[Moderators: I couldn't find an existing topic that would cover this. If there is one to fold it into, please do so.]

At one point in Maryland I pass through regularly (a two-by-two undivided stretch of US 1 bypassing Bel Air) signage appeared about a year ago ordering people to turn on their headlights. The first sign says something like "two-way traffic - headlights required," so clearly the fact that there's two-way traffic at relatively high speed (the limit's 55 m.p.h., I think) is their rationale for doing this. (Then there are signs threatening fines if you don't turn your lights on...and at the end an "End mandatory headlight use.")

Had never seen this anywhere else until yesterday, when I came across the same phenomenon on US 15 between Leesburg, Virginia, and its junction with US 340 (where 15 becomes a freeway) near Frederick, Maryland. On both the Virginia and Maryland stretches.

So now I'm mildly curious - is this a Maryland novelty that's starting to spread? Something that's been normal in other parts of the U.S., or other countries, for years?

It would be unnecessary in Canada, I imagine, with most cars having running liights....

you probably know (but maybe even not) that many European countries have mandatory using headlights 24h/day, no matter what geographical coordinates it is about

[Moderators: I couldn't find an existing topic that would cover this. If there is one to fold it into, please do so.]

At one point in Maryland I pass through regularly (a two-by-two undivided stretch of US 1 bypassing Bel Air) signage appeared about a year ago ordering people to turn on their headlights. The first sign says something like "two-way traffic - headlights required," so clearly the fact that there's two-way traffic at relatively high speed (the limit's 55 m.p.h., I think) is their rationale for doing this. (Then there are signs threatening fines if you don't turn your lights on...and at the end an "End mandatory headlight use.")

Had never seen this anywhere else until yesterday, when I came across the same phenomenon on US 15 between Leesburg, Virginia, and its junction with US 340 (where 15 becomes a freeway) near Frederick, Maryland. On both the Virginia and Maryland stretches.

So now I'm mildly curious - is this a Maryland novelty that's starting to spread? Something that's been normal in other parts of the U.S., or other countries, for years?

It would be unnecessary in Canada, I imagine, with most cars having running liights....

I did a US-roadtrip this spring and I saw signs like that all over the country.
It's a good start, but IMO there should be a law forcing people to have their headlights on 24/7, just like in Europe.

you probably know (but maybe even not) that many European countries have mandatory using headlights 24h/day, no matter what geographical coordinates it is about

I didn't know that. The first time I drove in Canada (1988) I noticed a lot of people driving with lights on. For that matter, you'd see it on cars in the U.S. with Canadian plates. I later learned that it wasn't a matter of Canada requiring people to turn their lights on at all times, but new cars sold in Canada needed to have "running lights" (headlights that go on whenever the engine's on, perhaps not as brightly as they do at night). There are times it can be useful to know whether a car facing toward you is parked or moving (if it's in the right lane so that either explanation is plausible).

^^ Technically, Canada started requiring DRL's (daylight running lamps) starting in 1990, but I guess a lot of cars before that already had them. They are usually implemented by re-using the high beams, but lighting them at a lower intensity, though several designs exist. Similar laws exist in Scandinavian countries.

I find them really useful, because they definitely increase safety and make cars more visible during low-contrast weather conditions (for example, when it's very cloudy or foggy).

Some people complain about excess glare (I believe that was one of the reasons a certain experiment with DRL's failed in the US, though I can't recall where I read about it), but I've never had any issues with glare despite the fact that virtually all cars here are equipped with them.

I went to Spain in 2008 and I didn't see every car with headlights turned on, but I did see that every car had a little light bulb in the headlight that was always on, presumably to keep people from mistaking a car with a headlight out for a motorcycle at night. (The USA accomplishes that with amber running lights in front, which are apparently not required in Europe)

Some cars in the USA are sold with DRL too - my uncle's Prius has no headlight switch, they're always on (it does have a high-beam switch). Also, with the 2001-series Chevy Silverado/Suburban/Tahoe, there are a pair of bright DRLs under the headlights, next to the turn signals - one thing I hate (HATE!) is when people replace those clear bulbs with amber ones, it looks ... bad. Please slash the tires of any truck you see that people have done this to.

