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I'm in the camp that think cars headlights should basically work like motorcycle headlights. If the car is running, the lights are on. There's basically no reason to have them off in general use, it only makes you more visible, even in nice weather.
Don’t all new cars have daytime running lights? I thought that was now standard. Hell, I thought it was required.
Most newer ones have the “auto” feature, which typically involves a daytime light of some kind). Some people just turn it off.
But to the commenter’s point, why not just have them on all the time no matter what? Is there a disadvantage?
Nope. The issue is many drivers don't understand car electronics and that the alternator is constantly generating power as the car goes along. They turn it off thinking it will save battery life.
To be fair, power isn't free. I think I remember reading that having headlights on reduces gas milage by something like 1% for LED bulbs and 5% for other types.
Edit: I was wrong, but not like super wrong. HowStuffWorks estimates it to be an average of 1%
The only other reason I can think of is, would it make the headlights burn out fast? Not that it wouldn't be worth it either way imo. Idk how much of a difference it would make on the lifespan, or if replacing headlights is even something people have to worry about all lol, pls bear with me I don't drive
No.
Canada requires it, US does not.
The headlights, tail lights are a different story though. My car def can have the tail lights off at night. That's not right at all
No we do. There was a short period a decade ago where they had it and we didn't but thats not true anymore
Google says otherwise. Maybe your state does, but it's not federally mandated.
There are a lot of cars where the daytime running lights are just little outer Halos and not actual headlights. I fucking hate these because people think their headlights are on and don't realize that the back of their car is completely black at night because the back lights are not on only the front daytime running.
I don't know what the fuck manufacturers were thinking with that, just fucking turn the lights on if the car is in Drive simple as that
Don't most cars have sensors to use the full lights at night? Holy shit, have I been driving with no lights at night???
Only if they are in the auto position for the headlights, many of these cars even if they switch is set to off will still have those Halo running lights when turned on which people mistake for headlights because most of them are LED now and fairly bright. So they drive around with the back of their car completely dark but when you go to pass them you realize that they have their running lights on and it does look potentially like a set of headlights even though it's not
My dad's 2018 Rav doesn't and I was shocked.
That's weird because I have a base model 2018 Rav and it definitely does.
It's possible I missed it and it somehow was turned off? Also, do you know how to change the settings for the windshield wipers?
settings for the windshield wipers
https://assets.sia.toyota.com/publications/en/om-s/OM0R012U/pdf/OM0R012U.pdf
Page 225
Thank you for linking that! I drove over to my parents place today to take a look at my father's Rav and let him know. What's interesting is when I got in there it doesn't have the little rotating up and down for the windshield wipers when you put it into the INT setting. So I pulled out the manual from his glove box, and it shows the same picture as the manual you sent. But that part is just not there on his vehicle. So confused.
The manual suggests the intermittent wipers are an optional thing, which is bullshit if you ask me, but whatever.
Set it to auto on the left lever's knob. And are you talking about the speed settings for the windshield wipers? It should be just pushing the right lever down. There are 4 positions, off-lo-med-hi. Hold up for a quick wipe, pull towards you for windshield washer fluid, and away from you for the rear windshield fluid.
That’s a requirement for cars sold in Canada, though I still see cars with their lights off frequently.
Since 2021 only
Some countries have mandatory daytime running light (like Canada). I had an inspection on a 25+ years old car and had to Mumbo-Jumbo some relays in there to have my fog lights turn on when the car's running but back to manual if my headlights were on.
I drive a school bus and we're required by law to have our headlights and running/clearance/identification lamps on at all times. So why in the fuck do buses even have a switch for that shit that we have to remember to flick on every time we start the bus?
....they do, nowadays. This is clearly a truck, and probably older.
They definitely don't in the US. Most have automatic lights, sure. Maybe in the coming years we'll catch up to other countries in that regard
"daytime running lights" are the worst. Makes the person think "my lights are on, I don't need to do anything" but then it's just front lights no taillights or corner lights.