Car Headlights on at All Times When Driving

Chris Topher on 02/06/2023 - 13:07
Last edited 02/06/2023 - 15:35

This was law for a time (in Victoria) for all motorbikes headlights wired always on through ignition wiring to make the bikes more visible. A side effect of this was if the globe blew you couldn't legally ride anywhere to replace the globe, day or night. It was proven to be a stupid law and dropped.

A new suggestion in Victoria is car headlights on 24x7 whilst being driven. So any motorbikes with headlights on during the day will now disappear into the sea of headlights, again making an optional safety option for riders useless. Motorbikes need to be clearly visible AND heard. High-Vis gear is almost useless and camo gear just plain stupid.

Also, if a car has one or more headlights fail will they be unable to be driven day or night, including on bright sunny days? Will this headlights on 24x7 requirement not only apply to cars, but also motorbike, omnibus, truck, tram, pushbike, tractor, horse with or without cart, etc.?

I'm all for road safety but I remember the motorbike headlight rule, car headlights on in daylight greatly reduced any benefit of headlight flashing and also the old saying - people who drove with headlights on during the day were all idiots and that includes all Volvo drivers.

[EDITED] Missing "?" in para 3 inserted

Automotive

Comments

  • Waltervp on 03/06/2023 - 08:29

    More and more cars have daylight running lights. I wonder why??????? Maybe it's just a pretty look. Like those seatbelts that people argued would strangle them and trap in their sinking car, …. i doubt you'll ever get fined driving with one out, and doubt there will ever be a law to make it compulsory, that is more a kneejerk reaction.

  • 2esc on 03/06/2023 - 11:27
    +2

    Ive come around to this idea no matter how good i drive if someone is fatigued and drifts onto my side of the road and kills my family if there is a small chance my driving lights might get their attention and prevent that.

    There is even stats showing the colour choice of car can affect likeliness of having a accident. Darker cars can be harder to see at times if they have driving lights that risk can be reduced.

    • Leadfoot6 on 03/06/2023 - 13:10

      Most of the cars I have owned(first one purchased in 1980 - the one shown in my avatar 1973 Holden Torana) were white.
      I just cannot understand those who purposely buy a dark coloured car.

  • bobwokeup on 03/06/2023 - 12:17

    Yeah I like it, all newish cars have the lights on 24/7 and it makes them easy to see. It’s the old cars they can be hard to see, especially once the sun starts to go down.

    • Leadfoot6 on 03/06/2023 - 13:14
      +1

      Turning on the headlights is about the easiest thing in the world to do after scratching your crotch.
      So, even if your older car(like mine) does not have DRL's I am unsure why people are objecting to it.

      • bobwokeup on 03/06/2023 - 13:16

        Exactly!!! If my car (2003) didn’t have the auto lights I’d just manually turn them on, like you said not hard at all.

        • Leadfoot6 on 03/06/2023 - 13:54

          Also, going a while back now(to about 1995 or thereabouts VS Commodore), most cars have a headlight on warning buzzer if lights are left on when the key is taken out.
          No excuse is available on these grounds for not putting them on.

          • bobwokeup on 03/06/2023 - 15:01

            @Leadfoot6: Ah yeah that’s right. I’m sure some drivers now just turn them to the off position.

  • ass3ts on 03/06/2023 - 14:21

    It is already mandatory in Switzerland and some countries in Europe to have the headlights on during the day as well if the vehicle does not have daytime running lights. If you can't be bothered to maintain roadworthiness of your vehicle maybe you shouldn't drive.

  • BargainCowboy on 04/06/2023 - 08:34
    +2

    I think this is great. So many unaware drivers are driving a grey car with no lights in the rain.

  • Pinchy on 04/06/2023 - 09:06

    Isn’t that still the case with motorbikes? Pretty sure all bikes headlights are wired on and have been for quite a while. And they need to be on all the time anyway if not.
    Plus if it blew you probably could just go and get one of you were heading direct to the store for it.. obviously not at night though.

  • nigel deborah on 04/06/2023 - 10:28
    +1

    Not sure why you think high vis (with reflector strips) is useless. It makes a huge difference, especially at night. There's a reason it's mandatory PPE in almost all high risk industries worldwide. If you really value your safety it would be a no brainer.

    Not cool enough for motorcyclists though in most cases..

    • Euphemistic on 04/06/2023 - 18:17

      Who was talking about hi-vis?

      • nigel deborah on 04/06/2023 - 20:22

        From OP "High-Vis gear is almost useless and camo gear just plain stupid."

  • Speckled Jim on 04/06/2023 - 11:31

    DRLs or headlights won't make a difference for the inattentive drones staring into their black mirrors.
    Nor to the suicidal single vehicle heroes deep into triple digits.

    Last weekend saw several road fatalities. Pollies need to be seen to be doing something, even if it's useless knee-jerking.

  • Tea-Aholic on 04/06/2023 - 20:53
    +1

    In addition to DRL, I want to propose taillights to be hard wired to be on all the time (I know BMWs can be coded for this to be on).

    Many times I drive straight-facing the sun and with all objects backlit, it's very hard to see oncoming traffic without headlights/DRL or cars in front of me without their tail lights on.

    Remember, lights are not only for you to see when they are reflected off objects, but also for others to see you. Whenever my wipers are on (raining) or when I pull the sunshade down (glare from sun/dusk/dawn) my lights are manually on.

  • ssfps on 05/06/2023 - 02:39

    Lets just make it illegal to have dark car paint.

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