Do you "light up and live"?

[Barrabart]

G'day all,

Just read becboo's post regarding safe driving on the PDR...... she mentions turning your lights on when travelling. Thought i'd raise the question to see how many on here actually make a habit of travelling with your headlights on during the day?

As for me i always do...... quite often i turn the headlights on out of habit even when driving around town, i don't realise i have them on till i pull into my garage.... I find it odd the amout of cars you pass during the day when out travelling who don't travel with lights on....... often wondered why?

Funnily enough, when i'm out and about with the family my mrs will often ask if i've turned the headlights on, even the kids from time to time ask...... maybe they think i need all the help i can get  .

Anyway, just wondering if you like to light up...... or if not, why??

 

[Ruffstuff]

I always light up when ever i leave the metro area, or even when towing within the metro area, Not sure why, just something i have always done.

[baldheadedgit]

If its overcast, wet crap day, yes i do,, long trips on country rd's, yes again,, but around the metro area i don't always have them on during daylight hours,,, but is a very good idea..


BHG

[D4D]

I always drive with my lights on, it is amazing how many people don't see a 2T white 4wd. It does get expensive when you use high end globes as I am lucky to get 6 months life out of them. I am trying to work out how to fit some ADR approved daytime running lights. Note I said ADR approved not the LED strips most rice boys fit.

US and EU have DRL fitted as mandatory

I am looking at these http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/110713799096

[rossow]

I always have my lights on.
When I stop the car and open my door the lights turn off automagically.
I dont really have a big reason why I do it, I just think I want to do everything I can to help other people see me.

[BigJules]

A great feature of the 100 series Cruisers is that you can leave your headlights turned on. When you turn the vehicle off and open the door the lights just go off. No chimes,  they just go off. All vehicles should be configured like this.

This means I've hardly ever turned my headlights in 12 years. I believe they're a simple and effective safety measure.

More recently, since I fitted HID globes my behavior has changed. My RHS low beam doesn't fire properly so
I have to turn it off and on again to get it fired up.

[Maîneÿ . . .]

A great feature of the 100 series Cruisers is that you can leave your headlights turned on.
When you turn the vehicle off and open the door the lights just go off. No chimes,  they just go off.
All vehicles should be configured like this. This means I've hardly ever turned my headlights in 12 years.
I believe they're a simple and effective safety measure.

Similar system is used with the Ssangyong Actyon SUV, when I start it the 'park' & fog lights (as in photo) come on, they go off when the diesel is turned off again.

The Ssangyong also has automatic night sensing head lights, so the head lights automatically turn on (if engine running) at night when it gets dark.

Like 'Jules' I never have to touch any lights, only the high/low beam selection lever, at night for the oncoming cars.

I also believe it's a safety measure that should be available as an option on all modern vehicles.

[johnyd]

A great feature of the 100 series Cruisers is that you can leave your headlights turned on. When you turn the vehicle off and open the door the lights just go off. No chimes,  they just go off. All vehicles should be configured like this.

This^

My Commodore has the same feature, if in the future I get a car that doesn't I'm going to figure out how to make it do it.

I always have the lights on in other cars as well, increases visibility of my car without creating a distraction.

It also mentions it in all the training documentation for getting a licence in NSW as being safer.  But I was doing it before that since my first car was a silvery colour, that blended in with overcast days and the parents car was charcoal.

[Dreama]

YES YES YES

The previous company that I worked for insisted that lights were to be used at all times. This was made very easy as the Subaru Forrester that I was provided with had the same feature as others, the lights turned off with the vehicle, so in effect I never turned them on for six years.
I think that when driving in the bush (and I spend most of my life driving around out there), it is an absolute must, when that drowsy feeling occasionally occurs (and lets face it, it does happen) seeing a set of head lights coming at you does alert your senses and keeps me going. I figure that if it does it for me, I hope same happens to the oncoming driver because my lights are on.

Cheers
Ray

[britts]

All the time

[BigJules]

My Commodore has the same feature, if in the future I get a car that doesn't I'm going to figure out how to make it do it.

My wife's FG Falcon has auto lights on, but I can't find out how to make them come on all the time. Regretably the headlights won't just go off when one locks the car and walks away if they're in the "on" position.

[red t ute]

I leave mine on all the time  in the Prado it turns them off for me when I stop.
All my work cars have the lights hard wired so that when the engining running the lights are on.
But they are BMA complaint and they also need to have a 5 Star N Cap rating now as well.

