Turn on your car's lights — all of them
Many people are unaware they're driving at night using daytime running lights only
Throughout my years rambling through this industry, this is the second biggest pet peeve that drivers bring to me. People who plug along in the passing lane are the first. I believe the unlighted steeds on our roadways are a bigger threat.
It's more noticeable as the days get shorter and the season gets rainier. Well, it's less noticeable is more accurate.
Daytime running lights (DRLs) were made mandatory on new cars in Canada as of December 1, 1989. When you start your car, smaller secondary lights come on in the front, and your dashboard is lit up. Study after study shows safety advantages and marked collision reductions when cars have these added lights.
Some argue the largest advantage is in countries in the northern hemisphere — such as Canada.
The problem with DRLs and the error made when they were ushered into law is the rear lights on many vehicles (Honda and Toyota are big culprits, here) are not tied to the front lights, nor the dash. Because studies showed that additional illumination on the front was an advantage, but not the rear, too many manufacturers tossed them on the front only.
Wouldn't be a problem, but the ensuing confusion surrounding lighting systems has resulted in some very dangerous driving conditions.
Back in olden times, if you didn't have your lights on, your dash was dark. It was an instant reminder that you did not put your headlights on. An always-backlit dash removes that reminder. Many drivers are driving on highly lit roadways and those little DRLs are just enough to allow them to forget they don't have their proper lights on. Drive down a dark rural road and you'll know in a heartbeat your lights aren't on.
Most cars have a setting on their lighting system that says “Auto.” This means when dusk or rain sets in, the car will automatically engage its full lighting harness, which includes the rear lights. If your car is not set in Auto, you are driving with only your DRLs on. Your rear may be black.
This issue will finally be addressed in September 2021, when all cars made or sold in Canada will be required to have the front and rear harnesses connected. This means only another 10 or 15 years until most cars will be properly lit. Sigh.
I would love to post a full list of cars that have this problem. I started one a decade ago, then realized how futile it was to try.
Some brands (Mercedes-Benz and Porsche spring to mind) have their lighting systems done properly across their lineup. But for everyone else? It's hit and miss.
“Why don't they ticket them?” yell many, including myself.
According to Sergeant Jason Kraft with Toronto Police Services, in Ontario, they can, and do.
“The HTA states `every motor vehicle other than a motorcycle shall carry three lighted lamps in a conspicuous position, one on each side of the front of the vehicle which shall display a white or amber light only, and one on the rear of the vehicle which shall display a red light only,'” he says.
“By driving with daytime running lights only, your rear red lights are not activated at all, thus the charge of `Drive without proper rear light' HTA62(1) would be laid,” he says, adding most people are unaware they've failed to pull on their full system. An officer might tell them so, the driver puts the lights on, and they're on their way.
Best practices? Put on your full lighting harness every time you drive. If you set your system to “Auto,” double-check it periodically.
Instead of saying people who mess up are too stupid to drive, talk to everyone you care about and make sure they're aware of this. New drivers, or those who seldom drive, can use some direction, not snark.
The law and the manufacturers are late to the table. We can fix this ourselves. I know of no signal to let people know only their DRLs are on. Come up with one, and I'll publish it.