Headlamps required in PA during rain conditions.

[ScottB]

Cali changed the law last year too - good thing.
I always have my lights on, and from my motorcycling experience, it's a good thing too.

 

[moribundman]

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in other thrreads some claim that people who state that US driver skill is not up to par are foolish idiots.

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How could US driver skill be up to par considering

1. lack of basic driver training
2. lack of extensive driving tests (theory and road test)
3. lack of enforcement of traffic laws

I grew up near US Army bases in Germany. US soldiers in their private vehicles were disproportionally often involved in high speed Autobahn accidents. So were the Dutch and other foreigners who also were not used to traveling at high speeds, but who tended to crank it up on the Autobahn anyway.

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That said, isnt there a whole lot of data that claims that headlights on (rain or not) increases visibility and thus reduces at least some sorts of collisions?

JMH

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I've been turing on my headlights ever since I started driving when I thought conditions required it, for example when driving with the sun behind me. If people lack the common sense to act responsibly, then a law may be required, because you just can't keep all the morons off the road.

 

[John K]

I agree there are more Chevys (not just PUs) with light bulbs burned out than any other vehicle. I don't know why. Especially the tail lights with more than two lenses....The old chevys with 6 tail lights are awful. I think that on most newer vehicles the bulbs last longer, I still have a very old stash of spares that I haven't used because of this.....

 

[oilyriser]

I overheard at a car repair place a woman being given an estimate of $120 to change a turn signal bulb on her car. It had to something do with removing the bumper and front grille to get to the bulb.

 

[moribundman]

On some cars the bulbs are not accessible without removing the whole headlamp assembly or other components. That's why I never bought a VW Corrado. The headlamp has to be removed to change the dang bulbs. The you have to adjust the headlights...

 

[cousincletus]

^^ On GM trucks and cars the assembly can be removed quickly and easily w/o affecting adjustment. The Chevy truck problem (with daytime running lights burning out) was due to the lack of silicone grease on the connection. There is TSB on this and the problem has been corrected on the newer models.

 

[Auto-Union]

Best bulb replacment systems are the ones accessed right behind the lens, obviously. Anyway, the way I "teach" it is to put on lights when driving when (visual) conditions are ANYTHING less than ideal.

 

[beercollector]

If you are driving a black, silver, grey, or white car with no headlights/taillights when there are "adverse conditions" out, your car is invisible to others out there. I don't care much for invisible cars behind me, in front of me, or anywhere else on the road.

 

[K-Man]

Virginia and North Carolina have the same law. Virginia's is recent. And no, I never have seen it enforced.

 

[brianl703]

I've never seen the law about having two functioning headlights enforced here either.

"Depolicing", I suppose.

 

[Gary Allan]

Nah. Just bigger fish to fry with the resources you've got available. Police aren't supposed to be ticket writers 24/7. They have far more important purposes to serve. So, you save the inspection violations for the convenient "pinch" when you've not written a ticket in a couple of weeks.

 

[dave1251]

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I wish somebody would publicize the importance of using directional signals and of keeping keeping a safe distance to the vehicle ahead instead of the implementation of gadgets that aim at augmentating mindless drivers' lack of common sense.

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This is manly an AZ/CA from my experance.

 

[andyd]

I'm a stickler for having working lights. In my younger days,it was an excuse policemen used for pulling you over.

 

[RacerE7773]

I was taught by my parents long before I started driving to have lights on when it's overcast, raining, or snowing. I remember being told NOT to have the brights on when there are people coming at you, and also when you can still see taillights in front of you. Of course, that was the 70's and 80's. I also love these nitwits that drive through parking lots over empty spaces helter skelter so they can get closer to the store/stop sign (if they even stop) that much quicker.

 

[msparks]

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will require motorists to turn on their headlights anytime their vehicles wipers are in continuous or intermittent use due to weather or other atmospheric conditions such as fog or mist.

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What is stupid is the fact that your wipers have to be in use? I rarely use my wipers because it makes me crazy. I am a fanatic Rain X (or equivalent) users. Therefore even in the hardest downpour I do not use my wipers.


PS (I do use my headlights anytime there is low visibility just out of safety)

 

[moribundman]

How well RainX works depends on the speed with which you drive and the angle of your windshield. I don't think the lawmaker has a way to check who uses a product like RainX. I also don't think you will get caught if you don't use your wipers.

By the way, I believe that hydrophobic windshield and mirror coatings should be mandatory. These coatings do exist (on optical filters and lenses).

 

[Brogy]

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I'm a stickler for having working lights. In my younger days,it was an excuse policemen used for pulling you over.

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I've had a friend who was given a $50 ticket because his turn signal bulb blew out. I'm not a stickler but I keep an assortment of bulbs in a compartment next to my spare tire. Cop ever pulls me over, ill put a new one in, say thanks and drive off before he knows what happened.

 

[RacerE7773]

I wonder what is in people's heads for brains at times. I was coming home from work an hour ago and this moron goes by with only his parking lights/driving lights on.

I just wish I had .50 calibers on the front for just such an occassion.

 

[Benzadmiral]

When I visited and drove around Pittsburgh and western PA in '01, I noticed they really love their signs up there. A sign in front of a tunnel read (and I swear I'm not making this up) "Remove Sunglasses"!

 

[Gary Allan]

No ..you're not making it up. That's posted on both tunnels that I went through on the PA turnpike.

I haven't seen it in print ..nor on the news ..but allegedly when they passed this regulation they also passed one making it mandatory for you to remove all the snow from your car. This is because of a number of accidents being caused by ice sheets flying off of trailers and whatnot. Now I know that this event didn't just start occurring yesterday. This can surely be a challenge for someone who owns a van/SUV type thing.

My wife related this to me from some memo distributed at her work. They use a bunch of E250 12 passenger vans for transport. Unless they get about 60 step ladders, they're in sad shape when it shows.