"Dear Commuter Lady...

First of all, welcome to Canada! I can tell from your clothes that you come from somewhere a lot warmer than here; I hope you're ready for the weather we're about to have.

I see from your licence plate that you just bought your Corolla. It's a couple of generations old, but I'm sure it will serve you well. (Heck, it was made in Canada!)

And I'm certainly glad you're not one of those nervous drivers who just creeps along. You had a kilometre or so of open road tonight on the 401, and I bet you were going an easy 140 km/h. Good for you! I know it was rush hour on the most heavily trafficked highway in North America, but hey: when gaps like that open up, you should grab them. I know I do.

But if I could just make a suggestion, turn on your lights!

You see, here's the thing: you're driving a beige car at twilight under sodium lights. This makes you completely invisible from the side and, especially, the back. It's the switch on the left; turn it two clicks.

Thanks so much.

Sincerely,

The old guy in the minivan."

/rant off

The worst thing they ever did was make cars that have the dash lights come on without the rest of the lights being on. The oblivious drivers might actually notice that they can't see their instruments.

(This seems to be a mostly Japanese car affliction)

In reply to NGTD:

I've seen this dozens on times and its getting more and more frequent. Especially when the sun starts going down much earlier this time of year.

I’m super happy with our 2003 Ford Exploder but its headlights are a joke. Turning them on has no discernable effect if you’re anywhere near street lights.

I’ve got two weeks of vacation coming up where I’ll have time to upgrade them and I don’t have to hassle with removing the wheel liners to get at them as I do on my RX-8.

NGTD wrote: The worst thing they ever did was make cars that have the dash lights come on without the rest of the lights being on. The oblivious drivers might actually notice that they can't see their instruments. (This seems to be a mostly Japanese car affliction)

This. Guilty of this in both our Prius and S2000. Digital clusters are always illuminated.

The one that gets me is so many modern cars now have automatic headlights that turn on when it's dark, but...
On a really gray, rainy day, the lights do not come on and I truly believe the drivers have no idea how to turn them on themselves.

Even Canadian road rage is polite and well-considered!

RX Reven' wrote: I’m super happy with our 2003 Ford Exploder but its headlights are a joke. Turning them on has no discernable effect if you’re anywhere near street lights. I’ve got two weeks of vacation coming up where I’ll have time to upgrade them and I don’t have to hassle with removing the wheel liners to get at them as I do on my RX-8.

interested in knowing what you're going to do as an upgrade … the headlights on my F150 are worse than those on my CRX … and that's saying a lot

wbjones wrote:

RX Reven' wrote: I’m super happy with our 2003 Ford Exploder but its headlights are a joke. Turning them on has no discernable effect if you’re anywhere near street lights. I’ve got two weeks of vacation coming up where I’ll have time to upgrade them and I don’t have to hassle with removing the wheel liners to get at them as I do on my RX-8.

interested in knowing what you're going to do as an upgrade … the headlights on my F150 are worse than those on my CRX … and that's saying a lot

Shoot, you mean there’s actual decision making involved.

I thought I could just throw cubic money at whatever product claimed to have the most lumens or candelas or whatever and be good-2-go.

JohnRW1621 wrote: The one that gets me is so many modern cars now have automatic headlights that turn on when it's dark, but... On a really gray, rainy day, the lights do not come on and I truly believe the drivers have no idea how to turn them on themselves.

Quoting someone who shall remain anonymous (but is the previous owner of our Grand Prix):

'The headlights are automatic, so you normally don't have to worry about them. But if you want them to come on at other times, just throw something over the sensor on the dash.'

Because the switch in easy reach of your left hand is too hard?

RX Reven' wrote:

wbjones wrote:

RX Reven' wrote: I’m super happy with our 2003 Ford Exploder but its headlights are a joke. Turning them on has no discernable effect if you’re anywhere near street lights. I’ve got two weeks of vacation coming up where I’ll have time to upgrade them and I don’t have to hassle with removing the wheel liners to get at them as I do on my RX-8.

interested in knowing what you're going to do as an upgrade … the headlights on my F150 are worse than those on my CRX … and that's saying a lot

Shoot, you mean there’s actual decision making involved. I thought I could just throw cubic money at whatever product claimed to have the most lumens or candelas or whatever and be good-2-go.

