r/Cartalk • u/clynchy97 • 16d ago
‘Automatic headlights’ don’t work in fog? Safety Question
About 40-50% of the cars we passed on the road today had no headlights on or only had the dim side lights. Do automatic lights not work in fog for these modern cars? Seems super sketchy
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u/b-raddit 16d ago
These guys are idiots. Flash them to alert them , and they keep driving. Serious npc energy
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u/SkeletorsAlt 16d ago
Yeah, this has been a thing for the entire 25+ years I’ve had a driver’s license.
Something about driving an anonymous grey or silver crossover fills these people with a desire to emerge silently from the mist like the Flying Fucking Dutchman of dropping the kids off at school.
I’ve been flashing my headlights at them for over two decades and I’ve always had a <50% success rate. Oh well.
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u/AtTheMercyOfThePast 16d ago
I drive your average early 2000s silver compact car, and instead of flashing my brights, I turn off my lights entirely and pulse them on/off.
It sends the message when I literally disappear and reappear.
I will continue doing so till some unhinged driver kills me, but I'll die happy.
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u/SkeletorsAlt 16d ago
Yeah, that’s what I do. Around here in rural central Ohio flashing your high beams means “cop/hazard ahead” so I try to avoid doing that unnecessarily.
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u/HanzG 16d ago
That's pretty standard all throughout North America. Same rule up here in Ontario. Cop or heavy traffic ahead, either way slow down.
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u/Outside-Drag-3031 16d ago
Yep, few quick flashes says "slow down, hazard ahead." Flicker lights out says "turn on your lights" and I hold my high beams on in succession, like "o" in Morse code: - - -, to signify "turn off your high beams."
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u/Fuzzywink 15d ago
Similar sentiment around here in MO. Broadly speaking, most people see turning lights on/off as a friendly acknowledgement or "hey turn your lights on." Flashing your brights (or in my case big LED light bar) is specifically reserved for "fuck you turn off your high beams" or "hey pay attention before you get yourself or me killed."
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u/daniell61 06 IS350 rwd, 04 camry le 16d ago
I used to do this until someone tried to run me off the road because they thought I was insulting them (still not sure how that one worked when explained to the sheriffs)
Foglights work as well and are less "painful" from what I've seen
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u/No-Canary-9845 16d ago
Long will it continue, flashed the Fuck out of some donut in their grey Quashqai last year only for the helmet to think I was just doing it for fun lmao
Overtook and the ding dong thought it was game time and just flashed us for the next four miles
These people are clowns and the sooner they T-bone an artic that hasn’t seen them at a junction and take themselves out, the better
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u/UnboundedCord42 16d ago
Flashing my light bar has a 98% success rate lol unbelievable how many people don’t turn their lights on though seen some extremely dangerous weather and people just chillin probably barely seeing too without lights. Daylight running lights are shit for this too cause I’ve seen people think they are their actual lights.
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u/LightlySaltedPeanuts 16d ago
Yup they just have DRLs on which is only very dim headlights and no taillights. Especially when its a black car. I’ve done the ‘turn my lights on and off’ to get their attention and like they said above, maybe 50% get the clue. The crazy thing is with their lights off their gauge cluster must be bright as hell in daytime mode, making it even harder for them to see. But they just keep going on their merry NPC way
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u/I_hate_being_alone 16d ago
Sad thing is that most of these idiots don’t know there even is a light switch.
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u/lilBalzac 16d ago
Honestly the controls in most new cars are terrible for lights. I got a rental recently and the headlight controls made zero sense.
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u/sugarfreeeyecandy 16d ago
It may take people quite a while to realize that their instrument cluster being lit up brightly does not mean their headlights are off. Some cars, but not all, have an icon that means the lights are on.
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u/midnightsmith 16d ago
Nah, if they're this dumb, they'll not understand there is fog lights and just blind everyone, arguably worse
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u/tarfu51 16d ago
No, they do not. If it’s raining, if there’s fog, if there’s a blizzard, if there’s any particular weather event that’s making it difficult to see, the operator of the vehicle should know to TURN THEIR LIGHTS ON. It’s really not that hard.
