Automatic lights, what’s the point?

You know the type, you have a light sensor, when it starts to get dark (or the car travels through a tunnell etc) the lights automatically come on. I've always said to my boss "it's just for lazy people, would you let a car apply brakes for you?"

Anyway, it really got me thinking today because it was a London pea souper coming out this morning. The type of fog which would need a rear fog lamp to be on and still you'd only see the car once you were less than about 100 yards away.

As I went to turn right out of the end of my road, I waited for the passing cars, looked in both directions for one last time then just as I stated to accelerate, a car suddenly appeared to my left, no light on at all. I literally only saw it 'appear' when it was about 30 yards away and had I made it across the white lines, he'd almost certainly have hit me. 

After mouthing a swear word or two  and reversing back into the road, I waited again. Once the road was clear, I was about to floor it, wanting to get out quickly in case any other unlit idiots were on the road. Hey presto, I made it half way out another one loomed out of the mist!!!

I did get out after this one and I followed behind. When we got to a motorway bridge and the fog cleared as we passed under it, his lights came on! then as we came back out into the fog, back off again!

My point is, the first car was a brand new Honda (didn't get the make but it was  a big one!) the second was a Citroen C5, both of which would have automatic lights and both of which didn't have any lights at all in the fog. I asked my boss when I got to work if he ever used his light manually, he replied that he didn't because they were automatic so why would he? I told him of my two near misses in the and he did take my point (though did say he'd put his on in the fog!)

Are these lights left to think for themselves which of course only being light sensitive they can't, so some people are obviously taking them for granted just believing they come on when necessary.

There are certain elements I like to have control over myself, especially when it comes to a situation where safety is concerned. Perhaps these proposals for daylight driving lights is not such a bad idea after my experience this morning.

Mike

540 V8 wrote: the second was a Citroen C5

That's your problem. Right there!  What you said! 

Anyone who chooses to drive a Citroen of any description should be treated with the deepest suspicion at all times when both off and on the road.

You cannot rely on a Citroen (or a Renault) driver to obey any form of any rule in the Highway code.  They are best avoided at all costs on the road. Don't go near them as they will do something completely out of the ordinary right at the last minute.  Renault Clio drivers seem to be the exception.

Would a C5 have automatic lights?  If it did, they would have fused by now and stopped working.  Would a C5 driver know what to do with automatic lights anyway? 

Andrew

Andrew Rolland wrote: 540 V8 wrote: the second was a Citroen C5 That's your problem. Right there!  What you said!  Anyone who chooses to drive a Citroen of any description should be treated with the deepest suspicion at all times when both off and on the road. You cannot rely on a Citroen (or a Renault) driver to obey any form of any rule in the Highway code.  They are best avoided at all costs on the road. Don't go near them as they will do something completely out of the ordinary right at the last minute.  Renault Clio drivers seem to be the exception.

Nice one Andrew!

540 V8 wrote: ...there is still no accounting for others, it's them you have to watch! Mike

As my old driving tutor said "Treat every other driver as a complete idiot - that way you won't be too wrong"!

Pointless soon anyway as we will all have to have daylight lights

All our bus lights now come on when they are fired up

is this the future for cars too?

I was behind a Renault Laguna (French car - refer to an earlier post of mine) this morning and I noticed that his side lights came on as we entered the Clyde Tunnel this morning.  Sure enough they then went off when we exited the tunnel. but more irritatingly the driver of this French car did not make one use of either of their indicators yet they had managed to find the switch that controls his automatic lights.

Drivers of French cars, don't you just love them!

Andrew

Andrew Rolland wrote: I was behind a Renault Laguna (French car - refer to an earlier post of mine) this morning and I noticed that his side lights came on as we entered the Clyde Tunnel this morning.  Sure enough they then went off when we exited the tunnel. but more irritatingly the driver of this French car did not make one use of either of their indicators yet they had managed to find the switch that controls his automatic lights. Drivers of French cars, don't you just love them! Andrew

lol, I take your point totally! It made me laugh though because what you just said reminds me of what my mum used to say about BMW drivers!  Her old job involved a lot of driving many years ago and all I ever used to hear was she wished her car had come with a crystal ball so she could see where all the bloody BMW and Sierra drivers were going. She used to shout at roundabouts "The indicators are the orange flashy things on the corner of the flippin car you moron!"

I think it was the new BMW's and Sierras becasue they were usualy driven by executives who thought they were high and mighty (BMW's) or Sales reps (Sierras) who didn't care for other road users. This does seem to have been passed on to the french car drivers now who have automatic lights but no orange flashy things!

Mike