Oregon

Don’t all new cars have daytime running lights? I thought that was now standard. Hell, I thought it was required.

That’s a requirement for cars sold in Canada, though I still see cars with their lights off frequently.

Some countries have mandatory daytime running light (like Canada). I had an inspection on a 25+ years old car and had to Mumbo-Jumbo some relays in there to have my fog lights turn on when the car's running but back to manual if my headlights were on.

I drive a school bus and we're required by law to have our headlights and running/clearance/identification lamps on at all times. So why in the fuck do buses even have a switch for that shit that we have to remember to flick on every time we start the bus?

Totally. I don't know if semis are as susceptible to hydroplaning as cars, but I had an awful hydroplaning incident 15 years ago that still scares me. Regained control after what felt like hours of fishtailing.

This goes for signals too. Don't turn it on when you're already turning

Old cars had old-school bulbs and no sensors, so the driver, not wanting to waste bulb lifespan, was responsible for.using them when they needed them.

Modern cars with LEDs don't have the usage problem, but some cheaper models don't have sensors.

Anyway a modern car has no reason not to be have them on, unless you were parking or something and didn't want to blind people seated nearby, but that's a very specific edge case.

For the life of me, I can't figure out the thought process behind DRLs.

Let's create a separate set of headlights that are always on for safety and visibility... They won't be quite as bright as actual headlights, but they are bright enough that you might think you have your headlights on. Oh, and no tail lights for some reason!

Even my 2013 with headlights that turn off automatically when they are in the ON and the car is shut off, still insists I'm supposed to use the AUTO mode which only activates in low light.

Nothing about about it makes any logical or safety sense. There is zero reason whatsoever that the standard for 30 years hasn't been for all standard lights to be on whenever the engine is running, with the specific option to turn them off if desired.

why don't your politicians pass a law that makes them mandatory to be turned on at all times?

it has been like that in the EU for fuck knows how long.

whether it's raining, snowing or sun shining, you turn on your lights.

newer cars (read almost 10 years old by now) have special front leds that are always on as that meets regulation.

personally I have an almost 10 year old car and it automatically switched between he daylight running lights and the normal headlights

older cars simply have to have their headlights turned on all the time.

Daytime running lights are mandatory in Canada, unfortunately your politicians are unable to pass useful legislation if it can't be played for votes

Passenger seats are a thing

Person violating dot rules and just risked their commercial license.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/driver-safety/distracted-driving/mobile-phone-restrictions-fact-sheet

It's really dumb that automatic windshield wipers dont also turn on the automatic headlights.

It's your responsibility, not the car.