[Mace]

Regretably the headlights won't just go off when one locks the car and walks away if they're in the "on" position.

We regularly have to call out the RACV with our fleet of FG's because of this!

My old VX had a better system, a seperate  "auto off" switch  for the Headlights if left on.  Much better  than the ford system.

The only problem with auto on systems is that if your battery is a bit shonky, the reduced amount of current  available may prevent you from starting the vehicle.  My daughter found this out @ 5AM last (frosty) sunday morning in SHMBO's Aurion when departing a nightclub with a full load of mates.  Lucky I wasnt the punter who had to go and rescue them    Without the lights on, it may have had a chance of starting.

I dont rely on the auto on. I usually  turn on my headlights when touring in areas I dont know or in reduced light conditions (overcast days).  Caveat Emptor - I turn them on allways when travelling  on dirt roads & 4x4 Trax.

I get really Pi$$ed off by others who dont put on any form of lighting in foggy/misty conditions.  Even if youre only going 5 minutes down the road for the school run in the morning, put them on.

[singo-26]

Similar system is used with the Ssangyong Actyon SUV, when I start it the 'park' & fog lights (as in photo) come on, they go off when the diesel is turned off again.

The Ssangyong also has automatic night sensing head lights, so the head lights automatically turn on (if engine running) at night when it gets dark.

I also believe it's a safety measure that should be available as an option on all modern vehicles.

You may want to switch your fog lights off, as far as I'm aware it is not legal to use fog lights except in conditions of low visibility.
Like Jules I like the fact that the lights in my 100 series come on automatically with the ignition and are left on all the time, the GU patrol my wife drives does not and it's something I have am aware of when I drive it.

[whitey1]

Lights on is a good idea, we usually travel with them on out of town. But what pisses me off is those that drive around with their fog lights on when its not foggy. Not only are those bright lights really annoying but its also illegal. I also think HID lights should not be used for low beam.

[Barrabart]

This is all very reassuring to hear......... like others have said i too have a 100 series..... i reckon the auto lights off when shutting down the vehicle and getting out is a great idea.... no reason to ever turn them off really. I reckon from now on i'm not turning them off again......

[Maîneÿ . . .]

You may want to switch your fog lights off, as far as I'm aware it is not legal to use fog lights except in conditions of low visibility.

It's standard with the Ssangyong Actyon SUV, so I would expect it obviously meets the Australian ADR's to be able to be registered in Australia   

Maybe they are not actually 'fog' lights but just driving lights, or bright parking lights ? ?

They are there, as seen in the photo,  and come on when the 'parking' lights are switched on with-out the headlights, they remain on with the headlights too.

[carinya]

Great idea, but I feel a lot have been burned by the old dead battery.  Easy fix, turn your lights on, lock your door. Always reminds me.  We have a 2001 camry wagon that turns off the lights when you turn the ignition off.  Didn't take them long to link that up eh?  It's grey/silver metallic so I usually drive with the lights on.  the Triton has a light alarm but there is a batch of gremlins in it and half the time it doesn't sound, so it's the door lock on that one.

[SUPA105]

Always......everything we drive or ride has Headlights on/off with the ignition key.

Cheers

[Kit_e_kat9]

I don't use my headlights unless the law, circumstance or weather permits it.

Kit_e

[Jason B]

I make a habit of turning mine on when travelling.

Also my 80 makes that decision easy for me, as it was ex RTA it has the headlights wired up so they come on automatically after 10 seconds. If I want then off I just have to turn them on and then off via the switch.

I believe its better to be seen than T-Boned.

Regards

Jas

[Bird]

I don't use my headlights unless the law, circumstance or weather permits it.

Kit_e

same

but its amazing how many people in dark cars early in the morning on wet days when theres tons of spray around CBF driving with their lights on.

even more suprising driving past Splingvale and seeing how many people drive the freeway without lights on or just parkers and wonder why they cant see.

[D4D]

I have the reverse problem which is people driving in a residential area at night with their high beam on. If you can't see slow down don't put your high beam on

[Bird]

I have the reverse problem which is people driving in a residential area at night with their high beam on. If you can't see slow down don't put your high beam on

Thats easy, pull in behind them and fire up every single light you have including your torch.

[Disco4Guy]

Always on long drives the lights go on.  Also in really low visibility like fog and heavy rain, the rear fog lamps come on (and only then).  I've been in situations where you can't see the oncoming headlights of other cars, the weather's so thick, and some duffer has only put his parkers on.