Re: Full-time headlamps stupid!

[es61@prism.gatech.edu (Eric Schumacher)]

BRAVO!!!!!

IF WE DON'T THINK FOR OURSELVES, SOMEONE ELSE WILL THINK FOR US.
IF WE THINK FOR OURSELVES, WE CAN PREVENT SOMEONE ELSE THINKING FOR US.

Eric> 
> I was trying to avoid the subject, but....... > > Comment on our
society: > You know, it's only my opinion, but I feel that if the
government of the > USA spent more time and money teaching people HOW TO
DRIVE and less time > trying legislate mandatory safety features that
protect people in > accidents we might just be better off.  I do realize
that accidents are > just that - accidental.  They do happen.  But I feel
they would happen a > LOT less frequently if people were TAUGHT to drive
with the other guy in > mind.  The rest of y'all know what I'm talking
about.  You can tell the > drivers from the "get there" folks.  Drivers do
things like: > 1. use signals for lane changes and turns > 2. flick lights
to let someone over on the interstate > 3. stay in the right lane AS MUCH
AS POSSIBLE > 4. speed up to get on over if clogging the left lane > 5.
make sure their car stays in good shape > 6. look for oncoming headlights
so they can turn off > their high beams before the other car gets blinded
> 7. adjust fog lights to correct level > 8. keep track of traffic in rear
view mirror > You get the idea.  Any other drivers out there?  OK, enough
social > commentary. > > Stuff like air bags - sure they do a great job,
and with the new Audi > Sport steering wheel, they're unobtrusive.  But
come on, daytime running > lights?!!!  Next thing you know they'll be
putting speed governors on our > cars.  Why aren't anti-lock brakes
mandatory?  It's because they're too > expensive.  I don't believe in
running parking lights on the road either > (it's a different story for
y'all with nice factory fogs).  When the sun > starts to go and visibility
gets funny, my low beams come on.  Also, if > I'm taking a long trip (3 +
hours) I'll run my low beams, because I'm > gonna be on the interstate for
a long time.  But I reach over and flip a > switch.  I agree with Daniel
that headlights in the day aren't > intrinsically a bad idea.  But why
can't we just reach over and flip the > switch.  Really headlights are
really dumb-looking in bright sunshine.  > Again, if you train people to
turn headlights on when visibility is low, > you've served the purpose and
made those people a little more aware of > what's going on around them. 
Ultimately, I (as a driver) am in control > of my car.  It's possible that
"get there" folks will take comfort in the > fact that they have anti-lock
brakes, air bags everywhere (roof?), > daytime running lights, etc, etc
and actually be much less concerned > with what's going on around them.  >
> Jeremy R. King > 1986 VW Quantum GL5 > Audi at Heart > > On Sat, 18 Nov
1995, Daniel Hussey wrote: > > > OK, am I the only one here that thinks
that driving around in the daytime > > with your headlamps on is stupid? 
I don't think I'm the only one.  I guess > > I'm not really against DRLs
so much as not having the option of turning them of > > f....I think that
is stupid!  What if I don't want them on....tough luck, huh? > > Another
stupid safety feature imposed on us.  GM now uses them in all thier che >
> esy cars and all those cheesy people use them.
>