Sorry for the rant, but I come across so many people who drive in inclement weather with no lights on who have no goddamn clue.
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u/clynchy97 16d ago
Exactly my thoughts. Mental that 50% of people on the road didnt think “oh it’s foggy I better turn my lights on” but just hoped the car did it for them!
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u/Myopic_Sweater_Vest 16d ago
"Automatic" does not replace common sense. Not to sound like a fuddy duddy, but if it's foggy, drizzly or straight up rainy, turn on your headlights.
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u/HanzG 16d ago
Except the literature that advertises the car suggests the car will replace your need to do it. "Auto" mode in most modern cars doesn't sound like "Well, mostly automatically".
It's another example of technology making people lazy and like you said abandoning common sense. I really wish dash lighting was tied to your headlights again. If it's dark enough you need light to see your dash it's dark enough you need light to see your path.
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u/Wings-N-Beer 16d ago
I see a lot of people who’s car HAS automatic lights with none on at night! They switched or bumped the switch out of auto but somehow don’t notice the lights not on at night???!
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u/Ketchup1211 16d ago
Some cars will automatically activate the lights if the wipers are on. Either way, you are 100% correct. We had some deep fog here yesterday and I lost count of how many people didn’t have their lights on.
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u/topclassladandbanter 16d ago
I just don’t get why lights aren’t required 100% of the time you’re moving on the road or parked along the road given how stupid drivers have proven to be. And there are so many times that lights help you be seen.
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u/notlitnez2000 15d ago
Agree. Forgiving your rant. Stupefying of America.
I have a sticker on my car “Equipped with a Millennial Anti-theft device”. (I have three pedals in my daily driver)
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u/MarvinHeemeyersTank 16d ago
I never understood why turning headlights off is even an option. They should be on all the time if the vehicle is in gear. And they should shut off in park.
If we're going to let idiots drive, we should make it as idiot proof as possible.
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u/Demache 16d ago
This was actually the solution for motorcycles. Headlights made them more conspicuous during the day even in clear conditions. So, in the 70s, a law in the US was passed that all new motorcycles sold have their lights hard wired to the ignition. And for the most part, it's been a good idea.
And in Canada DRL's have been mandatory on new vehicles since 1990. They aren't perfect, but DRL's were probably a reasonable compromise, given that incandescent bulbs were the only thing available. But here in the US we've kind of waffled on them, because we've consistently made the argument that it isn't usually as dark here. I think that's bullshit. Sure, maybe in the south, but in the north, we have very similar weather and day length to Canada, whom most of their population live near the US border. Feels more like an excuse.
I think we've reached a point that we can compromise between the two. LED's don't have the lifespan issues so there's very little consequence to leaving them on all the time. Vehicle lighting is already software controlled, so there's no additional cost associated with it. I don't think there are any downsides to leaving them on all the time anymore.
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u/AdA4b5gof4st3r 16d ago
Oldschool subarus are this way. It’s pretty nice tbh
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u/sarahenera 15d ago
Yup. I had a ‘91 Toyota previa that was the same. Just left the headlight switched on 100% of the time and the lights turned off with ignition off. I’ve had a few subarus, too. Love that feature!
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u/Moist_Barracuda_2014 16d ago
No, they work off ambient light levels and during the day even in heavy fog there is enough light that they won’t come on.
Same in heavy rain.
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u/Demache 16d ago
I think one of the smartest things Ford ever did, was that if your wipers are on, your headlights/taillights come on. Day or night. It's one of simplest things, and I'm sure other manufacturers do this too. I'm still surprised it just isn't universal. Of course, that still requires drivers to not be morons and actually have their headlights set to auto and not off.
For some reason, it never occurs to anyone that lights are also for other people to see you.
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u/Funny_Tea5735 16d ago
I had never noticed that on my nissan qashqai, the lights turn on when the wipers are used until now. I just searched it up and apparently they do. That is so cool. Although, I had never noticed because as soon as I detect fog or rain, I enable front and rear fog lights, which turns on all lights anyway!!
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u/ShelbyVNT 16d ago
There is also the possibility that the automatic lights are turned off. Every car I've ever drove with automatic lights had a switch setting for auto. Turn them off and the lights stay off. Then they might forget they have to turn them on.
