Member - Phil G (SA) replied:

Got to agree - much easier to see oncoming vehicles, especially now that my eyesight has dropped back a notch.

Too many dark cars on the roads these days - they really need headlights on during the day.

Member - Ian H (NSW) replied:

We were here back in 1974 with Volvo day running lights were we not?

Member - Doug T (W.A) replied:

Richard
Well done mate, I reackon Richard gets the EO Yehhh for the day for the most sensible post of the day

Doug

Member - John (Vic) replied:

Yep agree Richard, I have them on almost all the time when out and about.

Good to see you're back from holidays and posting again. :-)

Red Frog - Vic replied:

Oh no not another dogooder trying to make my life better, haven't we got enough rules and regulations as it is. I'm sick of this crap!

Doggy Tease replied:

Gotta say that i agree with you richard.
There are way to many times whilst driving the truck( the real proper big one...lol) when i just dont see cars on the road, especially at sunrise or sunset.
In particular, when trying to turn right onto a road and trying to see if any cars are comming, whilst looking into a rising sun. Armadale Road here in Perth is real bad for that, there are a few sectionss where the shadow is dark enough to hide a car that i dont see till it is right in front of me.
The shiela doing this is a down to earth sort of person and deserves a pat on the back for trying to do the right thing.

meow.

rick.

Mike replied:

have been driving with head lights on 24/7 for the last 10 years in the country and city, it has been encouraged in WA for some time, when we went east last year we got flashed all the time from other drivers not used to seeing head lights on during the day,

Member - Dedalus (SA) replied:

I'm using them every day here in K.I. when driving/touring .... I have beee many times in the situation of nili overtaking a vehicle and discovering the other side of the roar a back/dark car coming .... "not happy Jane!" .... if only the idiot was using the lights on ....
In Italy they are conpulsory ... not sure how many life saving but good idea anyway!

Luca

Penguin (NSW) replied:

I use them all the time in Sydney. Very occasionally I get flashed but it means that they've been noticed.

No risk of leaving them on with Toyota's system where they go off when you turn the ignition off and open the driver's door.

Mike

Member - Bucky (VIC) replied:

I try to use mine as much as possible.
If it gives you that extra 1/2 a second to avoid a bingle, then that's good, and it helps with judging the distances too.
Whilst in Norway, in 2003, I noticed that all headlights are hard wired into the ignition switch, and it is an offence to remove it.
Gr8 innovation,, Not too sure how many other country's have it, but I wish it was here.

Cheers
Bucky

SA_Patrol replied:

The Telstra vehicles and some hire cars in SA had a mod called headlights on fitted to theircars. Me thinks it's a good idea, The older Volvos had parking light on everytime the ignition came on.

landseka replied:

I agree it is vital to have lights on in daylight hours for safety, add to this they should be turned on anyway in times of poor visibility - rain, fog etc.
How often do you see ppl in the morning driving to work at first light, the sun has not yet risen but because they can see where they're going they figure that they don't need lights on?
My only gripe with 'lights on in daylight' is there are too many ppl that don't seem to realise they are on high beam. Perhaps this is why some ppl get 'flashed'.

Regards

Neil

Alan H replied:

I was stopped by the cops for a "licence check" on Albany Hwy, WA about 10 years ago and the cop said "You've got your headlights on, didn't you know?"
"Yes" I replied " It's for safety reasons as other cars can see us better at a distance".
He just shook his head, gave me my licence back and walked away. To me that just confirmed the standard of policing on the roads in WA.
On country roads I think it's essential but I'm not a believer in lights being wired to come on all the time.
In places like Sweden and others in northern Europe with very gloomy days it's good sense.
Alan.

DIO replied:

I agree, a great contribution to overall road safety. If you can at least see the other road users then you have a good chance of avoiding them.
It makes me wonder though, why don't we see members of the road trasport industry also subscribing to this practice. I have regularly seen heavy vehicles - including many wide loads travelling the highways even on sunset and into twiglight without their lights on. Sometimes they will respond to me flicking my lights on and off and actually turns theirs on. Other times they continue oblivious to the world around them. What's wrong with them? I thought that being professional drivers they would take every precaution possible in order to contribute to road safety and actually enhance their profile in the community - particuarly with other road sharers. Seems that there are still too many cowboys behind the wheels of heavy vehicles
Oh well, perhaps one day!

Juzzy replied:

But I thought we just had a Lights Off Australia campaign!

Now I'm confused :*

Member -Signman replied:

Hi Richard
This is gonna sound like an April Fools thing but...
When I have the headlights on on roughish ropads & terrain, I do tend to 'blow' globes- especially QI- heaps more than on the blacktop.
My only explanation is that with the lights on- the filament is glowing and hence more succeptable (sp??) to vibrations??
I can drive around town for years and not blow a globe, but when 'tripping' I can go thru a couple of globes per trip.
Your comments are welcome !!

Smdger replied:

I've had some good on-track arguments with my wife over the past decade or so on this issue. She always drives with lights on.
Last year we drove across Canada where cars are all wired for automatic lights on. At first a novelty, but after a couple of days in the Rockies the benefits were very clear. You get used to seeing cars a long way off then anticipate them around the next bend, but a moving black dot blends into the background too easily.
Bugga! She was right! a-bloody-gain!
Smudger

Willem replied:

Yep

I drive my lights on on dull days in the country.

Trouble is old busted arse Nissan doesn't have a light alarm and at my age it is easy to forget they are on when stopped somewhere....lol

V8Diesel replied:

I never turn them off. It's just common sense. Should be compulsory ADR on all new vehicles. The 100 series turns off as soon as the door is opened and the keys are out. It's not hard.

BTW, that must be 'Lynne the truckie' from Eoin Cameron's breakfast show on 720 ABC. She's a classic.

ERIC DRUMMOND replied:

Great idea any wiring info to do this.