I learned an important lesson last week.

Gofirstclass

Well-Known Member
Apr 20, 2010
11,670
Tri Cities, WA
Boat Info
Boatless in WA
Engines
No motor
So there we were on our way back from AZ where we picked up our 13' Whaler. The trip back was long but driving conditions were good until we got to Cabbage Hill in Oregon. We had fog like I have not seen in many years. Cabbage Hill is a 6 mile long 6% grade that winds it way across the face of a couple of pretty big hills.

In good weather it's a 50-55mph drive because you don't want your momentum to overrun your ability to use the brakes to slow down.

So there we were in the fog, driving about 25-28mph with my emergency flashers on. My wife was watching all the signs and reading them to me because I didn't want to take my eyes off the road or my rear view mirror. A few cars came up behind us and that's OK because they had their headlights on. But then I noticed the first one didn't have any taillights. Or the second one or the third one, etc.

That got my feeble old brain to wondering why so many cars with their headlights on didn't have any taillights. Then it hit me--when you are driving with your daytime running lights (DRL) on, only your headlights are on, but no lights in back.

I checked my GMC Terrain and sure enough, with the DRL on you have no taillights. Neither does the trailer. It's only when I turn on my headlights (using the switch on the blinker arm) do my taillights work.

That's important to know in situations like heavy rain, snow, fog, dusk, dawn, etc. You might want to check your rigs and see if they're the same.
 
Mike, I'm glad to hear you made it safe... But I have had vehicles for years with DRL and have known this since my first car with that option. I'm one of those funny guys, I read the manual. lol
 
Wow! I pulled a heavily loaded 24' box trailer 600 miles last week through mountains. We got into heavy fog for awhile.......I was in the same situation but failed to notice your observation. Great info my friend.
 
I’ve noticed in the last few years more and more people driving at night with only DRL, and no tail lights. I think part of the problem is the electronic display dashboards don’t look much different from day to night. There’s less indication that it’s night and you don’t have headlights on. Also DRLs throw more light than they used to.
 
My truck has the Auto selection for my lights but I always turn them to On. I have mine on at all times I'm driving whether day or night or no matter the weather
 
This is a big issue here as all cars must run in the daytime with DRL’s automatically by default when the ignition switch is turned to on. I see it all the time with people forgetting to turn on their headlights at night and running with DRL. Even on new cars where this (should) be an automatic thing.) Sometimes it’s like 1 out of every 10 cars. I’m lucky I guess ..my Audi is pretty good about automatically turning on the lights with the slightest cloud cover or if the wipers have to react to a drop of rain hitting the windshield. I’ve been guilty of pulling up next to people at lights and having them roll down their window to tell them to turn their lights on ..much to the dismay of my wife.
 
This is a big issue here as all cars must run in the daytime with DRL’s automatically by default when the ignition switch is turned to on. I see it all the time with people forgetting to turn on their headlights at night and running with DRL. Even on new cars where this (should) be an automatic thing.) Sometimes it’s like 1 out of every 10 cars. I’m lucky I guess ..my Audi is pretty good about automatically turning on the lights with the slightest cloud cover or if the wipers have to react to a drop of rain hitting the windshield. I’ve been guilty of pulling up next to people at lights and having them roll down their window to tell them to turn their lights on ..much to the dismay of my wife.
I am still trying to teach everyone they can turn left at a red light if both streets are one way..... just two days ago I did it as I was first in line and the guy behind me honked at me
 
Last edited:
This is a big issue here as all cars must run in the daytime with DRL’s automatically by default when the ignition switch is turned to on. I see it all the time with people forgetting to turn on their headlights at night and running with DRL. Even on new cars where this (should) be an automatic thing.) Sometimes it’s like 1 out of every 10 cars. I’m lucky I guess ..my Audi is pretty good about automatically turning on the lights with the slightest cloud cover or if the wipers have to react to a drop of rain hitting the windshield. I’ve been guilty of pulling up next to people at lights and having them roll down their window to tell them to turn their lights on ..much to the dismay of my wife.
To your point the automatic needs to be set...one oil change place I went to always turned automatic off when they drove in the garage ......they never put it back so I would drive around for days not at night .....then go downtown on the weekends for dinner where it’s bright not realizing your headlights are not on until you get out of the city......not a good thing
 
