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-plea-to-drivers-bad-weather/99634/26 "2017-02-09T16:10:03Z")
**@BillRussell** _ **“Yes, but do the automatic lights come on in light fog or light rain? My guess is NO, from checking passing cars under those conditions.”** _ YES, On our cars the automatic lights do come on in fog or light rain (dim lighting conditions caused by clouds or obstruction of sunlight). The system works beautifully. I’ve used it for years and years. The system is actually better at deciding (doesn’t forget) when to do that better than I would and I’m not distracted by fidgeting with controls under adverse driving conditions. Of course there is a few second delay so that the lights don’t keep cycling on/off or flickering when you go under an overpass or something obstruct light momentarily. They’ve got that figured out, too. _ **CSA** _ ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 4:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-plea-to-drivers-bad-weather/99634/27 "2017-02-09T16:22:07Z")
**@TwinTurbo** _ **“When you come up alongside, their DRLs are weakly illuminating the road in front and they seem oblivious to the fact none of the other outside lights are on.”** _ _**(Directed at CSA) “You assume too much. See Nevada’s response. The drivers face is illuminated from the low dash lighting so they dont realize their lights are off. Youd think theyd get the hint when they dont see their lights shining brightly but apparently not that observant.”**_ TT, I’m not sure we’re talking about the same things. Your scenarios described above are **impossible** situations with the automatic lights on my family fleet. If the conditions call for headlights, taillights, and dash lighting then **Voila!** you’ve got them, automatically. Feel the magic! I’m not sure what those other motorists are doing or not doing. _ **CSA** _ ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 7:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-plea-to-drivers-bad-weather/99634/28 "2017-02-10T19:55:31Z")
Yep, I have automatic lights too on two of my vehicles. It trips me up when I drive my old Camry as it has manual control including the DRLs. But even the automatic lights can be defeated by rotating the selector all the way to one side. My wife turns them off even though I keep insisting just leave them alone, they will do it automatically. Then I drive her van and discover the lights are off and the climate control is completely disabled as well… ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 8:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-plea-to-drivers-bad-weather/99634/29 "2017-02-10T20:45:05Z")
> [@BillRussell](#): > > And driving through patchy fog, I noticed very few vehicles with headlights on… I’m noticing a lot of that, along with people who don’t turn their lights on in the rain. The more miles I get under my belt, the more I hate automatic (or daytime running) lights, because people don’t seem to think about manually turning them on. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 8:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-plea-to-drivers-bad-weather/99634/30 "2017-02-10T20:51:54Z")
> [@Whitey](#): > > The more miles I get under my belt, the more I hate automatic (or daytime running) lights, because people don’t seem to think about manually turning them on. +1 However, you are making the assumption that those folks do think…at all. What was the line that Click or Clack used to utter? Something like…_Independent of the thought process_… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![sgtrock21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/sgtrock21/32/246_2.png) [@sgtrock21](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sgtrock21)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 11:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-plea-to-drivers-bad-weather/99634/31 "2017-02-10T23:07:47Z")
I posted a few months back that Oregon passed a law requiring lights on when using windshield wipers. It was put on hold due to questions if DRLs were considered headlights and if intermittent wiper conditions would qualify. Common sense should prevail but it no longer seems to be common. ---
**Author:** ![sgtrock21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/sgtrock21/32/246_2.png) [@sgtrock21](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sgtrock21)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 11:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-plea-to-drivers-bad-weather/99634/32 "2017-02-10T23:18:11Z")
Of course a former poster disabled his DRLs and over inflated his tires to increase fuel mileage when driving a Ford Expedition at triple digit speeds. At 100+ mph the Expeditions mpg would likely be single digit. What difference would no DRLs make? ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 12:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-plea-to-drivers-bad-weather/99634/33 "2017-02-11T00:02:29Z")
_ **"What was the line that Click or Clack used to utter?** _ _ **Something like…Independent of the thought process…"** _ **@VDCdriver** I remember that as _ **“unencumbered by the thought process”.** _ Ignorance is bliss. Unfortunately, they had to use that term frequently. _ **CSA** _ ---
**Author:** ![sgtrock21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/sgtrock21/32/246_2.png) [@sgtrock21](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sgtrock21)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 12:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-plea-to-drivers-bad-weather/99634/34 "2017-02-11T00:15:52Z")
I am retired and pick up my Grandson 2 or 3 times per week at his private school bus stop. It is at a church next to a public elementary school. Of course I arrive early. I witness many idiots ignoring the overhead flashing yellow lights school crossing signs and marked crosswalk. Also passing school buses with red lights flashing. This is a part of the city with predominantly upper middle class to wealthy who think they are above the law. ‘Afluenza’? ---
**Author:** ![sgtrock21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/sgtrock21/32/246_2.png) [@sgtrock21](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sgtrock21)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 12:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-plea-to-drivers-bad-weather/99634/35 "2017-02-11T00:21:48Z")
Far to many people (‘drivers’) don’t consciously look for anything! ---
**Author:** ![sgtrock21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/sgtrock21/32/246_2.png) [@sgtrock21](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sgtrock21)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 12:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-plea-to-drivers-bad-weather/99634/36 "2017-02-11T00:42:30Z")
A large number of our population need automatic nannies. I would suggest letting your Wife do what she does whether right or wrong. ---
**Author:** ![pyrolord314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6a8cbe/32.png) [@pyrolord314](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pyrolord314)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 12:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-plea-to-drivers-bad-weather/99634/37 "2017-02-11T00:55:19Z")
> [@sgtrock21](#): > > What difference would no DRLs make? I mean, **technically** he would be saving an absolutely minuscule minimal amount of gasoline as they do pull a small amount of electricity…you’re right though, the amount he’s saving is essentially nothing. I’m not exactly sure how he managed to keep control of an Expedition with fully inflated tires going 100 mph+ either…but that’s another thing altogether… ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 2:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-plea-to-drivers-bad-weather/99634/38 "2017-02-11T02:12:29Z")
> [@sgtrock21](#): > > Of course Robert Gift disabled his DRLs and over inflated his tires to increase fuel mileage when driving a Ford Expedition at triple digit speeds. Mr. Gift hasn’t even visited this thread. He may have even left the forum. Please, let’s not post personalized criticisms against an individual that isn’t even here. ---
**Author:** ![sgtrock21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/sgtrock21/32/246_2.png) [@sgtrock21](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sgtrock21)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 3:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-plea-to-drivers-bad-weather/99634/39 "2017-02-11T03:48:47Z")
Your right. I corrected my post to read “a former poster” and will use that in the future if necessary. I guess being a school trained and certified military and civilian safety specialist (Army Aviation accident prevention and investigation plus OSHA compliance) tends to make me safety obsessive. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 4:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-plea-to-drivers-bad-weather/99634/40 "2017-02-11T04:39:34Z")
Robert may be unable to respond-as in arms and legs bandaged and in traction. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-plea-to-drivers-bad-weather/99634.md?page=1) [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/a-plea-to-drivers-bad-weather/99634.md?page=3)