r/Cartalk 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/VegetableRetardo69 16d ago

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

3

u/HanzG 16d ago

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

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u/scsibusfault 16d ago

'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.

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u/HanzG 16d ago

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.

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u/scsibusfault 15d ago

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.