^^ Technically, Canada started requiring DRL's (daylight running lamps) starting in 1990, but I guess a lot of cars before that already had them. They are usually implemented by re-using the high beams, but lighting them at a lower intensity, though several designs exist. Similar laws exist in Scandinavian countries.

I find them really useful, because they definitely increase safety and make cars more visible during low-contrast weather conditions (for example, when it's very cloudy or foggy).

Some people complain about excess glare (I believe that was one of the reasons a certain experiment with DRL's failed in the US, though I can't recall where I read about it), but I've never had any issues with glare despite the fact that virtually all cars here are equipped with them.

I made several trips to Canada between 1988 and '93 (then it was another ten years before I crossed the border); I may be wrong about observing the phenomenon in '88. I think I read about the running-light requirement in a Canadian newspaper I picked up up there.

I knew they did running lights in Sweden too; and have noticed that lots of Saabs and Volvos in the U.S. have them. Cars sold in the U.S. have offered them as an option for a decade or so.

Many German cars now also have standard LED lights on. You can always notice them from a distance. I like that concept.

http://www.fourtitude.com/news/uploads/Industry_Tuner_News/037__scaled_600_003.jpg

Many German cars now also have standard LED lights on. You can always notice them from a distance. I like that concept.

http://www.fourtitude.com/news/uploads/Industry_Tuner_News/037__scaled_600_003.jpg

I don't like that look at all, just from an esthetic point of view.

I don't like that look at all, just from an esthetic point of view.

I agree, I much prefer them to be in more of a straight line, and not look like individual dots, but rather a single line along the base of the lights. I don't like ring-lights around the headlights of some BMWs either, very ugly.

I have also seen an Audi with incandescent lights like that, too - I'd thought they were only available as LEDs, but apparently not. Maybe a cheaper option package?

I took out my DRL module in my car when I was looking for a problem but I always have some sort of lights on while driving on a highway it helps people notice you better.

Those LED's on Audi's rule! The only thing that is going to hurt is when one of those bulbs goes out...well....its going to be very expensive to replace with a new one. But then again Euro cars are the best and the best never comes cheap.:cheers:

LEDs will go on forever, the chances for one of them failing is minimal. And EVERYTHING in an Audi is expensive - if you want a cheap maintenance buy a Dacia :P

Back on topic - in Poland until couple of years ago headlights were mandatory only in October-March period, now the new law requires you to keep them on all time. I like this behaviour for three reasons - in densely packed downtown streets it's easier to see which car is on the move and which one is parked, it's easier to spot an oncoming car when you're crossing/joining a priority road and it's handy when the weather is crappy (before the new law it was mandatory to use the lights in bad weather conditions as well, but surprisingly large percentage of drivers didn't bother to turn them on)

Virginia only requires headlights on in road tunnels, whenever you're using your windshield wipers, and at night.

it's not only about German cars, worldwide producers force using LED lights. personally, i find them ugly and rednecked, but are usefull definitely

I did a US-roadtrip this spring and I saw signs like that all over the country.
It's a good start, but IMO there should be a law forcing people to have their headlights on 24/7, just like in Europe.

It's indeed very helpful, not in cities, though. Not necessary IMHO.

I find them really useful, because they definitely increase safety and make cars more visible during low-contrast weather conditions (for example, when it's very cloudy or foggy).


I almost had a head-on once in superb weather in a summer daytime. I was overtaking, the car on the opposite lane was perfectly the color of the pavement, and I was kind of blinded by the intensity of the sunshine that I noticed the coming car quite late.

It would have been much more visible if there were lights on.

That's why, when I get my own car, I'd prefer it to be white or blue.

