Miata Mailing List: February 1995, Message #34
sponsored by



     


   From: drhodes@hercules.com (Dylan Rhodes)
Subject: Re: Canadian Running Lights
   Date: Wed, 1 Feb 1995 12:52:08 -0500

[snip]
>...One could not legally drive with only the parking lights
>on.  Either it was sufficiently bright and/or visibility was sufficiently
>good that no lights were needed, or you used your full headlights.  I gather
>the reason for this was to prevent people from using only the parking lights
>in extremely poor or dark conditions, but I'm not sure.

That's my philosophy, as well.  The only time you'd want to have your
running lights on is to help other drivers see you when visibility is poor.
If conditions are such that you're in danger of not being seen, why not use
your headlights, as well?  You're certainly not going to blind anybody.
You're somewhat less aerodynamic, but I'll take a higher drag coefficent
over an increased risk of being killed every time.  It's just like
signalling every time you change lanes on the freeway -- it's extra effort,
but it might save your life.  

So, my question is this: why do California-spec cars have a position for
"running lights only" on the light switch?

= Dylan Rhodes: Product Manager, Hercules Computer Technology
= drhodes@hercules.com         http://www.dnai.com/~hercules/