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u/zelvarth 16d ago edited 16d ago
Shops often turn them off so they can work on the car in the garage without the (on modern cars often stupidly bright) lights going on. Sometimes they forget (or don't bother) to put it back into auto when they return the car. So it's possible to not realize that immediately until it's really dark (yes, I realize it's still your fault).
Although that does not explain 40-50% of cars not having lights on. The first car possibly does not even have automatic lights and the car in the last pic even had the fog lights on. OP might be exaggerating a bit because of internet rage.
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u/bigbear_mouse 16d ago edited 16d ago
I have a 23 pug and you can't turn off the headlights/drl, the "off" setting is the "auto". You have one setting to dim DRL and turn on tail lights that won't turn the beams on, but that's it. There is also a configuration unique to the auto mode, that is the dash light NOT dimmed and head/rear lights on, usually it is what turns on when driving through fog. At least in my car it usually works because it is clear that the auto rain/wipers works together with the auto lights sensor (when it is a bright raining day and everything is on auto, the lights turn on along with the wipers).
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u/rockland75 16d ago
I drive a '24 Trailblazer for work. I too am irked by the amount of people that don't drive with their lights on in the fog. Lots of white and silver vehicles too making it harder to see them. I have to turn my lights on in these conditions. As others have mentioned - the daylight is too bright in foggy conditions to activate the automatic lights.
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u/lilBalzac 16d ago
We have reached the point where most drivers cannot operate headlights anymore and the automatic systems are terrible.
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u/EmtnlDmg 16d ago
Can confirm. Mine also stays off if it bright enough in fog. Daylight fog can not be detected with a lumen sensor only.
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u/sarahenera 15d ago
This irritates me so much living in Seattle. Especially in winter. I’m like, “cool, I can really see your gray fucking car at 9am when it’s not very bright and it’s drizzling. Fantastic you idiot.” I try to remind myself that too many people have newer cars with automatic lights and they forget/don’t think about it. It still makes me think they’re idiots, but I have more compassion for their reckless ignorance.
Fwiw I have a 2005 Honda Element and I feel naked if I don’t turn my headlights on. I have them on while I’m driving, year round.
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u/kjartanbj 15d ago
This trend is so annoying especially because car manufacturers decided in their infinite wisdom to change the behavior of the lights so that the instrument cluster always lights up so people are oblivious to the fact they are driving with DRLs and no rear lights. It's extra dangerous where I live because we regularly have snow storms so white or Grey cars become invisible and obviously black or Grey cars are invisible in the dark which we have alot of during winter. If manufacturers wouldn't of changed the instrument cluster behavior people would turn on their lights.
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u/DadWatchesWrestling 16d ago
It's a photo sensor. So as long as it's light out, fog or not, they don't come on.
That being said, even with auto lights, a lot of cars you have to turn it to auto. Otherwise it's just a normal setup
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u/KamakaziDemiGod 16d ago
Unless the visibility is much worse in reality than it is in these pictures (usually it's better in reality) the lights are just going to cause a haze and not make them more visible. This doesn't look like it's on the edge of the limit where you require fogs (less than 100m visibility)
I drove in the fog last night and you could see people's rear lights from miles away yet people had their fogs on and were just blinding everyone else
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u/Wild_Ad4599 16d ago
Unfortunately not. See this every time it’s foggy, and I bitch about it. People are just dumb and/or haven’t been taught or care.
Then on the other side, you have the dipshits running brights, blinding everyone and themselves.
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u/thissucksnuts 16d ago
Uhh well yea... thats why you have the fog lights so when your dumbass doesnt realize theyre not on or doeant know to put them on other drivers can still see you kinda.
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u/ghilliesniper522 16d ago
Aren't you not supposed to have your headlights on in fog, thagd why you have fog lights
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u/Upbeat-Sky9672 16d ago
…or maybe they have “auto” turned off
Either way, I hate it. It’s not so they can see. It’s so we can see THEM!!
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u/gladishchris 16d ago
even cars with auto-on headlights, have to have them set to the auto-on position to work.