This is a big issue here as all cars must run in the daytime with DRL’s automatically by default when the ignition switch is turned to on. I see it all the time with people forgetting to turn on their headlights at night and running with DRL. Even on new cars where this (should) be an automatic thing.) Sometimes it’s like 1 out of every 10 cars. I’m lucky I guess ..my Audi is pretty good about automatically turning on the lights with the slightest cloud cover or if the wipers have to react to a drop of rain hitting the windshield. I’ve been guilty of pulling up next to people at lights and having them roll down their window to tell them to turn their lights on ..much to the dismay of my wife.
Seems like Toyota and Lexus vehicles are some of the more common ones that I’ve seen.
 
We go to Panama for the winter. No fog but traffic can stop quickly. If you are the last one stopped in a line you turn on your 4 way flasher or you will probably get plowed into by some one doing 60.
 
I am still trying to teach everyone they can turn left at a red light if both streets are one way..... just two days ago I did it as I was first in line and the guy behind me honked at me

Lol ..infuriating!
 
I am still trying to teach everyone they can turn left at a red light if both streets are one way..... just two days ago I did it as I was first in line and the guy behind me honked at me
Try teaching this to the police.
Years ago I was stopped at a light at night u the Holland Tunnel. All the streets in this area are one way.

Remembering my driving instructor specifically covering the unique “left turn on red” situation detailed in the NJ drivers manual, I turned left. I was so excited to actually use what I had though was an obscure driving rule.

Apparently the cop behind me hadn’t read the same drivers manual and promptly pull me over. I didn’t get a ticket but he was still a condescending dick about it.
 
I am still trying to teach everyone they can turn left at a red light if both streets are one way..... just two days ago I did it as I was first in line and the guy behind me honked at me
Try teaching this to the police.
Years ago I was stopped at a light at night u the Holland Tunnel. All the streets in this area are one way.

Remembering my driving instructor specifically covering the unique “left turn on red” situation detailed in the NJ drivers manual, I turned left. I was so excited to actually use what I had though was an obscure driving rule.

Apparently the cop behind me hadn’t read the same drivers manual and promptly pull me over. I didn’t get a ticket but he was still a condescending dick about it.
 
I am still trying to teach everyone they can turn left at a red light if both streets are one way..... just two days ago I did it as I was first in line and the guy behind me honked at me

This is state-specific. In Michigan, you can turn left-on-red FROM a 2-way or a 1-way if you're turning ONTO a 1-way.

Ohio requires both roadways to be 1-way to enable left-on-red.

In all cases, signs posted at a given intersection supersede the general laws.
 
@b_arrington
in NYC unless explicitly posted that it is allowed, there is no right on red (or left on red 1way to 1way)
 
@b_arrington
in NYC unless explicitly posted that it is allowed, there is no right on red (or left on red 1way to 1way)
True story....there is a one way intersection we all go thru all the time. My son was behind a guy and honked at him to go...the guy rolled down his window and told Mike to f**k off...Mike said you can turn left on a red...the guy gave him the finger.... the very next day Mike was at the same intersection and he sees the guy from the day before running up the side with two wheels up on the sidewalk to get up beside my son...they both rolled down their windows and the guy said he looked it up last night and he was right and apologized.
We have asked the city to put up a sign a number of times and they just ignore us
 
I leave my headlights on auto... problem solved.

And just an FYI... Most vehicles allow you to disable the DRL feature.
 
Jim, your headlights on Auto do not turn your taillights on in fog, unless it's dark enough to trigger the sensor. I think this was Mike's purpose to this thread. Mike
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,946
Messages
1,422,785
Members
60,930
Latest member
Ebrown69
Back
Top