Have you ever approached a car at night, only to realize its taillights were not on? But then, once you pass, you can see that the headlights were illuminated. What gives—were the taillights broken? Chances are it was simply a case of a clueless driver.
Cars are so much better than they were before, it ain’t even funny. I remember hopping in Mom’s car for a doctor’s appointment, only for the car to fail starting, and for me to reschedule my appointment. Those carbureted days are long gone! Yet while cars have improved, have drivers followed suit? Hard to quantify, but we do live in a world with a multitude of distractions.
There are several explanations why someone would drive with the taillights off (and, hence, the headlights not fully illuminated):
- Cluelessness: Most new cars have an automatic headlight feature that turns on the lights at dusk. If the switch was properly set to Automatic, the scenario described would not happen. As it often happens, the switch is on Off, which leads us to . . .
- Cluelessness: Daytime driving lights make people think their headlights are on in dusk.
- Cluelessness: The illumination coming from modern dashboards can make one think the headlights are on.
Drivers have the responsibility to be in control of their vehicle and to drive with deliberate purpose. When a person does not turn on his/her headlights, the road becomes less safe. If you have a modern car, why not adjust the setting to Automatic?
(It also should be mentioned that, every time you take your vehicle for servicing, recheck the headlights switch to ensure they turn on automatically.)
While we are on the topic of headlights, maybe a reminder is in order? When it rains, turn on your headlights!
Signed,
Some Random Guy Sharing the Road with You