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u/Profesora_Gato 16d ago
They absolutely do not work in fog, or rain for that matter. They are based on light levels, not visibility. This is why I don’t use my auto-headlights. I stick to turning them on and off by myself
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u/Temporary-Party5806 16d ago
Automatic lights depend on a photo sensor (usually on top of your dash, by the windsheild) to determine if it's dark out.
On a foggy day, it's still daylight-bright; there are just so many water particulates in the air it stops you from seeing past too many of them.
There's lots of light, just very little visibility.
And auto makers no longer leave your dash lights blacked out when your headlights are off/in DRL mode, so lots of drivers don't even realise their lights are off; or will insist that they have automatic lights and that their dash is lit, so your eyes must be wrong about their external lights. This is why so many don't respond to flashing lights.
Well, that and flashing your lights means "hurry up I want to go faster" in lots of cases these days, so it muddies the waters re communicating that someone's lights are off.
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u/Particular-Put-4839 16d ago
I think, you can try and idiot proof cars, but idiots always get around it.
I've asked people I know who drive with their lights off in bad weather or fog, answer...... Well I can see where I'm going. I don't need the lights on.
There's no thought of being seen, only that they can see.
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u/Rampag169 16d ago
The auto industry just needs to make cars engage headlights/tail-lights when the driver leaves park. Problem solved.
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u/Salt-Indication6845 16d ago edited 15d ago
Does your vehicle have a driver's license? Take controll of your lights every time you drive. Turn on your marker lights before uou put your car in to gear EVERY time. Drivers need to be actively involved in making yourselves visible.
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u/TrakaisIrsis 15d ago
Never had.
Thats why most of the new car drivers are careless baboons in my opinion. They dont know how their car or car in general functions because reading the fucking manual is hArD.
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u/LazyEvidence9040 15d ago
Sometimes autos dont light up rear lights on during the night. So many cars on I-95 drive like “haha surprise, didnt notice me did ya” when barreling at 75mph.
You flash them, do whatever, no one cares.
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u/Bison_Not_Buffalo 15d ago
I recently taught my daughter to drive and taught her about turning her headlights on in certain situations even with auto headlights. I see too many drivers who never turn them on at night, heavy rain, snow etc. It really grinds my gears!
Folks have to be conscious drivers.
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u/compu85 16d ago
No auto lights don't come on in the fog. And in many cases don't come on with the wipers.
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u/Sparky62075 16d ago
The thing with the wipers is sometimes a setting that you have to enable. A lot of people won't know to enable it.
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u/nowordsleft 16d ago
That would require people to put the switch in “auto” mode, and judging by the number of people I see driving around in the pitch black with no headlights on, many people don’t keep it in auto.
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u/poolhaas 16d ago
There is an impressive amount of cars out in the fog today with only DRL and nothing lit up behind it's crazy.
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u/EverOrny 16d ago
when I switched to my first car with this feature I had false ecpecations how it works
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u/thecatwasnot 16d ago
One of the few things I dislike on my car, I feel like the sensor isn't smart enough, so I'm constantly having to force them on in conditions like this.
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u/Secret_Effect_5961 16d ago
People see that the dash is illuminated and just think their lights are on. I run a 2019 kuga and my lights come on in fog. It seems it doesn't take much of a dip in brightness before they work. Things like tree shadows in the road will bring my auto lights on. Maybe clean the screen over the sensor?
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u/TheCamoTrooper 16d ago
Generally they don't work in any reduced visibility situations, they operate off a brightness sensor and during fog, mist, rain, snow etc it's often still bright enough for them to not turn on the lights. Only reason you see them on in rain and such is because most auto lights also turn on if the wipers are on. Take a drive through the Canadian prairies during a blowing snow or snowstorm and see how many white cars you almost rear end cuz they don't have any lights on and you can't see them until they're 30' in front of you at best
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u/merchant_ofchaos 16d ago
Mazda owner here. Not just the headlights, Activsense features fail or become wonky in weather conditions.
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u/ContributionDry2252 16d ago
Sadly, the knowledge of making headlights automatic has been lost somewhere during the last ten or so years.
