Topic: Driving in heavy rain/low visibility

[sailor723]

I drove down to Nova Scotia yesterday in some very heavy thunder showers. At times the visibility was very poor and there was a lot of pooling water on the road where heavy truck traffic have created grooves. I noticed a couple of things....

1. Some people feel 120 is a good speed regardless of conditions 

2. Many DRL setups don't light up the tail lights. If your driving in heavy rain or fog for God's sake please turn on your headlights!

[Fobroader]

I dont understand why cars of today dont have automatic headlights or headlights that are permanently on. Since some people are too ignorant/stupid to turn their own headlights on, the manufacturers should do it for them. Hell, my 05 Altima and 06 Sierra have auto headlights....cant be that expensive or ground breaking technology.

[gotak]

I dont understand why cars of today dont have automatic headlights or headlights that are permanently on. Since some people are too ignorant/stupid to turn their own headlights on, the manufacturers should do it for them. Hell, my 05 Altima and 06 Sierra have auto headlights....cant be that expensive or ground breaking technology.

Auto head lights only turn on when it's dark. When there's a lot of spray during the day you still want your tail lights on so people know you are there. Auto head lights aren't going to help unless they come on when the wipers come on (which they should I guess!).

As for speeds well how many drivers do you think know what hydroplaning is?

[Fobroader]

I dont understand why cars of today dont have automatic headlights or headlights that are permanently on. Since some people are too ignorant/stupid to turn their own headlights on, the manufacturers should do it for them. Hell, my 05 Altima and 06 Sierra have auto headlights....cant be that expensive or ground breaking technology.

Auto head lights only turn on when it's dark. When there's a lot of spray during the day you still want your tail lights on so people know you are there. Auto head lights aren't going to help unless they come on when the wipers come on (which they should I guess!).

As for speeds well how many drivers do you think know what hydroplaning is?

I think most people would have no idea what that term means or that its even an actual thing that can happen. The headlights on my truck would come on if I hit a rainstorm, they were quite sensitive.

[my2cents]

It's par for the course here in the never-ending rain.

Some roads have dips that fill with 4 or 5 inches of water. Cars and trucks throw a bathtub of water on each other.The freeway has low spots and people will hydoplane sooner or later.

Some of the freeway exits are under a foot of water which can be a surprise. Eventually there a 10 cars stuck and waiting for a tow. Sucking a gallon of water into the intake and blowing the head off isn't a good thing.

It's nice to have AWD and ground clearance.

[wing]

The US legislation of wipers on == lights on is coming soon.

Chryslers are starting to have them now.

[quadzilla]

The US legislation of wipers on == lights on is coming soon.

I think some individual State already have this law but good to know it will be country wide, we should also do it.

[tpl]

I once aquaplanes in an A4 Quattro...driving too fast and hit a big puddle in the fast lane of the DVP.   Quite unnerving as the front wheels lost traction and the engine tried to speed them up while the Torsen was busily doing its best to shuttle more power to the rear.   Felt very strange for just a second ( if that) until the front wheels cleared the puddle and regained traction. It happened too fast for me to do anything stupis like hit the brakes or turn the wheel.
I have encountered aquaplaning before back in the days of bias tires and English cars...nasty stuff and it is amazing the difference in tire capabilities nowadays when it comes to getting water out from under the tread.

[blotter]

2. Many DRL setups don't light up the tail lights. If your driving in heavy rain or fog for God's sake please turn on your headlights!

NOTHING pisses me off more than this!
and not just in rain, not sure how many mornings on my way to work i see people driving with no lights.
in the winter it's darn out still and they still don't turn on their flipping lights!

if they can see the speedometer they don't think of turning the lights on.
coming home last Satuday from Toronto some genius in a Hyundai Elantra flew by in the rain at about 115km/h with no lights on.

[Ex-airbalancer]

Is there any car that the rear lights come on with the drl?

[sailor723]

Is there any car that the rear lights come on with the drl?

Both the ML and the 328 do.

[Ex-airbalancer]

Is there any car that the rear lights come on with the drl?

Both the ML and the 328 do.

Is there cars that are not FGC that the rear light come on with the drl 

[Firm]

I know Mercedes and Jaguars do.

[mmret]

FBC...oh god.

[sailor723]

FBC...oh god.

No, That's FIC 

[wing]

Hyundai -- at least the older ones did, not sure about the newer ones.

[Black Hatch]

The CX-5 has an auto-head light button but it seems like it has to be almost pitch dark before it turns on.
Is there a way to change the "light" sensitivity so it can turn on when its abit lighter.

I just turn it to "on" most of the time.

[PJungnitsch]

Find the light sensor and reduce the light it gets. On my Vibe the sensor is on the dash, facing the windshield. I taped it over completely as I wanted the lights on all the time but still shutting off with the key.

[wing]

Dealer can probably change the sensitivity.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

[sailor723]

Auto headlights on the Benz are weird. They work fine but don't allow you to flip the lights to highbeam. You have to manually turn the light switch from "auto" to "on" for the highbeams to work.