Massachusetts now a "Headlights on when wipers on" state

[briantroutman]

My car came with wiper headlight integration standard. I can just put my headlights on "auto" and they will turn on automatically at a certain brightness level and also when wipers are in use. I thought this was the case on most recent models. It's very convenient and there's nothing to remember.

I'm curious–what make and model of car? Will the headlights come on if you use the "mist"  or "wipe once"  setting?

My car (a Toyota Matrix) has both DRLs and undefeatable automatic headlights, and overcast or rainy skies are typically enough to cause the headlights to illuminate. That's without any kind of headlight-wiper integration, but in practice, the setup works almost the same.

I probably drive more miles in rentals each year than in my own car, and I'm astounded at how many new cars have neither DRLs nor automatic headlights.

[bzakharin]

My car came with wiper headlight integration standard. I can just put my headlights on "auto" and they will turn on automatically at a certain brightness level and also when wipers are in use. I thought this was the case on most recent models. It's very convenient and there's nothing to remember.

I’m curious—what make and model of car? Will the headlights come on if you use the “mist” or “wipe once” setting?

My car (a Toyota Matrix) has both DRLs and undefeatable automatic headlights, and overcast or rainy skies are typically enough to cause the headlights to illuminate. That’s without any kind of headlight-wiper integration, but in practice, the setup works almost the same.

I probably drive more miles in rentals each year than in my own car, and I’m astounded at how many new cars have neither DRLs nor automatic headlights.

2013 Honda Accord. The headlights do not come on when I mist or wipe once. The manual says they come on when you wipe a certain number of times during a period of time without being specific, so I suppose if I wipe once continuously they might come on. Never tried it. They come on only after about 3 minutes of use, so I suppose I am technically breaking the law for that period of time.

They don't come on when it's overcast during daytime unless it's one of those really dark storm clouds, and I've noticed that when the sun is about to set they actually come on earlier when it's clear than when it's cloudy (but not very dark). Don't know why.

[vdeane]

I'd prefer it if the laws were "headlights on when visibility is reduced".  "When wipers on" technically includes using the washer fluid to remove dirt or bugs from the windshield (or water splashed on from a puddle), and once in a blue moon, there's a rain storm where it's bright and sunny.  Seriously, it's really annoying to have to turn my headlights on when visibility is fine, as my dash dims to near invisibility when the headlights are on.

I feel like you've mentioned this before- Have you tried adjusting the dimmer switch on your dashboard? If I recall right, you drive a newish Civic- with your headlights on, twist the knob that you'd normally push to reset your trip odometer (there might be a second knob that looks like it, don't really remember).

Interesting.  As it so happens, my Accord had a button with the same symbol and my parents and I never figured out what it did.

There is indeed a second button/knob - it switches all unit-based measurements (speedometer, odometer, gas mileage, etc.) between US and metric.

[kphoger]

I usually drive in the rain with my headlights on but not my wipers. I actually find the wipers' track more distracting than the rain drops in light to moderate rainfall, especially if I've been using fluid with RainX in it.

Take that, coppers!

[Pete from Boston]

Field report: 80-90% apparent compliance today, estimated only when I thought of it.  About the same as before the law.

[kphoger]

I think it would be cool if compliance were checked by roadside police officers who then radioed in offenders to helicopter crews who would immediately shoot the cars with Calvin and Hobbs-esque death rays.

yeesh..

[Buffaboy]

I actually drove past 2 cops in a span of 30 seconds rushing for a train, in the rain, with wipers on and lights off. I then realized I made a mistake.

[JKRhodes]

I think it would be cool if compliance were checked by roadside police officers who then radioed in offenders to helicopter crews who would immediately shoot the cars with Calvin and Hobbs-esque death rays.

yeesh..

I agree, it's a small price to pay to keep people safe.

[Flyer78]

I'm curious–what make and model of car? Will the headlights come on if you use the "mist"  or "wipe once"  setting?

I had a 2012 GMC Terrain that had DRLs and would auto headlights. If the wipers were used in any constant speed, the lights would turn on fairly quickly. If I was using an intermittent wipe, it would take longer, but eventually switch to full-power.

I now drive a 2014 Ford Fusion that has DRLs, auto headlamps, as well as auto wipers (which replaces the intermittent setting). Same concept, however-- if I (manually) engage a constant-on wiper speed, they come on within a few seconds; if the wipers activate in auto mode, it will again take some time before the headlights will switch to full power.

Something I've noticed in many cars (including my Fusion) is that a DRL headlamp will turn off when a turn signal is activated. On fancier cars, this may be caused by dual-color LEDs used for this purpose -- the white bar turns off, replaced with a flashing yellow signal (think Audi) In my Fusion, the lamps are all halogen, but a similar behavior occurs when signaling.

[kkt]

I don't understand DRL.  If you want to be seen, wouldn't full strength headlights be even more important in the daytime than they are at night?

[briantroutman]

I don't understand DRL.  If you want to be seen, wouldn't full strength headlights be even more important in the daytime than they are at night?

Of course one advantage of having a built-in, automatic DRL system is that it makes their use compulsory. There's no chance of forgetting to turn them on.

