Auto Headlights Standard

General Discussion
1

Re: today’s Car Talk website question. I have had a couple Hondas from 2022 on, and they come with a headlight switch that is spring-loaded to Auto. You can turn them off, but the switch then goes back to Auto. I find this irritating because I want to control my own devices, but I CAN turn them on myself before they automatically go on, so there’s that.

I am one of those people that will turn off my lights when an oncoming car at night does not have theirs on, to signal them. Now I cannot do that-- the car won’t let me turn them off, even for a moment. OTOH, cars with this feature will not be driving around in the dark with no headlights, or with only DRL on. “Durr, my lights are on all the time, no need to turn them on!” Except your taillights, bozo.

All in all, I can tolerate the auto-headlight-default Honda system. As long as I can turn off the Vibrating-Steering-Wheel Lane-Keeper: I already have the WIPS system for that: Wife In Passenger Seat.

2

Just out of curiosity . . .

Why you just briefly flash oncoming drivers to warn them they haven’t turned on their headlights?

3

I suspect this is EXACTLY why this feature was installed on the car. Too many “ghost” cars roaming around with DRLs and no taillights in the dark.

4

Because those oncoming drivers aren’t smart enough to ‘get’ why we’re flashing them.

5

Fortunately, that oversight seems to have been remedied on newer cars. My 2022 vehicle turns on the tail lights when the DRLs are activated, and I suspect that this is more or less universal on newer cars.

6

My wife’s 2005 Corolla LE had automatic on headlights, yet so many more recent cars don’t