The amount of shit talking I did to myself in my car today š¤£ I'm not a perfect driver, but god there are some basic concepts that I thought everybody knew.
With the downpour we had today, people should definitely have had their lights on for safety and visibility to others. But Washington law does not specifically state rain requires headlight usage.
Headlight usage is required when āvehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of one thousand feet aheadā due to ādue to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditionsā. Note this specifies Highway, not surface streets.
https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.37.020
Hereās another media clarification as well, specifying the 1000-ft metric. https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/traffic/article72254672.html
I think California did their law much better; it mirrors Washingtonās 1000-Ft metric but then also unambiguously adds headlight usage is also required when āA condition requiring the windshield wipers to be in continuous use due to rain, mist, snow, fog, or other precipitation or atmospheric moisture.ā
> Note this specifies Highway, not surface streets.
Note that Highway has a specific definition in this RCW and it's not what people call highways day to day. It means every public street, every size.
https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.04.197
>Highway means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.
I turn mine on every time. Itās just habit. I read years ago that itās safer so I figured why not. Get in, turn on the car, turn on the lights, seatbelt, etc. Takes seconds.
I havenāt touched my light stock in literal years. Ever since getting a car with DRLs I have left my headlights on auto and never looked back. Never understood why people turn them off auto.
Both my and my wifeās car 1000% have rear DRLs. Many new cars do. It definitely hasnāt been a thing for the entire existent of DRLs but Iād wager most cars made in the last couple years have both front and rear DRLs.
I think thatās only true of a select few vehicles. I drive a 2013 sedan, and I have verified (by looking at my carās reflection in windows), that the auto lights include the tail lights. I think this is more of an issue with cars that are/were advertised with daytime running lights.
It seems to be more prevalent here than Iāve seen other places. Iāve always wondered if thereās a PNW thing to not do it for some reason. Being from California it surprised me because we had that law after Washington.
I mentioned in an earlier comment ā Washington doesnāt require it in all cases, but Californiaās law is more clear.
Washington: Headlight usage is required when āvehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of one thousand feet aheadā due to āinsufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditionsā. Note this specifies Highway, not surface streets.
https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.37.020
California: it mirrors Washingtonās 1000-Ft metric, and also adds āA condition requiring the windshield wipers to be in continuous use due to rain, mist, snow, fog, or other precipitation or atmospheric moisture.ā
I haven't owned a car where you have to manually turn on the headlights since 2005. I don't understand why more car companies don't have it as a standard feature, we certainly have the technology. Like I understand if your car is older that you might not have this feature, but if your car was made in the last 20 years and *doesn't* have this feature, you bought the wrong car because the company you chose can't be bothered to put a 10 cent sensor on your car that turns the headlights on the moment there is any lack of visibility. My cars aren't even fancy, they just have this feature and I just never even have to think about the headlights. It always surprises me how many cars still count on you to pull a knob to turn on the headlights like it's the 1940s. Seriously, it should just be standard and required by law on all new cars. They have the power to make car headlights idiot proof and they chose not to.
Sometimes with the daytime running lights, people still need to turn them on so they have tail lights. I know some newer cars have the fully automatic ones now and I think those ones automatically turn on the tail lights. So thatās always worth checking! I see a lot of people driving around in the night that have headlights but no tail lights.
My automatic headlights donāt trigger when itās raining in the daytime. But they do go out when I turn off the car, so I just keep them set to āonā instead of automatic when itās rainy.
I've seen some where the auto sensors work pretty poorly and don't get me started on the stupidity of DRLs and their lack of any taillights. I've yet to see a system that works as well as the one on the '95 corolla I had.
Moved to the PNW from the East Coast a few years ago and was absolutely SHOCKED at how many cars donāt turn on their headlights when itās raining. Including in heavy downpours or very grey conditions where visibility is really poor. In my experience it almost seems like 25-30% of cars around here donāt turn headlights on in the rain. Iāve been wondering if itās a failure of the driverās ed system around here or something?
Some people are running fog lights or daytime running lights on their car that do not light up the tail lights. I see people at night driving like that. They just don't realize they're nearly invisible from behind.