But getting to the issue of DRLs having discrete bulbs rather than just sharing a headlight bulb (which seems to be what you're getting at)–I believe it's a matter of beam pattern vs. intensity. Low beams are designed to illuminate the road in front of you while avoiding oncoming motorists as much as possible. You want to do the opposite with DRL...hit other motorists with the beam head-on, but do so at a low intensity that will not be blinding or irritating. Some DRL systems have used the high beams at much lower intensity, which basically accomplishes the same thing.

As vehicle lighting systems become more advanced and add features that automatically compensate for oncoming motorists, curves in the road, etc., and as the cost of LEDs continues to plummet, adding a relatively cheap array of LEDs to serve as DRLs is a fairly easy addition for an automaker.

[roadman]

I think it would be cool if compliance were checked by roadside police officers who then radioed in offenders to helicopter crews who would immediately shoot the cars with Calvin and Hobbs-esque death rays.

yeesh..

"Death ray my foot!  It doesn't even stun them!"

From an old Charles Addams cartoon.

[storm2k]

My car came with wiper headlight integration standard. I can just put my headlights on "auto" and they will turn on automatically at a certain brightness level and also when wipers are in use. I thought this was the case on most recent models. It's very convenient and there's nothing to remember.

I'm curious–what make and model of car? Will the headlights come on if you use the "mist"  or "wipe once"  setting?

My car (a Toyota Matrix) has both DRLs and undefeatable automatic headlights, and overcast or rainy skies are typically enough to cause the headlights to illuminate. That's without any kind of headlight-wiper integration, but in practice, the setup works almost the same.

I probably drive more miles in rentals each year than in my own car, and I'm astounded at how many new cars have neither DRLs nor automatic headlights.

I have a 2013 Altima which has automatic headlights. The lights in my car won't come on until the wipers activate 4 times, and only when using the intermittent or constant wiper settings. The mist and wipe once settings do not do anything.

[Pete from Boston]

Day 2: far lower compliance noticed, maybe 50-60%.

[vdeane]

The NMA has taken notice of the new law.  As is usual with pretty much every driving-related change these days, they're not happy.

http://blog.motorists.org/reboot-headlight-law-arbitrary-unnecessary/

[jeffandnicole]

The NMA has done some good things.  This issue though I disagree with them on. 

For the most part, the only lights the driver needs are the headlights when it's dark.  Every other light - parking, turn signals, rear lights, brake lights - are for OTHERS to see you and understand your intentions.

In the rain, having lights on further the ability for others to see you.  Just like all those other useless lights to a driver, headlights usually won't allow you to see better in the rain.  But, the headlights another opportunity for the other motorist to see you before it's too late.

[Pete from Boston]

My vehicle is grey.  I blend in with the road at a distance, never mind clouds and rain.  In fog I am death incarnate without lights.  In other words, in anything other than bright sun it's a great idea for me to have lights on.

[Henry]

If anything, I think that the "Headlights on, wipers on" rule makes sense, simply because when you use your wipers for an extended period of time, you still need something to help see the road ahead of you, which is where the headlights come into play. I wouldn't be surprised if all 50 states use this as a requirement nowadays.

[PHLBOS]

I wouldn't be surprised if all 50 states use this as a requirement nowadays.

At present, MA is the 18th state to require such; still less than half the number of states.

[vdeane]

Before this story I had assumed that it was a requirement everywhere.  Interesting that less than half of the states have it.

[Pete from Boston]

Before this story I had assumed that it was a requirement everywhere.  Interesting that less than half of the states have it.

Or, interesting that more than a third have had to legislate common sense.

[Brandon]

Before this story I had assumed that it was a requirement everywhere.  Interesting that less than half of the states have it.

Or, interesting that more than a third have had to legislate common sense.

I wish it were common sense.  But, we still have assholes who don't turn on their headlights in the fog.  And I'm talking pea fucking soup.  When you flick your lights at them to tell them to turn on their headlights, they act like morons and tap the brake instead. 

[spooky]

Before this story I had assumed that it was a requirement everywhere.  Interesting that less than half of the states have it.

Or, interesting that more than a third have had to legislate common sense.

I wish it were common sense.  But, we still have assholes who don't turn on their headlights in the fog.  And I'm talking pea fucking soup.  When you flick your lights at them to tell them to turn on their headlights, they act like morons and tap the brake instead. 

That doesn't mean it's not common sense. That just means there's a lot of assholes with no common sense.

[jeffandnicole]

Before this story I had assumed that it was a requirement everywhere.  Interesting that less than half of the states have it.

Or, interesting that more than a third have had to legislate common sense.

I wish it were common sense.  But, we still have assholes who don't turn on their headlights in the fog.  And I'm talking pea fucking soup.  When you flick your lights at them to tell them to turn on their headlights, they act like morons and tap the brake instead. 

That doesn't mean it's not common sense. That just means there's a lot of assholes with no common sense.

That's the universal sign for cops hiding in the thick layer of fog, so they slow down.

I wonder if any of them get to their destination, try to turn the headlights off, then realize their lights were off the whole time.

[kkt]

That doesn't mean it's not common sense. That just means there's a lot of assholes with no common sense.

Makes you wonder if "common sense" ought to be called something else.