(Or, if I'm still working for the Guvmint, I might end up getting a black Tahoe...what with that being the stereotypical vehicle of the Guvmint)

Some people complain about excess glare (I believe that was one of the reasons a certain experiment with DRL's failed in the US, though I can't recall where I read about it), but I've never had any issues with glare despite the fact that virtually all cars here are equipped with them.

Car manufacturers lobbied to make DRL's mandatory in the U.S. because of the economic savings of making the same system for both the U.S. and Canada. It had nothing to do with safety but with money.

I understand that there could be some supposed benefit in DRL's in a place with bad weather and low visibility, but not in places with clear conditions. I had a Volvo that was equipped with permanently-on lights and I didn't know that I could have opted to have them turned off at delivery. The result was that I had to replace the bulbs every few months. LED loghts, like Audi's look very kitschy and cheap, but they do meke the car visible with low consumption of electricity and long life.

I always have my lights on and never had to replace one in the last 45,000 kilometers.

Those LED's on Audi's rule! The only thing that is going to hurt is when one of those bulbs goes out...well....its going to be very expensive to replace with a new one.

Maybe Audi will charge a lot of money to replace, but the LED's themselves are dirt cheap.

But then again Euro cars are the best and the best never comes cheap.:cheers:

Euro cars have reputation for perfomance, but, mechanically (specially in electric and air conditioning systems), they are very unreliable and break too often.

I have owned American, European and Japanese cars. In my experience, Japanese cars are the very best. Euro cars (even the expensive ones) spend too much time at the dealership on warranty repairs, while Japanese cars mostly go for routine oil changes and tire rotations.

In some two-lane Florida roads (like the Overseas Highway that links the mainland to Key West through the Florida Keys) there are signs that read "LIGHTS ON FOR SAFETY". I don't remember, however, if the signs are white with black letters (regulatory and enforceable) or green with white letters (highway information).

The result was that I had to replace the bulbs every few months. LED loghts, like Audi's look very kitschy and cheap, but they do meke the car visible with low consumption of electricity and long life.

Hmm like Chris said, there must have been a problem with your car, because my parents' car has been in our possession for 7 years and was driven by us for about 65,000 km (about 40,000 miles), and the bulbs never had to be replaced (the actual car is older and has about 185,000 km on it, but I don't know what was replaced on it by the previous owner). Needless to say, because we live in Canada, the car is equipped with DRL's.

DRL's are especially useful during unfavourable weather conditions, but as was mentioned by a few other posts here, they increase safety in all conditions.

Euro cars have reputation for perfomance, but, mechanically (specially in electric and air conditioning systems), they are very unreliable and break too often.

I have owned American, European and Japanese cars. In my experience, Japanese cars are the very best. Euro cars (even the expensive ones) spend too much time at the dealership on warranty repairs, while Japanese cars mostly go for routine oil changes and tire rotations.

I don't want to bring this thread off-topic, but I must agree with you on this one. European cars used to be known for reliability, but it's no longer the case - several European brands available in NA are ranked very poorly on Consumer Reports. Mercedes is especially bad, while BMW 3-series is actually quite reliable. But in general (though there are exceptions) I agree, if one wants reliability, I think the Japanese are still the leaders in this regard. Electrical failures are usually quoted as the biggest problem with European cars - complicated and very expensive to fix.

By the way, on the topic of LED's and the like, my car is actually equipped with HID lights, which supposedly last an extremely long time (they better do, because AFAIK they are also very expensive to replace). However, the DRL functionality is actually implemented via the high beams, which utilize regular lamps.

I always have my lights on and never had to replace one in the last 45,000 kilometers.

Although I don't like the concept of automatic daytime running lights, drive with my headlights on all the time. If I want to turn my headlights off I want that option too.

Hmm like Chris said, there must have been a problem with your car

The car was a 2003 Volvo S60. The DRL's were the cars same headlights that were rigged by the manufacturer to be always on (unless you told the dealer before delivery to deactivate them so that you could turn them on and off at will). Incredibly enough, the car's headlight covers were made of glass, something that you don't see nowadays even in more expensive cars which use cheap plastic covers that you have to polish after several thousand miles because they get opaque with road dust.