My cars have had already in the eighties headlights always on when the engine was running. Sorta worrying that whatever my next car will be, it will have these modern manual headlights.
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u/DustyBeetle 16d ago
first we had the DRL issue where people drove around with headlights but no other lights now we have the other end of the problem, just use the switch auto sucks as well as auto hi beam mode, that can also go away
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u/OkIndependent1667 16d ago
I actually did this myself
Got home after a short trip which started off “i’ll turn them all on when i hit the motorway as we’re in bumper to bumper traffic
As i pulled up outside my house i realise i hadn’t even turned the regular lights on
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u/Flat-Dragonfruit7589 16d ago
It’s about ambient light. If there is enough , they dont turn on automatically. Nothing wrong with it.
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u/TOCNYSHB 16d ago
I'm glad my Tesla Model X automatic headlights and automatic high beams work well. In fog, heavy rain, and snow storms, I turn on the front and rear fog lamps. DRLs are not intended to have a rear light component. Nor are they intended for low light or visibility... just to aid in visual cue for normal driving. The headlight laws don't appear to be enforced unless there's an accident.
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u/Bingo1dog 16d ago
That's one thing I like about what GM does (or did). My 2012 sierra headlights are just on all the time. I basically never touch that dial. I'm sure I go through bulbs faster than I otherwise would but I don't go through them fast.
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u/AwarenessGreat282 16d ago
Depends on the make/model. Some car sensors will turn the lights on, some won't. And sometimes, right after they passed you they came on, but shut off again later.
Technology isn't perfect but it's still way better than it was 20 years ago when none of those cars would have their lights on.
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u/BenTurboR 16d ago
Combine it with the people who insist on having their rear fog lights on even when people are following them and front fog lights on even when they're following someone and you have my drive home yesterday...
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u/Sparky62075 16d ago
I'm surprised I haven't seen this yet... not all cars on the road are equipped with automatic headlights. It's becoming a lot more common, but there are still plenty of cars out there without it.
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u/Elegant_Cookie_7412 16d ago
It depends. Most VW products in EU use a RLFS sensor which detects not only the brightness, but also direction of light, shadows, colour/hue of the light above (sky colour) and infront, etc. It's really dependable in foggy conditions IF the auto light function sensitivity is set on medium or high. For example, the headlights automatically turn on even if the car is completely lit by the sun, but the colour is orange - late evening/early morning. P.S.: RLFS stands for regen, licht, feuchte, sonne = rain, light, humidity, sun. The same sensor also detects the rain, temperature of the windshield, etc. Ot controls the lights, wipers and climate control.
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u/Dedward5 16d ago
My 2008 LR 3 gets its right most of the time, only “bright fog” confuses it, that’s when it’s sunny but foggy at the same time. Lights also come on if rain sensing wipers triggered.
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u/demon_stare7 16d ago
Yeah people are too stupid to do anything for themselves now. If it ain't automatic it ain't getting done
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u/f0rcedinducti0n 16d ago
Not every car brand has automatic headlights. GM still holds the patent and they have to license it. Chrysler products, for instance, do not have automatic headlights.
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u/Itchy_Grapefruit1335 16d ago
These are the same people that need a back up camera to parallel park
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u/DoomOfChaos 16d ago
Yeah, I've seen so many vehicles driving with no lights on, not even DRLs while in fog....
Idiots
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u/Hoody007 16d ago
Auto headlights work in fog - my 2005 BMW E46 and my 2011 BMW E90 both turn them on. It’s a matter of actually having them set to auto…
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u/ElectroBytezLV 16d ago
You should have a brain anyways and turn on them yourself if you can clearly see that the conditions are bad you know.
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u/Prof_X_69420 16d ago
In defense of the drivers, modern cars are absolutely shit in showing what is the light state the car is running.
With the Automatic Lights working 90% of the time it is easy to let it slip.
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u/sillysausage202 16d ago
The number of people I've seen today with no lights on (including some so called "professional drivers") is truly astounding 🤬🤬
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u/Critical-Box-1851 16d ago
In short, they are triggered to switch on if it's dark. If it's daytime but foggy, chances are they will not switch on and the driver might actually have to switch them on.
