Headlights On for Safety They Say
Apr 24th, 2007 by Victoria Leigh
These days most cars, my Jeep included, come equipped with automated DRLs (Daylight Running Lights). I know that DRLs were included on all new vehicles to reduce the instance of accidents but if ‘everyone is special, then no one is’. If everyone has on DRLs then it’s just like before when no one did.
Car manufacturers have realized that the car recipe is pretty much solved: a dash of chassis, 4 tires, a helping of transmission, a pinch of engine, stir in a frame, and some seats, power windows and radio to taste, voila! Now it seems to me they are sitting back scratching their heads trying to figure out what else they can add onto the car to enhance it’s appeal so consumers will have a reason to keep buying. While I respect the idea of trying to make a car as safe as possible, I think that having too many ‘automated’ features that allow the car to ‘think’ for the driver is at it’s core, not safe at all. Since living in Seattle I’ve seen the most number of drivers just motoring along at night without their headlights on AT ALL, hello? My theory on this gets back to DRLs, drivers have gotten so used to the idea that the car is going to do a thing for them that they just get in and drive and don’t pay attention. Once day people are going to get in their cars and not just the lights will turn by themselves, but it will back up, drive, give you a massage, make you an iced tea, and read you the latest headlines, all while you recline in comfort as the car automatically zoom, zoom, zooms you down the highway on it’s own. Wait… that might not actually be too bad.
After a little research, I found out from this site that DRLs are not federally mandated, so I disconnected mine. I’m a rebel, aren’t I? I believe that if I need the headlights on for safety in the middle of the afternoon I can reach down and click the switch that turns my lights on, the good old fashioned way.