NGTD wrote: The worst thing they ever did was make cars that have the dash lights come on without the rest of the lights being on.

Thank you.

keethrax wrote:

JohnRW1621 wrote: The one that gets me is so many modern cars now have automatic headlights that turn on when it's dark, but... On a really gray, rainy day, the lights do not come on and I truly believe the drivers have no idea how to turn them on themselves.

Quoting someone who shall remain anonymous (but is the previous owner of our Grand Prix): 'The headlights are automatic, so you normally don't have to worry about them. But if you want them to come on at other times, just throw something over the sensor on the dash.' Because the switch in easy reach of your left hand is too hard?

With automatic lights.. they might not have even known what that switch does

Stealthtercel wrote: I bet you were going an easy 140 km/h.

Is that fast? What is it in freedom units?

In reply to Will:

About 87 mph

In reply to ProDarwin:

Yes, our 2012 Ford Explorer does the same thing, but I have seen some newer cars with conventional instruments that illuminate the instruments without the lights on. People end up tooling around with DRL's and no taillights

Driving after dark or in absolute crappy conditions without lights on is a berking epidemic around here. And grey cars are the worst.

NGTD wrote: The worst thing they ever did was make cars that have the dash lights come on without the rest of the lights being on. The oblivious drivers might actually notice that they can't see their instruments. (This seems to be a mostly Japanese car affliction)

Or, it would be nice if manufactures would go back to having the tail lights on when the DRL/parking lights are on. I can't tell you how many people I have flashed at night, only to pass them and they have front lights on but absolutely no rear facing lights.

Had that happen to me today. 4:30 and overcast. Pull out in somewhat dense traffic. Oh! Wow! There's a car coming. Didn't see it. A silver Prius in full stealth mode. Dump the brakes? Nope. Everyone else on that road, including me, has their lights on. Your brakes are better than mine. Eat E36 M3.

Here too, probably only around 2% of the population can't figure this out, but that's enough to be lethal to the rest of us. And the best thing is that I ALWAYS flash these people to remind them, and probably one in twenty gets the message. I guess if you're dull enough to run around at night with no lights on then you probably aren't great at reading signals from those around you either.

I hated DRLs when GM came out with them, but I'm all for mandatory DRLs with taillights on as well now.

ShadowSix wrote: Here too, probably only around 2% of the population can't figure this out, but that's enough to be lethal to the rest of us. And the best thing is that I ALWAYS flash these people to remind them, and probably one in twenty gets the message. I guess if you're dull enough to run around at night with no lights on then you probably aren't great at reading signals from those around you either. I hated DRLs when GM came out with them, but I'm all for mandatory DRLs with taillights on as well now.

I flashed a car the other night when it was dark and my wife yelled at me not to do that because it could be a gang member. I said it's a beige buick, I'm sure it's just an old person that forgot their lights.lol

Will wrote:

Stealthtercel wrote: I bet you were going an easy 140 km/h.

Is that fast? What is it in freedom units?

RX Reven' wrote: I’m super happy with our 2003 Ford Exploder but its headlights are a joke. Turning them on has no discernable effect if you’re anywhere near street lights.

The street is lit. Having headlights on is not for your benefit.

Knurled wrote:

RX Reven' wrote: I’m super happy with our 2003 Ford Exploder but its headlights are a joke. Turning them on has no discernable effect if you’re anywhere near street lights.

The street is lit. Having headlights on is not for your benefit.

Other than to make your vehicle more visible to other motorists.

Err guys, come on give people some slack, flash them and be done with it.

For years now all our cars have had automatic lights, a while ago I had a different car overnight that didn't have automatic lights. It was only when people started flashing me at twilight that I realize it wasn't automatic and had to turn them on. It's easy to do in those conditions as at that point the lights are more to be seen than see with. My fault yes, but I was grateful for the flash.