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16d ago
At this point, it should default to lights on all the time. It doesn’t hurt anything in daylight and it saves from idiots like this.
I’ve been running mine more and more regardless of weather. It’s one more thing to help someone see you no matter how it looks outside. I’m seeing way too much of people crossing into the opposing lane on blind corners and in general. I’ll take all I can get to get their attention.
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u/sasquatch753 16d ago
It tells ya on the dash if the lights are on with automatic headlights, and you can turn them on manually if needed. One would have to be incredibly stupid and oblivious not to know.
As for them working in fog, i an only speak for myself and my truck(2014 gmc sierra), but yes they do work in fog.
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u/karajade19 16d ago
With the number of modern cars with auto lights I see without their lights on at night… I think they just turn them off and forget? I see new cars nearly every night without their lights on
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u/Oberst_Reziik 16d ago
I got a 2004 Citroën C5 estate and they work, those guys turn off the auto option
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u/velvetjones01 16d ago
I have been driving a grey Honda Odyssey for many years, with my lights on “auto” I genuinely thought that meant I had daytime running lights. I’m still unsure if I do, I keep forgetting to check, and the manual is worthless. that said, I just changed the sensitivity of my lights so hopefully they’re on all the time. I AM SO SORRY to everyone I’ve seen on the road.
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u/Vikingkrautm 16d ago
I drive a 2017 Ford Fiesta and my automatic lights only come on when it's pitch black, like my garage. I wonder if there's a way to change the sensitivity?
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u/Over_Walk_8911 16d ago edited 16d ago
all the ones I have a problem with believe their "daytime running lights" are good enough, even when I explain to them that has no rear lights on, they don't believe or don't care
all the ones ive driven with automatic lights it made me decide not to leave it on for several reasons
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u/6inarowmakesitgo 16d ago
Most of the people you share the road with are dumber than a wooden post. They don’t use their signal. They don’t read road signs. They don’t read their owners manual. They cannot change a spare tire. They do not know what a following distance is. They do not know how to yield or who has the right of way. They do not brush their windows off. I can keep going but, this covers it for now.
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u/Expensive-Analysis-2 16d ago
Good God! Don't tell me these people may have to engage their brains and do something as complicated as switching their lights on themselves 😱.
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u/SKATTESTYRELSEN_DK 16d ago
"Automatic headlights" is a switch controlled by a sensor measuring light, or lack thereof. Since fog in the daytime is a visibility due to lack of clarity not lack of light, that sensor doesn't trigger! Also, these are absolutely idiotic drivers!
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u/That1guywhere 16d ago
I can't believe "Car in Drive = Headlights on" isn't a regulation yet, with all the other safety requirements out there. (blind zone detection, TPMS, backup camera, seatbelt reminder, etc)
Or even why manufacturers don't do that by default. Toyota has been dealing with this for years, where the front running lights are on, but rear taillights aren't.
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u/Brief_Pay_5193 16d ago
Just another failure in the “responsibility department” I know people forget …. But when you / i / we come to expect everything to be done automatically …. We think nothing of doing some things manually again like the good ole days… turn on them lights and hit the dimmer switch on the floorboard . 🙂
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u/edmunek 16d ago
you are missing the point that sensor would change (in many situations) to switch on the lights. the problem is that these are the type of people that wouldn't leave the switch in auto. same as driving in almost pitch black only with front drl led.
sadly know (in person) too many of them
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u/BMW_wulfi 16d ago
Also - some people drive around with them set to ‘off’ manually for whatever fucking reason.
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u/Medical_Boss_6247 16d ago
Auto headlights are based on a light sensor. Fog does not make the streets dark enough to trip the sensor
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u/Martyness 16d ago
They do work in the fog but these are the people who have taken them off of the automatic setting and seem to think that the daytime running lights are good enough in all weather conditions.
The number of people I've seen with no lights on while on the motorway in torrential rain to the point you can barely see in front of you is ridiculous. To make it worse flashing the headlights or the hazards doesn't even make the majority of them put their lights on (I say the majority as I have had a few drivers put their lights on after passing them and flashing the hazards)
What they seem to forget though is that if someone goes into the back of them because they don't have their lights on in bad weather conditions their insurance will be void and refuse to pay out. Not a risk worth taking with the number of people with dash cams.
