Miata Mailing List: July 1999, Message #2129

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At 7/16/99 09:27 AM -0400, Sherman P. David MSM BWPO US wrote:

>You may want to stop by this web site:
>
>http://www.lightsout.org/

I have read (and re-read) everything the author of the page has 
said.  Sadly, I must disagree with most of what he/she says.  I am a strong 
proponent of **properly** installed DRLs.

I will agree that driver education is key, but this is a real world we live 
in and given reality, we must also protect us from those who aren't as keen 
as we.  And some people must be protected from themselves.  That's why we 
have laws, some of which seem ridiculous.  Take speed limits.  A nice 
stretch of 4-lane divided highway, straight for 5 miles with great 
visibility.  What is the posted speed?  35 MPH!!  Why so slow, when you, as 
an experienced performance car driver can safely negotiate the road at 80 
MPH.  Because there are hidden dangers for the unsuspecting and novice 
driver that historically gets them in trouble.  For whatever reason, there 
have been numerous accidents, with serious injury and one death (that I 
know of) on this seeming benign stretch of highway.  All more than 90% of 
the accidents involved people who have had their license less than 5 years!

As for profiteering on DRL's.  I do think GM has done a pretty good job in 
that arena.  No further opinions from me on that.

The author also said that DRL's were created because of a lighting 
deficiency.  While this may be true in the northern-most Scandinavian 
countries, it was *not* the premise for the use in the US.  DRL's on cars 
was conceived because of the use of the headlights on motorcycles.  _To be 
seen_, not to see better in lower ambient light.  As a side note though, I 
guess the author doesn't drive at dusk or dawn, which are the most 
difficult times to see other vehicles.  He/she tries to imply that the 
Scandinavian darkness, dusk and dawn are different than ours.  Well, we 
share the same sun, the same sunlight, and have all the same 
problems.  Night is night.  Just that we don't have as much of it.

The author says that there is no evidence that DRL's are effective in 
bright sunlight.  Again, one only needs to look at the statistics in states 
that mandate headlight usage on motorcycles.  There is a section of highly 
traveled roadway in New Hampshire (Rte 101) that travels east and west from 
Concord to Hampton Beach (on the coast).  The state at one time mandated 
that all vehicles traveling on that stretch of highway MUST use headlights 
no matter what time it is.  Now, it is no longer mandated, but _strongly_ 
recommended.  There are even signs to that effect posted conspicuously 
along the road reminding drivers to turn on their headlights.  Why?  So 
they can be seen, not so they can see the road any better.

I can go on and on, but I don't want to write a tome and take up all the 
bandwidth.  However, this is a hot topic in the legislatures all the 
time.  It will continue to be discussed far into the 21st century, which 
doesn't start until January first in the year Two Thousand and ONE.


Paul
mailto:williamp@bit-net.com
Merrimack, NH
Home of the "Screamer" (99 Silver TP)
and "Miss Piggy" (33' Georgie Boy Pursuit Motorhome)
MCA, Granite Chapter   PCA, Noreaster Chapter
Please visit http://www.bit-net.com/~williamp

"I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol."