‘Automatic headlights’ don’t work in fog?

[u/clynchy97]

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

[u/stevekuehltruhe]

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.

[u/joesnowblade → u/stevekuehltruhe]

Yup, my GLC 43 auto headlight work in fog as well as the Adapative Highbeam Assist

[u/VegetableRetardo69 → u/joesnowblade]

That adaptive highbeam assist sucks ass, please dont use it.

[u/HanzG → u/VegetableRetardo69]

It truly does. My new Toyota has it, responds way too late. I don't use it.

[u/scsibusfault → u/HanzG]

'19 mazda, and it's... shockingly good. They'll activate in a second if there's no cars, but anything even remotely reflective up ahead (like even some road signs) will flip them back off again. Moving from somewhere well-lit to somewhere fairly rural, I actually really like it as a feature; these windy tree-covered roads are dark af without the bright lights.

[u/HanzG → u/scsibusfault]

I'm glad to hear it. I'm didn't know my Venza had Auto-Highs, but in trying them they don't turn off nearly soon enough. I actually understand now why I'm so often blinded by Toyota & Lexus vehicles; They're using the built-in controller.

[u/scsibusfault → u/HanzG]

That sucks, honestly.

I wonder if maybe there's a sensor that's dirty, or blocked somehow. I know it's common though, I see a ton of oncoming cars that clearly auto-high and don't turn off until I'm within blinding view. I always kinda assumed they were just assholes, but it's probably likely the sensors are just crap. Oddly enough the brand new Volvo SUV we've got doesn't have it as an option. Fuckin everything else automatic, but apparently headlights are too complicated.

[u/notlitnez2000 → u/HanzG]

My 2015 Honda has auto-headlights that are adjustable for ambient light levels.

[u/VegetableRetardo69 → u/HanzG]

Idk if the mercedes has that problem, but it too will blind everyone else on the road.

Matrix and such garbage headlights are a scourge

[u/Majestic-Succotash-9 → u/VegetableRetardo69]

I have a lightbar mounted on my car for this particular reason, if you wanna shove brights in my face I bet mine is brighter, I'm so tired of people not Bing able to literally click one button to shut them off, even when warned

[u/Guuggel → u/Majestic-Succotash-9]

You are worse

[u/Majestic-Succotash-9 → u/Guuggel]

Yessir

[u/VegetableRetardo69 → u/Majestic-Succotash-9]

This is they way