Twilight driving - When exactly do you switch on your headlights

RajaTaurus · 16th February 2011, 16:04

Twilight has been one of the most accident prone period of a day in most countries. The light slowly fades away and people are reluctant or ignorant of switching on their headlights at the right time.
Myself,I switch on the headlights (in dim mode) just when the light starts to fade even though the Sunlight is still there and I can clearly see to some extent in front of my car. It is more for the drivers coming from behind to 'see' my car rather than I 'see' the road and vehicles. Though day-light headlights are a practice on freeways in US and some other countries, here it is seen as 'hey man you've forgot to switch off your headlights'!.
- Please participate in the Poll and let us see where we are in general.
- Please discuss when do you switch on and why.

dhanushs · 16th February 2011, 16:19

As soon as its 6 or dusk, I switch on my park lights. but somehow I see better without the headlights.

I switch it ON only when I find it difficult to see. but then, there is a time of day, where you cant really decide whether to turn it ON or OFF. Both are equally bad.

richie4u · 16th February 2011, 16:32

I switch on my headlights as soon as I have to stress to look infront of my car as compared to daylight driving which is I guess at around 6 in the evening. Well I believe switching your lights ON at sunset will not only benefit you but the person behind you who may not notice your car as it is getting dark and may rear end it.

pjbiju · 16th February 2011, 16:35

I have now started to turn on my parking lights on the highways during the day. While in the city, I turn on my lights as soon as the light starts fading.

vasoo · 16th February 2011, 16:40

It is always recommeded to switch on headlights whenever it appears darker than a regular day. This could be at 12 noon on an overcast day or when there is fog any time of the day. I notice many people hesitant to switch on headlights even when it is near/fully dark. They may be very confident of driving in dark but they should realize that their vehicle cannot be seen by others. It is an extremely dangerous situation. For such people, I wonder if they fear to get some "electricity bill" if they switch on their headlights.

dhanushs · 16th February 2011, 16:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by vasoo

They may be very confident of driving in dark but they should realize that their vehicle cannot be seen by others.

Doesn't the park lights serve that exact purpose?. Letting other cars know that 'I'm right here'.

nfsfreak · 16th February 2011, 16:54

I normally switch on the parking lights at dusk.
The headlights will be turned on after it gets sufficiently darker (read 10-15 mins after dusk).

kphilip · 16th February 2011, 17:00

I used to switch my park light off till i can really see the road.
Raining also will make me switch my parking lights on. If it rains heavily, the hazard lights.

bblost · 16th February 2011, 17:09

I also keep my windscreen clean at all times. The car may be dirty but the glass has to be clean. In fact if its raining when I leave, I clean it again. I keep a bottle of colin/ brisk and a rubber wipe in the car at all times for this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kphilip

Raining also will make me switch my parking lights on. If it rains heavily, the hazard lights.

As far as I know, Hazards are meant to be used when the car is parked where its not expected to be parked. They are not meant for use in a moving car.

abhinav.s · 16th February 2011, 17:13

I switch on the lights as soon as the light starts fading away. This is as mentioned for the benefit of other road users though I may be able to see the road.

RajaTaurus · 16th February 2011, 17:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by bblost

As far as I know, Hazards are meant to be used when the car is parked where its not expected to be parked. They are not meant for use in a moving car.

In addition to that if you are on a highway and suddenly you see an obstacle or accident in front of you, you suddenly slow down and switch on the Hazard lights to warn those coming behind you of the "Hazard" they are about to encounter.
Also in foggy / dusty situations, it is used to warn about the "slow moving hazard" on the road.

Bigzero · 16th February 2011, 17:29

I have different approaches for City and highway ( or in rural roads )

- once out of the cities, I usually switch on the lights early, as soon as the ambient light starts fading.

- in cities, as long as the street lights are good enough, i keep driving in parking light mode for a while longer.

I do switch on headlights when its raining heavily, and if its foggy ( I dont have separate fog lights )

I have found one strange behaviour while driving in the Mumbai Pune expressway. People switch the hazard lights on once they are in the tunnel! Quite confusing I must say.

RajaTaurus · 16th February 2011, 17:37

^^ They should switch on their 'headlights' in dim mode instead. This is normal practice and in modern cars this is automatic (On and Off) through light sensors.

akshay4587 · 16th February 2011, 18:00

Roads in chandigarh,are well lit.
So most of the times i use only the fog lamps and parking lamps

anachronix · 16th February 2011, 18:07

I keep it ON the moment the normal daylight portion starts to come down, same in the morning until I see proper sunlight with the fogs ON working more like the DRLs!