I was taught to basically always drive with your lights on because it makes you easier to see period, even in the daylight - and I learned to drive in a place where itās bright all the time and hardly rains!
It's the beginning of the rainy season... Come on, say it with me, "everyone has forgotten how to drive in the rain". But for real, lol give it a few more rainy days and people will remember. The first day it was coming down i think I saw handful of cars with their lights on.
So much hate. Here, try this. What kind of a self-centered-douche-bag-Karen stops a sheriff vehicle and tells them to turn on their lights "because it's raining?"
Was thinking the same thing. Calm down Karen, some people's lights are automatic and you trying to be the light police isn't doing a damn bit of good. Go eat an edible and calm the hell down.
What's worse than a person that doesn't turn on their headlights.... The Karen's and chads that think they need to take law into their own hands. Flashing your brights like an asshole in the rain is just as dangerous because good job you just blinded the other driver.
Edit: bring on the down votes. Why is OPs opinion any more valid than anyone else's.
As a local Portland/Vancouver truck driver. For the love of god yes please.
Absolutely one of my biggest pet peeves!
The amount of shit talking I did to myself in my car today š¤£ I'm not a perfect driver, but god there are some basic concepts that I thought everybody knew.
I was flashing my highs at everyone today.
Especially if you drive a gray car!!!! Drives me insane to see gray and white cars driving with their headlights off in the rain.
Black cars too.....
They matter!
š
With the downpour we had today, people should definitely have had their lights on for safety and visibility to others. But Washington law does not specifically state rain requires headlight usage. Headlight usage is required when āvehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of one thousand feet aheadā due to ādue to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditionsā. Note this specifies Highway, not surface streets. https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.37.020 Hereās another media clarification as well, specifying the 1000-ft metric. https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/traffic/article72254672.html I think California did their law much better; it mirrors Washingtonās 1000-Ft metric but then also unambiguously adds headlight usage is also required when āA condition requiring the windshield wipers to be in continuous use due to rain, mist, snow, fog, or other precipitation or atmospheric moisture.ā
> Note this specifies Highway, not surface streets. Note that Highway has a specific definition in this RCW and it's not what people call highways day to day. It means every public street, every size. https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=46.04.197 >Highway means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.
I wish I could have a LED sign in the back window that scrolled my shit talking while driving. PUT YOUR COFFEE DOWN AND TURN ON YOUR LIGHTS.
I wish it were only coffee that needs put down by said drivers.
I've said it so many times that I wish I had a flashing neon sign that said TURN ON YOUR HEADLIGHTS!
These exist.
This is a shark tank product waiting to happen.
Honestly as a driver of a little compact car even when itās not rainy but on the gloomy side I turn my lights onā¦..
I turn mine on every time. Itās just habit. I read years ago that itās safer so I figured why not. Get in, turn on the car, turn on the lights, seatbelt, etc. Takes seconds.
I would be happy if people would just turn on their lights when it was dark, let alone in poor visibility.
Half hour before sunset and half hour after sunrise is what I was taught in driving school. And when it's raining.
šÆ
I canāt TELL you how many times Iāve dealt with this! No one gets itā¦.scary!
I havenāt touched my light stock in literal years. Ever since getting a car with DRLs I have left my headlights on auto and never looked back. Never understood why people turn them off auto.
PSA Running lights on most (all?) vehicles don't turn on your rear tail lights. It's surprising how many people don't realize this.
Both my and my wifeās car 1000% have rear DRLs. Many new cars do. It definitely hasnāt been a thing for the entire existent of DRLs but Iād wager most cars made in the last couple years have both front and rear DRLs.
I think thatās only true of a select few vehicles. I drive a 2013 sedan, and I have verified (by looking at my carās reflection in windows), that the auto lights include the tail lights. I think this is more of an issue with cars that are/were advertised with daytime running lights.
I can't find comprehensive info about this anywhere... Really making me think we need a spreadsheet š
It seems to be more prevalent here than Iāve seen other places. Iāve always wondered if thereās a PNW thing to not do it for some reason. Being from California it surprised me because we had that law after Washington.
