Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Automatic Headlights

We had really bad fog on my drive to work today and i was surprised at the number of cars without rear lights on. I was wondering if auto lights make this more likely as you get so used to not thinking about switching them on.
My wife also had a lucky escape on her drive in the fog along the A505 near Baldock. She stopped at the back of queuing traffic due to an accident further up the road when 2 unmarked police cars came flying past at speed and crashed into the row of cars, apparently they were on driver training. It obviously hasn't been working!

Personally I dislike auto lights, auto wipers & various other bits of tech malarkey in modern tintops, I think it dulls some drivers senses, I know when it's dull & when it's raining, and at times put my lights on intentionally for high risk routes & cough, 'situations'

I have noticed that many drivers seem to disengage their lights - especially those driving grey or silver cars in fog.
I agree with cooperman - the more automatic gizmos we have the less we engage our brains and also more to go wrong - usually at great cost because dealers will not supply parts .

Quite right Jon.

We have an auto headlight option on the Mini. It was selected as soon as I discovered it and hasn't been off since in four years and 33,000 miles. The front and rear fogs are only manually selectable though with a re-assuring indication within the speedo which mimics their operation.

What I did notice in the fog today is how odd single side rear fog lights look, giving an initial impression a bulb is out. Makes me feel better about the twin fogs I engineered on the Mog despite how little I may use them.

Personally I like the automatic lights and wipers. They function well on the Jaguar and as I live in an are with lots of tunels I find the auto lights really useful.

I think the real problem is that daytime running lights are only at the front of the car. Something I have never understood. they should be front and rear.

I find the auto-lights and wipers on the MB very good but as mentioned I also do keep a good eye on them and manually turn the lights often. When you are in autumn/winter and under trees etc a black car (even that size) can disappear so I like to turn the headlights on manually. I do wish the rears were also made permanent with DLR's.

Wish they'd have automatic rear fog lights. Sick off sitting in traffic having with some idiot in front with their fog lights on.

Absolutely. After all, who’s in charge - the car or the driver.

Here’s the dilemma.......
There are too many drivers who are switched off so auto systems can compensate for them. Modern cars have a lot of driver aids and I think these influence the driver and create a feeling of the car doing so much for them. They can also distract. The abilities of the car to get them out of trouble is a bad idea. ABS, traction control will kick in to save them when their driving creates a danger?
The idea of such devices seems good and I think some are desirable. Auto fog lights that cancel when not needed is one. Indicators still on warnings after a time lag whilst in motion ( not when at stop) another. Anti tailgating warning linked to speed ( but is coupled auto braking a good thing? I have reservations). Auto dipping headlights for the forgetful.
I like the tpms on the Kia but it doesn’t replace regular checks and I can envisage drivers dropping checks and waiting for the system to tell them they have low pressure.
Do the auto systems compensate for driver inattention, laziness or do they encourage it?