A Driving Pet Peeve

If I had to list the things other motorists do that irk me, between you and me, we could come up with a list a mile long!

My peeves are probably yours too, but to keep from sounding like the late Andy Rooney, I'll just settle on one.  This one is probably among the most hazardous when weather conditions are bad, especially. 

Not using headlights when conditions are bad. 

There's a ton of proof it's just safer to flip them on.  DRL here refers to 'daytime running lights' in this article from the Insurance Institute:

"Nearly all published reports indicate they reduce multiple-vehicle daytime crashes. A study examining the effect of Norway's DRL law from 1980 to 1990 found a 10 percent decline in daytime multiple-vehicle crashes.  A Danish study reported a 7 percent reduction in DRL-relevant crashes in the first 15 months after DRL use was required and a 37 percent decline in left-turn crashes.   In a second study covering 2 years and 9 months of Denmark's law, there was a 6 percent reduction in daytime multiple-vehicle crashes and a 34 percent reduction in left-turn crashes.   A 1994 Transport Canada study comparing 1990 model year vehicles with DRLs to 1989 vehicles without them found that DRLs reduced relevant daytime multiple-vehicle crashes by 11 percent.

In the United States, a 1985 Institute study determined that commercial fleet passenger vehicles modified to operate with DRLs were involved in 7 percent fewer daytime multiple-vehicle crashes than similar vehicles without DRLs.   A small-scale fleet study conducted in the 1960s found an 18 percent lower daytime multiple-vehicle crash rate for DRL-equipped vehicles.   Multiple-vehicle daytime crashes account for about half of all police-reported crashes in the United States. A 2002 Institute study reported a 3 percent decline in daytime multiple-vehicle crash risk in nine US states concurrent with the introduction of DRLs.

Federal researchers, using data collected nationwide from 1995-2001, concluded that there was a 5 percent decline in daytime, two-vehicle, opposite-direction crashes and a 12 percent decline in fatal crashes with pedestrians and bicyclists."

Driving home through the rain today, about half the vehicles I saw had their lights on.  Keep in mind it's not for you, but for the other drivers to see you!  In some countries it's the law to use the lights every time you drive, regardless of conditions.  We're such good seat belt bucklers in Washington, why can't we use our lights when it rains?  Laziness?  Being inconsiderate? 

Tell me what you think!  Join the conversation.