I don't like mandatory DRL's. I prefer automatic headlights that sense darkness and turn on by themselves but which have an OFF and ON position so that I can turn them on and off at will.

I understand that Europe and Canada have nanny-state mindsets where the government is supposed to keep you "safe" and tell you what's best for you and that mindset is slowly creeping into the United States, but I think that each car owner should be able to decide with a switch like the one in some Japanese cars sold in the U.S. that have auto headlights with switchable DRL's and on/off positions. I prefer lights on in bad weather and two-lane highways without medians, but the DRL's do cause glare specially when too many cars are on the road.

If I want to turn my headlights off I want that option too.

My uncle's Prius has no headlight switch, only a high-beam switch. They're blue-white HID lights too.

I don't like mandatory DRL's. I prefer automatic headlights that sense darkness and turn on by themselves but which have an OFF and ON position so that I can turn them on and off at will. How about an additional "AUTO" switch that, at minimum, turns them on at night, but could also turn on when you turn on your wipers, drive through a tunnel, or when the GPS indicates that you're entering a country requiring DRL such as Canada.

Why would you turn on your lights if you use the wipers? It's not always pouring rain when you use your wipers...

Maybe Audi will charge a lot of money to replace, but the LED's themselves are dirt cheap.
that's exactly what I meant.

Euro cars have reputation for perfomance, but, mechanically (specially in electric and air conditioning systems), they are very unreliable and break too often.
Yes in some ways I have to agree. Especially when it comes to electrical problems in Audi's! Don't know about the new ones but the older ones seem to have quite a lot of those. Of course if you take a good care of them and don't abuse them you have a chance to make it last longer but then 18 year old car deserves to have something break down weather its a huge a little problem just like elderly people who loose vision and get sick and so on...

I have owned American, European and Japanese cars. In my experience, Japanese cars are the very best. Euro cars (even the expensive ones) spend too much time at the dealership on warranty repairs, while Japanese cars mostly go for routine oil changes and tire rotations.
I'm sorry but I cannot agree here. I never liked Japanese and neither the American. You see Japanese everywhere, its not even funny anymore but that's because they are so cheap and everybody buys them although I never felt good driving on. In fact I just don't feel home when driving one like I feel when I drive my Audi. Honda's for example have transmission problems, they lag in Design to European cars and performance as you mentioned. They are also number 1 out there to get stollen(well atleast here in US) which also a main reason why I don't want to buy one as my second car because the next day it will be gone. I drove a 2002 Honda Accord and let me tell you, the steering wheels is not the best to turn because it doesn't have power steering like my 1993 Audi already had. The only from Japs I like is Suburu(especially WRX Impreza) They are just somewhat different from the whole Jap. car scene. And i don't mean just the AWD system but for the looks too. Sam I can say about Mitsubishi EVO. But I mainly was always a european cars fan. Bimmers, Audi's, VW's.:cheers:

Why would you turn on your lights if you use the wipers?

Because the law in Virginia says you have to. Plenty reason for me.

Because the law in Virginia says you have to. Plenty reason for me.

In fact, many if not most US states do.

Headlights on is mandatory in Sweden, and all cars have them on by default. This is the reason why many Saab or Volvo cars have this behaviour where it's not required. I like this, and it's easier to spot oncoming cars from a distance.

Yes in some ways I have to agree. Especially when it comes to electrical problems in Audi's! Don't know about the new ones but the older ones seem to have quite a lot of those. Of course if you take a good care of them and don't abuse them you have a chance to make it last longer but then 18 year old car deserves to have something break down weather its a huge a little problem just like elderly people who loose vision and get sick and so on...

I'm not referring to older cars. I'm referring to new cars that are still under warranty but have those kinds of electrical problems.

I drove a 2002 Honda Accord and let me tell you, the steering wheels is not the best to turn because it doesn't have power steering like my 1993 Audi already had.

That's because it didn't have that option. Some purists don't like power steering because they think it doesn't feed back enough road feel to the driver's hands.