View Poll Results: Twilight Driving - When do you exactly switch on your headlights?
As soon as light starts fading away, regardless of street lights are on or not.	104	41.11%
After it becomes sufficiently dark, till then I use parking lights only.	116	45.85%
After it becomes sufficiently dark and if there is no street lights.	9	3.56%
I use it on only when I cannot see and off, until it becomes complete dark.	7	2.77%
After Sunset, regardless of the light availability.	17	6.72%
Voters: 253. You may not vote on this poll

16th February 2011, 16:04	#1
RajaTaurus Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Tenkasi, TN Posts: 1,119 Thanked: 473 Times View My Garage	Twilight driving - When exactly do you switch on your headlights Twilight has been one of the most accident prone period of a day in most countries. The light slowly fades away and people are reluctant or ignorant of switching on their headlights at the right time. Myself,I switch on the headlights (in dim mode) just when the light starts to fade even though the Sunlight is still there and I can clearly see to some extent in front of my car. It is more for the drivers coming from behind to 'see' my car rather than I 'see' the road and vehicles. Though day-light headlights are a practice on freeways in US and some other countries, here it is seen as 'hey man you've forgot to switch off your headlights'!. - Please participate in the Poll and let us see where we are in general. - Please discuss when do you switch on and why.
	() Thanks

16th February 2011, 16:19	#2
dhanushs Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 4,280 Thanked: 10,171 Times	Re: Twilight driving - When exactly do you switch on your headlights As soon as its 6 or dusk, I switch on my park lights. but somehow I see better without the headlights. I switch it ON only when I find it difficult to see. but then, there is a time of day, where you cant really decide whether to turn it ON or OFF. Both are equally bad.
	() Thanks

16th February 2011, 16:32	#3
richie4u BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Goa Posts: 614 Thanked: 411 Times View My Garage	Re: Twilight driving - When exactly do you switch on your headlights I switch on my headlights as soon as I have to stress to look infront of my car as compared to daylight driving which is I guess at around 6 in the evening. Well I believe switching your lights ON at sunset will not only benefit you but the person behind you who may not notice your car as it is getting dark and may rear end it.
	() Thanks

16th February 2011, 16:35	#4
pjbiju Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 1,357 Thanked: 1,089 Times	Re: Twilight driving - When exactly do you switch on your headlights I have now started to turn on my parking lights on the highways during the day. While in the city, I turn on my lights as soon as the light starts fading.
	() Thanks

16th February 2011, 16:40	#5
vasoo Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Memphis TN Posts: 1,039 Thanked: 246 Times View My Garage	Re: Twilight driving - When exactly do you switch on your headlights It is always recommeded to switch on headlights whenever it appears darker than a regular day. This could be at 12 noon on an overcast day or when there is fog any time of the day. I notice many people hesitant to switch on headlights even when it is near/fully dark. They may be very confident of driving in dark but they should realize that their vehicle cannot be seen by others. It is an extremely dangerous situation. For such people, I wonder if they fear to get some "electricity bill" if they switch on their headlights.
	() Thanks

16th February 2011, 16:54	#7
nfsfreak BHPian Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 330 Thanked: 139 Times	Re: Twilight driving - When exactly do you switch on your headlights I normally switch on the parking lights at dusk. The headlights will be turned on after it gets sufficiently darker (read 10-15 mins after dusk).
	() Thanks

16th February 2011, 17:00	#8
kphilip BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Cochin Posts: 333 Thanked: 6 Times	Re: Twilight driving - When exactly do you switch on your headlights I used to switch my park light off till i can really see the road. Raining also will make me switch my parking lights on. If it rains heavily, the hazard lights.
	() Thanks

16th February 2011, 17:13	#10
abhinav.s Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,774 Thanked: 1,272 Times	Re: Twilight driving - When exactly do you switch on your headlights I switch on the lights as soon as the light starts fading away. This is as mentioned for the benefit of other road users though I may be able to see the road.
	() Thanks

16th February 2011, 17:29	#12
Bigzero BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pune Posts: 447 Thanked: 522 Times	Re: Twilight driving - When exactly do you switch on your headlights I have different approaches for City and highway ( or in rural roads ) - once out of the cities, I usually switch on the lights early, as soon as the ambient light starts fading. - in cities, as long as the street lights are good enough, i keep driving in parking light mode for a while longer. I do switch on headlights when its raining heavily, and if its foggy ( I dont have separate fog lights ) I have found one strange behaviour while driving in the Mumbai Pune expressway. People switch the hazard lights on once they are in the tunnel! Quite confusing I must say.
	() Thanks

16th February 2011, 17:37	#13
RajaTaurus Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Tenkasi, TN Posts: 1,119 Thanked: 473 Times View My Garage	Re: Twilight driving - When exactly do you switch on your headlights ^^ They should switch on their 'headlights' in dim mode instead. This is normal practice and in modern cars this is automatic (On and Off) through light sensors.
	() Thanks

16th February 2011, 18:00	#14
akshay4587 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chandigarh/Mohali/Ambala Cantt Posts: 4,151 Thanked: 4,525 Times View My Garage	Re: Twilight driving - When exactly do you switch on your headlights Roads in chandigarh,are well lit. So most of the times i use only the fog lamps and parking lamps
	() Thanks

16th February 2011, 18:07	#15
anachronix Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Madras Posts: 3,286 Thanked: 1,336 Times View My Garage	Re: Twilight driving - When exactly do you switch on your headlights I keep it ON the moment the normal daylight portion starts to come down, same in the morning until I see proper sunlight with the fogs ON working more like the DRLs!
	() Thanks