[Vwdiesel] DRL debate

[Scott Kair]

    >>I do agree with the philosophy of "If I want my headlights on, I will
turn
them on myself, thank you." because for me, its quite simply ALL the time.
I
just worry about remembering to "turn them_off_myself, thank you." ; ) <<

    If one of the complacent ones pulls out in front of you and your lights
are on, the investigating officer may view your situation more favorably.
Certainly a jury will, unless you live in one of those states where "tort
reform" has denied you access to remedy through due process. (We tend to
hate lawyers until someone screws us.)
    I've seen inexpensive retrofit reminder chimes at Walmart that are
wired to the headlight circuit and make an obnoxious noise when the ignition
is switched off with the light switch on.  OTOH, in my A2, if I leave the
switch on, the head and taillights switch off, leaving only parking and
marker lights on.  I did that about a month ago at a meeting and didn't
catch it for 4 hours.  Car still started right off, but I wouldn't recommend
duplicating the experiment.
    While it's not required by statute, the local schools are teaching
drivers ed students to turn the headlights on when they start the car as a
lesson in mindfullness and awareness.  The act, rather than the effect,
seems to achieve the desired end.
    As to the complacent ones, and allowing folks with 20/50 vision to
drive, that results from accepting that driving is an asserted right, rather
than a privilege that can be revoked for incompetence or negligence.
There's also the problem that any of us who've done a cold shift from 1st to
2nd from a stoplight in winter have experienced- the "get out of my way, I'm
in a hurry and special" syndrome, which often afflicts those who try to
drive while talking on a cell phone with one hand and drinking a cup of
coffee with the other.
    It becomes quite apparent when driving an unarmored piece of roadway
maintenance equipment.  The sweeper I operate is 12' tall, weighs 15 tons,
has a rotating beacon on top, two strobes on the rear sides, and an orange
slow moving vehicle triangle.  If I had a dollar for every time I've seen
someone slide under the rear view mirror dropping a phone, spilling coffee,
and mouthing "Oh, sh*t," we'd be having our convention next week.  Oddly
enough, I've never had this problem when driving our Cat 928F end loader,
which is easily recognized as a battering ram.
    This may be of interest to James' wife:  this year we got a new shipment
of reflective safety vests for right-of-way work.  We discovered that if the
crew mixes wearing the old blaze orange and the new radioactive-pee yellow
vests, people actually take notice and slow down.  Saves them from getting
shovels through their windshields.  :)
    Scott Kair