Still, Japanese cars are such best sellers because they give you a lot of good, solid, reliable car for your money and they have pretty decent performance too. European cars give you performance but at the price of reliability, plus, compared to Japanese cars, European cars (even the expensive models) are quite uncomfortable, more so when they are sports cars. Japanese cars are better thought-out and engineered with good controls and ergonomics. Keep the Audis and Bimmers and give me the Lexuses and Infinitis.

Because the law in Virginia says you have to. Plenty reason for me.

Does Virginia law say that if you turn on the wipers you have to turn on the lights? Or is that like a rule of thumb for people to know that if it's raining hard enough to turn on the wipers it must be dark enough to turn on the lights?

In Florida, the law doesn't say anything about wipers. You may use the wipers as an indicator that if there is rain, you must turn the lights on. This is Florida's law:

316.217 When lighted lamps are required.--

(1) Every vehicle operated upon a highway within this state shall display lighted lamps and illuminating devices as herein respectively required for different classes of vehicles, subject to exceptions with respect to parked vehicles, under the following conditions;

(a) At any time from sunset to sunrise including the twilight hours. Twilight hours shall mean the time between sunset and full night or between full night and sunrise.

(b) During any rain, smoke, or fog.

(c) Stop lights, turn signals, and other signaling devices shall be lighted as prescribed for use of such devices.

European cars give you performance but at the price of reliability, plus, compared to Japanese cars, European cars (even the expensive models) are quite uncomfortable, more so when they are sports cars.

I have no idea what kind of car market you have over the pond, but I can assure you that the most European cars are not sports cars :)

And let's leave Audis, Infinitis, Lexuses and Beamers alone, let's focus on cars for an average man. Here (http://www.vdtuev.de/presse/pm/tuv-report-2010-mehr-maengelware-auf-den-strassen/dok_view?oid=177106) you have the TÜV reliability report for 4 and 5 years old cars (although mind that it's European market only. I presume it looks different in USA, Japan or South America). Let's filter out all the luxury and sports cars and see if Japanese cars really are THAT much more reliable:

1. VW Golf Plus
2. Toyota Corolla Verso
3. BMW 1 series
4. Mazda 3
5. Renault Modus
7. Honda Jazz
7. Subaru Forester
10. Opel Tigra
11. Toyota RAV4
13. Saab 9-3
12. Mazda 2
15 Toyota Avensis
16. Ford Fusion
16. Mitsubishi Colt
18. VW Golf
19. Seat Altea/Toledo
19. Ford Focus C-Max

So, in first 20 cars you have 9 European and 7 Japanese cars. Not bad at all. (I consider both Fords European because they were designed by Germans in Ford Europe situated in Cologne and are made in Cologne and Saarland)

How about an additional "AUTO" switch that, at minimum, turns them on at night, but could also turn on when you turn on your wipers, drive through a tunnel, or when the GPS indicates that you're entering a country requiring DRL such as Canada.

I had a Nissan Altima with an AUTO switch that turned the headlights on at night, in a garage, under an overpass, or anywhere it was dark. I guess it wouldn't be hard to have a GPS or wiper switch to do the same thing as you suggest.

I just drive with my headlights on all the time.

Technically DRL's aren't simply headlights that are always on. They operate at a reduced intensity (though the actual method of implementation can be one of many). In theory, there are regulations in place that specify the maximum luminance, but due to cost-cutting issues the Canadian standards allow much higher intensities than the ones permitted in Scandinavian countries (originally Canada wanted to follow more or less the same standards). When driving at night, in tunnels, or any other condition that warrants it, you still have to turn on your headlights.

Nevertheless, I see nothing wrong with having reduced-intensity DRL's designed specifically for that purpose without the possibility of being disabled, and I don't see what it has to do with Canada or any other nation having a "nanny-state" mentality. Think of it simply as an indicator light on an appliance, that signifies that it is currently ON. And the "bulb burning out" argument doesn't make any sense. Almost everyone around me here in Canada has cars equipped with DRL's and I am yet to encounter someone complaining of having to replace bulbs every few months.

