[AT] driver convenience systems

Wed Jan 22 07:48:17 PST 2020

In the 70’s Chrysler had auto dimming headlights, don’t have any personal experience with them though.

Aaron Dickinson

Mason, Mi

From: Dean Vinson
Sent: ‎Wednesday‎, ‎January‎ ‎22‎, ‎2020 ‎7‎:‎07‎ ‎AM
To: Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group

I rented a car last month while visiting relatives in another state.  Toyota Camry, I think, whatever the rental place considered a “full size” car.   With the headlight switch in Auto mode, it would automatically switch the high beams on and off depending on whether oncoming car headlights were visible.   Freaked me out when it first happened.   I watched attentively for a while and it worked fine, never left the high beams on when I would have switched them off.   But I stopped using Auto mode after that and just used the normal On setting and controlled the high beams manually… too much habit, muscle memory, and lingering distrust of the new system.

As I think about it, maybe the auto bright/dim control isn’t a bad feature, since there are sure a bunch of morons out there who don’t think it’s important to switch to low beams when they’re *behind* another car.  Hopefully the technology provides that capability too…

Dean Vinson

Saint Paris, OH

From: AT [mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Aaron Dickinson
Sent: Monday, January 20, 2020 5:05 PM
To: Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Subject: Re: [AT] driver convenience systems

Rain, fog, Snow all can allow enough ambient light to fool the auto headlamps to think they are not necessary. My complaint when they first came out with daytime running lights with auto headlamps, was fear that it would make drivers lazy/ignorant about when and how to use their headlights. I have seen too many times when lights are not on or fully on when they should be. Little concerned about the driver alert systems. Surprised at the number of drivers that don’t know how to position their mirrors, or have awareness of their surroundings. Like many on the list, I drive a pickup truck often towing a trailer, be it a flatbed, travel, or enclosed. I am able to adjust my mirrors to nearly eliminate blind spots, those that remain are monitored for vehicles entering and leaving. 

Aaron Dickinson

Mason, Michigan

From: Jim Becker
Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2020 9:49 PM
To: 'Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group'
Subject: Re: [AT] tractor hauler a pain to install headlights.

Yeah, what Brian said about DRLs, except maybe not at 80%.  Automatic lights respond to light levels and should turn on both front and rear.  Most if not all also have an instrument panel indicator so the driver can tell if the automatic lights are on.  They do not know when it is raining as light levels in rain are usually above the level that turns on the lights.  It is still up to the driver to turn on lights in the rain.

Jim Becker

From: Brian VanDragt 

Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2020 8:35 PM

To: 'Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group' 

Subject: Re: [AT] tractor hauler a pain to install headlights.

I don’t know how all the auto mode lights work, but my ‘99 Chevy Tahoe has daytime running lights and no auto mode.  Daytime running lights are the front headlights only and are always on at 80% brightness whenever the engine is running and the parking brake is not set.  I don’t consider these auto mode lights.  If I want my rear lights on and the headlights up to full brightness when it is getting dark or when it is raining, I have to turn my lights on manually.  Daytime running lights are to make oncoming traffic more visible in shaded areas.

Brian

From: AT [mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] On Behalf Of Gilbert Schwartz
Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2020 9:23 PM
To: Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group; Howard Pletcher
Subject: Re: [AT] tractor hauler a pain to install headlights.

Howard, I am glad to hear that on your escape. The last four vehicles I have had would not turn on the rear lights when the auto mode turned on the front lights. One of those vehicles was a pickup truck. Now I am wondering what condition turns the lights on in auto mode. Several years ago my wife was driving in a rainstorm while I was behind her. When we stopped I raised the roof because she had no lights on. She advised me real quick "I had them on auto mode". 
The next time you are out in the daylight take a look at the oncoming traffic and see how many have lights on the front but none on the rear, unless of course they are applying their brakes. 
I am guessing now that the insurance explanation says it all. I thought for sure that EPA had something to do with it. 
I guess I am just getting too old, I am one of those people that just don't matter anymore. 

On January 19, 2020 at 8:02 PM Howard Pletcher <hrpletch at gmail.com> wrote: 

????  I don't think a dangerous situation like that can be industrywide.  My Ford Escape turns on both front and rear in the auto mode. 

Howard 

On Sun, Jan 19, 2020 at 8:50 PM Gilbert Schwartz < vschwartz1 at comcast.net> wrote: 

While we are talking about vehicle lights, please, someone explain to me why or how anyone would want to have lights on the front of their vehicle with no lights on the rear. It appears that this condition is industrywide and seems to be always in the "AUTO" mode on the headlight switch.  

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