Has automation in the automotive industry made drivers lazy?

It's been a beautiful summer here in the UK this year. We've been treated to day after day of blue sky and sunshine making the commute to work an absolute dream. 

However, I woke up the other morning to find the world wrapped in a thick blanket of mist and fog for the first time in what feels like a decade (but in reality is probably only a few months Blush)

So, on the commute to work that morning, I popped on my fog lights (both back and front) while driving along the country road that winds from my village and out to the main highway to help my fellow travellers see me in this fog soup, only to come up rapidly behind a small silver grey Peugeot with no lights on! Then on the other side of the carriageway, more cars coming head on out of the mist with again with no lights on... Fearful

I would safely estimate that 3 out of every 10 cars I encountered on my journey into work that morning through the thick fog and mist, was not sporting any lights on their car at all let alone the very useful fog lights that are purpose made for driving in situations of reduced visibility.

I'm aware that many modern cars have automatic lights that come on when light levels are low BUT I'm finding that many drivers are not taking matters into their own hands when it comes to deciding when their car lights should actually be illuminated. Again the other day the sky went black and there was a sudden downpour on the way home from work and again, many drivers did not have their lights on probably opting for the decision to be taken by the onboard light sensors instead. 

A friend of mine also has automatic main beam on her car so she doesn't have to decide when to use it and when not to. The car makes that decision for her. 

It got me thinking... have we gone too far with automation in vehicles? Should we be encouraging drivers to make more decisions for themselves when behind the wheel of their car? Have we in fact through automation, removed too much responsibility from the driver themselves? 

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  • We've had some miserable weather in my area of the world for the last few weeks with the commute both to and from work in either sudden downpours or thick to moderate fog and yet again the number of drivers driving around without their lights on (specifically rear lights) astounds me! Today has been no exception with thick fog blanketing the commute to Stevenage and a count of at least 25-30 cars on the 15 mile journey with no rear lights on! 

    I don't understand why daytime running lights aren't also applied to the rear lights of cars too? 

  • That is one of my pet hates.

    Volvo brought day light running lights to the UK several decades ago with lights front and back, however these days lights on new cars are more about making a design statement than practicalities. 

  • more about making a design statement than practicalities.

    That's very true  ! 

    Can't remember which make they are but there's one car that has the indicator light in the centre of a circular rear light which is completely useless as you just can't see an orange flashing light in the centre of the red rear lights when they're switched on. And why does a car need six lights on the front? And what are those ridiculous 'Knight Rider' style rear lights all about? 'Style over substance' comes to mind!

    And don't get me started on the piercingly bright and blinding headlights that some cars now have too. Angry "Yup as long as I can see where I'm going I don't care that I'm blinding all other road users!"  Rage

  • I don't understand why daytime running lights aren't also applied to the rear lights of cars too?

    Probably the same idiots who turn on their fog lights in heavy rain!

    I think that my car's rear lights are on during normal running, but it is too dark to check right now. Everything else save for the rear fog light is automated, but can be overridden. There is no off position on the light switch.

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  • I don't understand why daytime running lights aren't also applied to the rear lights of cars too?

    Probably the same idiots who turn on their fog lights in heavy rain!

    I think that my car's rear lights are on during normal running, but it is too dark to check right now. Everything else save for the rear fog light is automated, but can be overridden. There is no off position on the light switch.

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