I understand that there could be some supposed benefit in DRL's in a place with bad weather and low visibility, but not in places with clear conditions. I had a Volvo that was equipped with permanently-on lights and I didn't know that I could have opted to have them turned off at delivery. The result was that I had to replace the bulbs every few months. LED loghts, like Audi's look very kitschy and cheap, but they do meke the car visible with low consumption of electricity and long life.
That is a Volvo issue, I remember looking at an S40 and it was a typical problem I found with Volvo's from that time.

Maybe Audi will charge a lot of money to replace, but the LED's themselves are dirt cheap.



Euro cars have reputation for perfomance, but, mechanically (specially in electric and air conditioning systems), they are very unreliable and break too often.

I have owned American, European and Japanese cars. In my experience, Japanese cars are the very best. Euro cars (even the expensive ones) spend too much time at the dealership on warranty repairs, while Japanese cars mostly go for routine oil changes and tire rotations.
Well I agree but in North America it's a bit different than in Europe. It doesn't make sense to own a European car here unless you happen to be loaded and know you will have a new car in a year or two. VW's here are known for bad auto transmissions and electric problems, they are poor quality and use inferior parts from being built in Mexico. BMW is crap as well I have seen BMW's from only 4-8 years ago with interior materials falling apart, transmission problems, electric problems, etc. Mercedes Benz is hit or miss but overall good quality especially in higher up models. Audi is a great manufacturer but suffers from some VW issues. From my experience certain American cars are actually better to own in America, they are cheap to maintain, easier to work on than Japanese cars, and I've a lotmet people who have also mostly gone in for routine work. The newer American cars are even better quality and have better design and quality than many Japanese cars in our market and they are cheaper as well, win win. :cheers:


I should add that DRL's are very simple to remove, in most cases you just remove a fuse and they won't come on, you can even go as far as to remove the module.

My car (I drive a 2001 Toyota Corolla) has daytime running lights as well which is a pretty nice feature. When it gets dark out the headlights automatically brighten. I don't see why they are not standard in every car sold in the U.S.

That is a Volvo issue, I remember looking at an S40 and it was a typical problem I found with Volvo's from that time.


Well I agree but in North America it's a bit different than in Europe. It doesn't make sense to own a European car here unless you happen to be loaded and know you will have a new car in a year or two. VW's here are known for bad auto transmissions and electric problems, they are poor quality and use inferior parts from being built in Mexico. BMW is crap as well I have seen BMW's from only 4-8 years ago with interior materials falling apart, transmission problems, electric problems, etc. Mercedes Benz is hit or miss but overall good quality especially in higher up models. Audi is a great manufacturer but suffers from some VW issues. From my experience certain American cars are actually better to own in America, they are cheap to maintain, easier to work on than Japanese cars, and I've a lotmet people who have also mostly gone in for routine work. The newer American cars are even better quality and have better design and quality than many Japanese cars in our market and they are cheaper as well, win win. :cheers:


I should add that DRL's are very simple to remove, in most cases you just remove a fuse and they won't come on, you can even go as far as to remove the module.

It's anecdotal of course, but my mother, my brother and I have had very good luck with VWs going back 25 years.

Does Virginia law say that if you turn on the wipers you have to turn on the lights? Or is that like a rule of thumb for people to know that if it's raining hard enough to turn on the wipers it must be dark enough to turn on the lights?

In Florida, the law doesn't say anything about wipers. You may use the wipers as an indicator that if there is rain, you must turn the lights on. This is Florida's law:

316.217 When lighted lamps are required.--

(1) Every vehicle operated upon a highway within this state shall display lighted lamps and illuminating devices as herein respectively required for different classes of vehicles, subject to exceptions with respect to parked vehicles, under the following conditions;

(a) At any time from sunset to sunrise including the twilight hours. Twilight hours shall mean the time between sunset and full night or between full night and sunrise.

(b) During any rain, smoke, or fog.