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u/Civil_Kangaroo9376 16d ago
We had thick fog one time and I waited to turn right. All clear so I go and all the sudden some late 90s Honda is up my ass honking. The guy pulls up next to me and the passenger is swearing at me like crazy. I am telling back turn on your headlights, idiot. Driver realized they were off, turned them on and started telling his passenger to calm down before I drove off. Idiots.
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u/Imightbenormal 16d ago
Yepp. And in heavy snow too.
In EU they allowed cars to have their rear lights turned off since 2011 on new cars. Very nice to meet them on a snowy day.
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u/Meal_Team69 16d ago
Well.... aren't you supposed to use fog lights instead of headlights with fog?
Or is my driver training obsolete
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u/2-StrokeToro 16d ago
Or just stop using DRLs and go back to manually turning your lights on and off with a plunger switch.
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u/GenesisNemesis17 16d ago
Why dont cars just have headlights and taillights that stay on all the time? I see brand new Lexus's driving around without even DRLs on. I like how my Mazda is set up. It doesn't have auto headlights, but the headlights auto turn off when the car isn't running. So I leave them in the on position all the time. My dad's 2024 Toyota Rav4 doesn't have this auto shutoff feature, no auto headlights, and no auto drl. Makes no sense.
My Tesla has auto headlights and also turns the headlights on any time the windshield wipers are activated.
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u/tidyshark12 15d ago
Many newer vehicles automatically turn your headlights off when you turn the car off. Even if they don't and you have to turn them off manually....
You are vastly increasing the chance that you are seen, even in daylight, with your headlights on. Just leave them on when you're driving. Makes no sense not to have them on anytime the vehicle is in motion.
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u/Crazy_Feed7365 15d ago
Some “auto” headlights do not turn on the tail lights. I know in my 19 transit they wouldn’t turn on but in my 23 transit they do.
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u/Radiant-Camel-8982 15d ago
The issue is that people rely on automatic shit. What if your little sensor goes bad? Use the fucking switch yourself. Especially on newer cars, like my and my wife's Toyota vehicles. Leave the headlights on. They shut off about 5 minutes after you shut the car off. I'd rather have my headlights always on anyway.
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u/GamingwithADD 15d ago
They might not be automatic.
I have no choice but to have headlights on even though I’m one of the few people who exist today that understand their primary use.
People drive around at 6:30am with no lights on because THEY can see.
But I get stuck with the idiot proof car lol
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u/akotski1338 15d ago
Well older cars have no day time running lights at all so it’s still something
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u/johnB1711 15d ago
Highway Code rule 226 says you must use your headlights where there’s poor visibility. The penalty notice is given to the driver and you can’t get off by saying it’s the cars fault for not switching the headlights on
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u/Puzzleheaded-Yak1986 15d ago
I disconnected my DRL in my Subaru because I’ve read there are no benefits to having them on plus it will burn out your bulbs quicker.
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u/MagicTriton 15d ago
Nope and they don’t work in heavy rain either and people is too fucking lazy and dumb to look at their dash and understand that so you end up driving on a motorway full of people with no lights on at all if not for the DRL which are useless at best in those cases
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u/TheClimbingBeard 15d ago
I've also noticed an issue with the 'always on day lights', which in some vehicles are the main front lamps, but they don't have any rear lights on. Folk can see where they're going but nobody can see them!
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u/Ok_Orchid1004 15d ago
I could also be they do not have them set to “auto”. I see this all the time in the dark with cars equipped with “daytime running lights”. The driver sees some light out in front of them and the dashboard is lit, so they think their lights are on, but they have no taillights.
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u/DylanSpaceBean 15d ago
I have a Kia Niro EV, the 3rd picture, absolutely no clue how their fog lights are on with just DRLs. My fogs only turn on when my headlights are on
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u/Lopsided-Coconut-389 15d ago
On my wrx they do except once when it was super thick and the approaching car had to be right at me for my auot high beam to change
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u/Educational_Meet1885 15d ago
My Golf and Audi only use the DTRLs in daytime fog, have to manually turn the headlights on. The Audi has manual rear fog lights but not the Golf. Both are 2018 models.
