I Can't See You!
By Les Dobos – Taken from the October 2019 digital edition of CARS magazine.

Sometimes you encounter a situation that is not only a thorn in your own side, but seems to bug everyone that you know – your friends, family, peers, and customers alike!
The best example of this that I can think of is the problem of people driving around with only their daytime running lights on! It happens all the time
on highways, roads, and lanes all over the country.
As a Canadian who drives to work early in the morning, I can’t count the number of cars I pass that are virtually invisible to everyone else – especially when it’s rainy, snowy, or foggy out. Not only are their lights not on, but the colour of their cars blends into the background. You can’t see them until you’re right on top of them.
I can’t help but wonder if these people are stupid or suicidal!
With the push of a button or a turn of the ignition, they start driving without even
thinking about whether they can be seen by other drivers. For heaven’s sake, you’d think they’d want to be seen!
Modern technology has made much of the vehicle goof-proof. But even with all the fancy electronics, they still have to turn on the lights… and many of them don’t.
Forget the technology; they could prevent a dangerous situation by using one of the most powerful computers in the universe: the human brain! And there’s at least one of those in the car with them every time they drive somewhere.
The brilliant engineers who designed the vehicle decided that the lights in the instrument cluster should come on automatically when it’s dark.
This seems to fool some drivers into thinking
that their external lights are on.
And indeed they might be. But if they’re not, they are in grave danger as they hurtle down the highway, especially in dark or earth-toned cars.
This has been a sore subject for me for quite some time. I even sent the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration a letter saying that visual safety is a major concern.
In the ensuing exchange of emails I asked the individual I was talking with if she’d ever been frustrated by a no-lights-on vehicle. She said yes, but she stuck to her talking points that “at this time we do not see it as a problem.”
I live in Calgary where the weather can and does change frequently from nice to terrible. One night, while my wife and I were on our way to a party,
a sudden snow storm rendered anyone who was driving without their lights on completely invisible. We made it to the party but guess what dominated the conversation all night long. There
were plenty of very upset people talking about the danger on our roadways.
Why hasn’t this problem been legislated away years ago? Why haven’t vehicle manufacturers and engineers figured out that having lights come on
automatically will not only save lives but save them lots of money too, on unnecessary wiring, switches, space, and weight. It makes perfect sense to me.
Technology can solve this problem easily. We just need to start making some noise about it and insist on some changes!


COMMON HEADLIGHT ISSUE IS A DESIGN FAULT
I agree with Les Dobos’ rant about cars driving around without their lights on (It’s Your Turn, October 2019). One of the other problems is that auto manufacturers find cutesy ways to turn things on and off. I think a lot of new car owners simply don’t to know how to turn on their lights or control their high beams!Rick Hoppenbrouwer Gilbert Supply Company, Kamloops, B.C.
Also to raise the costs of the vehicle with more sensors instead of the on when started and off when the car is shut off.
Les' 2 cents