(c) Stop lights, turn signals, and other signaling devices shall be lighted as prescribed for use of such devices.


Code of Virginia § 46.2-1030
A. Every vehicle in operation on a highway in the Commonwealth shall display lighted headlights and illuminating devices as required by this article (i) from sunset to sunrise, (ii) during any other time when, because of rain, smoke, fog, snow, sleet, insufficient light, or other unfavorable atmospheric conditions, visibility is reduced to a degree whereby persons or vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 500 feet, and (iii) whenever windshield wipers are in use as a result of fog, rain, sleet, or snow. The provisions of this subsection, however, shall not apply to instances when windshield wipers are used intermittently in misting rain, sleet, or snow.
... ...
D. The failure to display lighted headlights and illuminating devices under the conditions set forth in clause (iii) of subsection A of this section shall not constitute negligence per se, nor shall violation of clause (iii) of subsection A of this section constitute a defense to any claim for personal injury or recovery of medical expenses for injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.

E. No demerit points shall be assessed for failure to display lighted headlights and illuminating devices during periods of fog, rain, sleet, or snow in violation of clause (iii) of subsection A of this section.

F. No citation for a violation of clause (iii) of subsection A of this section shall be issued unless the officer issuing such citation has cause to stop or arrest the driver of such motor vehicle for the violation of some other provision of this Code or local ordinance relating to the operation, ownership, or maintenance of a motor vehicle or any criminal statute.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-1030

It's anecdotal of course, but my mother, my brother and I have had very good luck with VWs going back 25 years.
You are one of the few then, I know some VW's were still imported from Germany so I know those would be better quality. But most people I have met, stuff I've read online, and personal experience has shown that even VW's when bought brand new break a lot and even worse is the customer service of VW USA.

The newer American cars are even better quality and have better design and quality than many Japanese cars in our market

Now after that nice intermission of some industrial fiction I would like to remind the gathered that the topic reads "Headlights on with oncoming traffic".

Thank you.

Now after that nice intermission of some industrial fiction I would like to remind the gathered that the topic reads "Headlights on with oncoming traffic".

Thank you.

Well, speaking as the one who started the topic, I'd be perfectly willing for the title to be expanded to cover running lights.

Now after that nice intermission of some industrial fiction I would like to remind the gathered that the topic reads "Headlights on with oncoming traffic".

Thank you.
Like topics have never gone off topic before..

Many Oregonians drive with their lights on, especially during our dark overcast drizzly/rainy season, it makes you more visible, and we have safety corridors that ask you to turn on your lights.

I understand that Europe and Canada have nanny-state mindsets where the government is supposed to keep you "safe" and tell you what's best for you and that mindset is slowly creeping into the United States, but I think that each car owner should be able to decide with a switch like the one in some Japanese cars sold in the U.S. that have auto headlights with switchable DRL's and on/off positions. I prefer lights on in bad weather and two-lane highways without medians, but the DRL's do cause glare specially when too many cars are on the road.

I agree, and the worst nanny-state in the world is Sweden:bash:

yes, traffic jams with DRL cause glare, it is extremly annoying. It's difficult to convince the already DRL-salvated about that.

One more thing: DRL-cars wear out the headlight-glass much faster than non DRL-cars !!

Back on topic - in Poland until couple of years ago headlights were mandatory only in October-March period, now the new law requires you to keep them on all time. I like this behaviour for three reasons - in densely packed downtown streets it's easier to see which car is on the move and which one is parked, it's easier to spot an oncoming car when you're crossing/joining a priority road and it's handy when the weather is crappy (before the new law it was mandatory to use the lights in bad weather conditions as well, but surprisingly large percentage of drivers didn't bother to turn them on)

didn't know this, that is sad. Same thing in Finland where DRL first was compulsary only on rural roads, but this changed in 1996, when DRL became mandatory everywhere 24/7.

Although use of DRL is not 100% as in Sweden, in Finland it's more common with no-lights daytime. Finns are more disobedient than swedes.