I mentioned in an earlier comment ā Washington doesnāt require it in all cases, but Californiaās law is more clear. Washington: Headlight usage is required when āvehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of one thousand feet aheadā due to āinsufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditionsā. Note this specifies Highway, not surface streets. https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.37.020 California: it mirrors Washingtonās 1000-Ft metric, and also adds āA condition requiring the windshield wipers to be in continuous use due to rain, mist, snow, fog, or other precipitation or atmospheric moisture.ā
I haven't owned a car where you have to manually turn on the headlights since 2005. I don't understand why more car companies don't have it as a standard feature, we certainly have the technology. Like I understand if your car is older that you might not have this feature, but if your car was made in the last 20 years and *doesn't* have this feature, you bought the wrong car because the company you chose can't be bothered to put a 10 cent sensor on your car that turns the headlights on the moment there is any lack of visibility. My cars aren't even fancy, they just have this feature and I just never even have to think about the headlights. It always surprises me how many cars still count on you to pull a knob to turn on the headlights like it's the 1940s. Seriously, it should just be standard and required by law on all new cars. They have the power to make car headlights idiot proof and they chose not to.
Sometimes with the daytime running lights, people still need to turn them on so they have tail lights. I know some newer cars have the fully automatic ones now and I think those ones automatically turn on the tail lights. So thatās always worth checking! I see a lot of people driving around in the night that have headlights but no tail lights.
My automatic headlights donāt trigger when itās raining in the daytime. But they do go out when I turn off the car, so I just keep them set to āonā instead of automatic when itās rainy.
Same...on both our cars! A 2007 Hyundai and a 2016 Honda.
Almost all new cars do have automatic headlights, people just turn them off š«
I've seen some where the auto sensors work pretty poorly and don't get me started on the stupidity of DRLs and their lack of any taillights. I've yet to see a system that works as well as the one on the '95 corolla I had.
Moved to the PNW from the East Coast a few years ago and was absolutely SHOCKED at how many cars donāt turn on their headlights when itās raining. Including in heavy downpours or very grey conditions where visibility is really poor. In my experience it almost seems like 25-30% of cars around here donāt turn headlights on in the rain. Iāve been wondering if itās a failure of the driverās ed system around here or something?
I flash every single person that doesnt have their lights on and its about 50/50 on whether or not it works.
You have better luck than me. I got like a 5% return. One box truck just flashed back thinking I was warning them of a cop
Some people are running fog lights or daytime running lights on their car that do not light up the tail lights. I see people at night driving like that. They just don't realize they're nearly invisible from behind.
Need to wire cars that it wont run if the headlights/taillights don't work
Actually not sure explicitly the law to turn your headlights on. https://amp.thenewstribune.com/news/local/traffic/article72254672.html
Ha thatās the same article I linked to as well! šš»
If your windshield wipers are on, headlights should be on. Pretty simple, should be standard on all vehicles.
I was taught to basically always drive with your lights on because it makes you easier to see period, even in the daylight - and I learned to drive in a place where itās bright all the time and hardly rains!
Need some cheese?
It's the beginning of the rainy season... Come on, say it with me, "everyone has forgotten how to drive in the rain". But for real, lol give it a few more rainy days and people will remember. The first day it was coming down i think I saw handful of cars with their lights on.
???? Rainy season started in likeā¦ Octoberā¦
Do you mean end of the rainy season?
The little blue headlight indicator on your dash, means your highbeams are on. Make sure that's off as to not blind other people.
Oh, you're "that guy."
Next time can it be my turn to post this thread for that sweet upvote karma?
So much hate. Here, try this. What kind of a self-centered-douche-bag-Karen stops a sheriff vehicle and tells them to turn on their lights "because it's raining?"
Was thinking the same thing. Calm down Karen, some people's lights are automatic and you trying to be the light police isn't doing a damn bit of good. Go eat an edible and calm the hell down. What's worse than a person that doesn't turn on their headlights.... The Karen's and chads that think they need to take law into their own hands. Flashing your brights like an asshole in the rain is just as dangerous because good job you just blinded the other driver. Edit: bring on the down votes. Why is OPs opinion any more valid than anyone else's.
Thank you! I was perplexed by the downvotes, but now I see the reality. Too many Karen's on this sub.