Driving with Headlights on.

[Danustouch]

Got this in my email today...thought some of you might like to know this:)

<< Subject: National Day of Driving with Headlights On


Please pass this on, if you want:)



THE PROGRAM IS THIS: On Thursday, October 11th, 2001, have
everyone in the USA who will be driving a motor vehicle that day drive with
their headlights on during daylight hours.



This will be the 30th day commemoration in honor of our fallen friends
desecrated by the terrorists' attacks on NYC , the Pentagon, and the highjacked
plane that crashed in PA.



The purpose of driving with headlights on this day will:

1). Show our respect, friendship, and tribute to all of those
individuals who lost their lives on that dreadful September 11, 2001
day.

2). Show our concern for the family members of those
individuals.

3). Show those uncouth terrorists that the fabric of the USA is
stronger than steel.

4). Show that we Americans have solidarity standing shoulder to
shoulder against any terrorists' acts upon the USA.

You can probably add others to this
list.

[loopy]

Just curious-- don't headlights cause accidents when they're not needed or something?

[Danustouch]

I don't drive loopy..so couldn't really tell ya. But...I don't see how they could do too much damage during daylight hours, because you'd barely be able to see them..unless it was really dark and rainy..in which case, you'd have to have them on anyway. I just wouldn't go flashing your Highbeams :)

[loopy]

Oh, ok. :) I thought I heard that somewhere or something. :) Thanks.

[Laiste]

Originally posted by loopy
Just curious-- don't headlights cause accidents when they're not needed or something?

No headlights on during the day do not cause accidents. As a matter of fact during a funeral procession all the cars have thier lights on to alert other drivers not to cut in the line of the procession. I assume this is where the idea came from.

[gunner]

the "funeral procession" thing actually applies to any group of vehicles moving as a convoy, e.g. a group of military trucks. as for the "headlights on in daytime", there are studies that tend to show that driving with headlights on in the day time is a "safety" thing, people tend to notice cars with headlights on more frequently and pay attention better, that's why almost all late model motorcycles at least since the 80s are wired for "headlights always on" and some new cars have been wired the same way. it's one of those things that "can't hurt and might help" and for those not really familiar with cars electrical systems, as long as the engine is running it won't "hurt" the battery, it's being more or less continually recharged as needed by the alternator.

as for danus' original post, it sounds like a good idea to me.

[Wyrdsister]

I guess I'll be participating as I drive with my headlights on at all times! :D It's a good idea, though. I'm always up for anything (NON-violent) that is designed to raise people's awareness about important issues.

Wyrdsister

[MystOld]

I can't participate, I don't drive ;)

[gunner]

"I can't participate, I don't drive"

carry a lighted flashlight??

[MystOld]

Ok, just gotta stock up on batteries

[Mairwen]

This is really kinda dumb. I mean, a LOT of people drive with their headlights on already, anyway, for safety reasons. At least, that's how it is around here. So ~ how do you know who's doing what for what purpose??

[Laiste]

Originally posted by Mairwen
This is really kinda dumb. I mean, a LOT of people drive with their headlights on already, anyway, for safety reasons. At least, that's how it is around here. So ~ how do you know who's doing what for what purpose??

It may seem dumb, but, if the word is spread around and enough people are aware of it then the purpose becomes clear.

[MammaStar]

Well it's a given for me. I have Day time running lamps on my car, so my headlights are ALWAYS on. :D

[Kadynas]

I thought it was almost funny when I read this post, because almost every car they make nowadays comes with daytime running lights...my car's got em and it's almost 10 years old. :lol:

[Semele]

Well I don't think it is a dumb idea at all. I drive a fairly new vehicle that doesn't do the automatic headlight thing at all. It does however beep when you try to turn off the ignition with lights on...thank the Gods for that bright spot!!

I will do it. There was something similar a few years back when a Tulsa officer was killed on duty...can't remember now why that was so unusual. But everyone drove with the lights on and it was a big, noticable difference as I am sure this will be. A long time ago my Dad told me that when you see a funeral procession you should pull over and turn your lights on and look down as a sign of respect. I always do.

[GoddessofWisdom]

Evertime someone mentions October 11 I have trouble breathing and get chest pains..................I don't think I'll be leaving my house tomorrow but I'll leave all the outdoor lights on.

[Mairwen]

This too is a hoax.

http://www.snopes2.com/rumors/headlite.htm


Origins: "Is this for real?" No official "National Day of Driving with Headlights On" has been declared, but demonstrations need not be "officially" organized to be symbolic and meaningful. If people do this, it's real -- it's as simple as that.

Still, asking people to drive with their headlights on during the daytime probably isn't the best choice for a demonstration of unity: Many people have started doing this routinely in recent years, and some models of cars now have daytime running lights that turn on automatically and cannot be shut off. How do we distinguish the intentional participants from the accidental ones?

As for showing respect for the individuals who lost their lives and demonstrating that Americans stand "shoulder to shoulder" in unity, we already have some perfectly good symbols for these purposes, ones which millions of people have been proudly displaying for several weeks now. They look like this:

[pictures of half-mast us flags]

[pinguino]

Originally posted by loopy
Just curious-- don't headlights cause accidents when they're not needed or something?

ummmm..... actually you see cars comming from a farther distance, thus the invent of Daylight Running LAmps on all newer cars. So that being said my car lights are always on. :)