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u/th3darklady21 15d ago
They still need to actually flip the switch for auto headlights/daytime running. A lot of people don’t learn the ins and outs of their car when they buy them or read the manual. It’s also why we have a lot of terrible drivers on the road.
I know when I take my car in for routine maintenance they always switch off the auto/daytime and I have to turn it back to auto.
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u/StuffNjunk486 15d ago
They don't work period. I'm just waiting for these people too lazy to turn their lights on to get hit on the highway at night.
I'll see someone going down the highway on my way to work with either only headlights on or no lights on multiply times a day.
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u/ziahwaite 15d ago
There’s something called fog lights to help see in the fog bc regular headlights don’t help. I think that’s whats happening, only their fog lights are on
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u/tailskirby 15d ago
Mine is a 2015 ford fusion hybrid and it does not turn on lights during foggy weather. So I assume these are set the same way. I just manually turn my on.
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u/DangerMouse111111 15d ago
In this day and age I'm surprised there aren't sensors at the side of the road that can communicate with cars to "tell" them there's fog and either alert the driver or automatically turn on the appropriate lights. Likewise, when the fog clears, it could send a message and turn off fog lights - there are a lot of drivers around who clearly can't manage to do this on their own.
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u/Beneficial_Present98 15d ago
You have to have your headlights turned on to auto for automatic headlights to work. That tool has their lights shut off.
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u/Comfortable_Stick264 15d ago
I have to say I was one of them at one time, I checked one day and found my front lights were on but not my back , today I manually turn the lights on and off
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u/kay14jay 15d ago
Or whenever they are needed. Ofc you turn on the lights to see when it’s actually dark, don’t need a sensor to do that for us. That in between from night and day is where we need more help
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u/Kruk01 15d ago
Automatic headlights are the worst car invention. People blindly rely on them. Never turn their lights on in the rain (state law in Pa) never turn them on in the fog. All vehicles should have regular lights on all the time, (like Toyota) that turn off when you shut the engine and open the driver side door. #rant
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u/Mrbundles1987 15d ago
Must be too lazy to flip the switch two inches from your hand thats on the steering wheel….
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u/Ill_Description6258 14d ago
In 2024, I don't understand why all cars don't just have the lights on any time the car is in use...
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u/Tritec_enjoyer96 14d ago
Imagine being dumb enough to not turn on your lights manually in these weather conditions when you’re struggling to see.
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u/Feeling_Mechanic_953 14d ago
I don't have autos, and I also don't turn on my headlights for rain or fog. Know why? Because I don't care, if the fog is thick enough for me to warrant headlights, then you still won't see me until I'm 20 feet away. All of the vehicles in these photos are clearly visible.
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u/Savings-Kick-578 14d ago
I always have to remember to manually cut my lights on. Auto headlights have ruined me. I’m usually remember about halfway to where I’m going.
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u/Tinotin4 14d ago
I was sitting at an intersection in dense fog, the only person with no lights on was a cop
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u/TripleAimbot 13d ago
My 2024 Focus does recognize the fog as a "low visibility condition" and turns on the appropriate lights.
I have the matrix leg lights but i think it's the same for the standard lights as well.
I think it uses light sensors in conjuction with the camera mounted by the center mirror stand that's used for all the other assistance systems.
Probably the car in the picture only has a light sensor that doesn't trigger with the fog as it's still bright enough.
The only issue i see in those pics is (missing) driver's discipline
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u/PolaroidWave 13d ago
That’s why I don’t trust AUTO headlights. I always turn low beams on manually. Too many instances of driving in the dark with no lights on.
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u/stevekuehltruhe 16d ago
Nope. They work with a brightness sensor. Technically speaking it's "bright enough" in the fog so they don't activate.
I think for some premium cars they work in conjunction with other sensors and maybe even GPS/weather data.
Edit: But what I really find annoying is that the dtrl only light up the front LEDs and not the rear lights. I feel like that would be the bare minimum for this case.