this has had me scratching my head for a few weeks now and i'm hoping somebody here can enlighten me.

with the current sublime weather we are experiencing and the long bright days we have accompanying that, i am wondering why on earth people drive round with their full headlights on at all times of the day?

i'm not talking about 9-10 pm where it will be getting dusk, i'm talking about morning, midday, afternoon and evenings, you know, when it's really bright and warm out.

Volvo's i appreciate always have their lights on and Italian law states cars must always drive round with dipped headlights, so i'll let some italian cars off. But many times i've been in front of things like BMW X3/5's with their headlights fully on in the middle of the day, same with many other cars VW Golf/polo's, Vauxhall Zafira's, Audi A5's, Mini's, BMW's of all makes, even Nissan Micra's.

i'm not having a moan, it's up to others if they want to have their headlights on in the middle of the day, i would just like some explanation as to why people do it... it's one of them little things that i just can't get my head around. i must not be the only one... surely?

can anyone explain? please...

When that day comes when you pulled out anddid not see that car, you will have wished they had headlights on then. You can be the best observational driver but even the best dont always see the car that clips them. I think headlights, dipped beam that is, should always be on. I personally put them on at the slightest dull day. Probably would not have had them on today like lol. The annoying thing is when they are not adjusted properly though. Former driving instructor here and motorcyclist.

Totally agree, here in NA, they come on standard for the last 4 years on new cars.

A little info
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/safety/daytime-running-lights.html

accept they MAY help see a car, but if you can't see 1 and a half to 2 tonnes of big shiny metal thing then perhaps it's time to have your eyes tested.

ok at night, you can see when a car is coming because you can see the lights first, but i'm questioning the use of them in bright, almost blinding, sunlight.

motorbikes fine yes, i know they always have headlights on and that's fine with me.

it's the ones in their chelsea tractors who drive a foot from your back bumper with their lights fully on and as i have a fairly low car, all i get in my rearview is a bright set of headlights which is both distracting and annoying. I recall one day last week when a range rover was behind me with it's FULL BEAM on (possibly by accident, hopefully by accident!) and i was blinded by it as it was perfect height for my rear window into my rear view mirror, even the little switch for anti-glare didn't do much to help me. Xenon's at full beam are quite bright. i ended up having to pull over and just let them go ahead. i couldn't really believe it...

wondered what they were for, but they cause me no stress, well maybe a little but won't in future now i know what they are. i mean the people with obvious side or headlights on. maybe it's me. but i just don't get it.

I wonder why so many people drive with fog lights on when there is no fog.

because they don't know they are on and don't understand the light switches in the car

"LOOK AT MEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! I have a BMW X5 and you don't!"

It's just pathetic willy-waving.

My car has "driving lights" they are LED strips that run in the bumper. As fad as I'm aware they are always on unless I turn my lights to manual mode. Much prefer auto lights though, most new cars have them. Mine is a willy waving Merc.

So much fiction in this thread, don't even know where to start.

Anyway, headlights on all the time for me, leave the switch turned to on and they go off and on with the engine.

A) my car has horrendous yellow daytime running lights which go off with dipped beam. I prefer the xenon lamps to the DRL.

B) if it means there's a 1% chance that one of the mongs that drive on our roads spot me then it's worth it.

Wouldn't mind a decent willy to wave never mind a bmw

My car has auto on/off headlights and on a sunny day if I drive through a very shaded area they switch on, not on dipped but main headlight, it can take far too long at times for them to switch off again automatically. Maybe that's the reason?

If your main beam come on automatically then they're broken.

I can say without any hesitation that it's your dipped beam that come on.

I guess there are a few reasons why people drive with their headlights on in the day, my guesses would be...

1 - Lazyness, people leave them on, so they come on / off with the engine. New cars often have illuminated dash boards all the time, and at night if they are one you could be left to think your lights are also on as in the past dash lights come on with the head lights - having them on all the time stops you forgetting to turn them on.

2 - Visibility. Better to be to visible than not. Just the posting of this thread suggests you have noticed these car more than others which isnt a bad thing

Main beam rather than high beam is what I meant

i'd still have noticed because i'm not blind... i'm just really curious as to why people consciously drive round with headlights on in the middle of a very bright, perfect, sunny summer's day!

Yeah, and now you've been told.

Next...

Also, if you ask any biker, they consiously run in daylight with headlights on to be more visable.

If people want to do that in cars, fine by me

no... there's more than one reason and i doubt it's to be seen better. i mean if you feel the need to be more visable when you're driving round in 2 tonnes of shiny metal thing then you have problems. especially when you're behind me shining your xenons straight into my eyes via the rearview mirror, i don't appreciate it tbh.

and don't be so cheeky.

I prefer to have my man Grimsdyke walk in front with a red flag. Much safer.

People crash in to buses, trains, lorries, and they are all more easy to spot than a car

I suspect all the suggestions have probably now been exhausted - maybe stop the next person you see with lights on and ask

I am pleased to hear that Grimsdyke has found employment with your good self Tatey. I had to let him go after that unsavoury incident with the Scullery Maid behind the West Lodge Kennels.

I hope you are not putting too much Carbide in those headlamps of yours old chap. You don't want to cause any inconvenience to other automobilists on the highway do you?

See you at the club Tatey !

Don't worry Stuy, it's an "in" joke with Tatey (and I'm off my meds.)