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From: stern@inmet.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Headlights
Message-ID: <2056@inmet.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 20-Mar-85 02:01:21 EST
Article-I.D.: inmet.2056
Posted: Wed Mar 20 02:01:21 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 21-Mar-85 04:37:43 EST
Lines: 30
Nf-ID: #R:homxa:-80900:inmet:2700120:000:1574
Nf-From: inmet!stern    Mar 18 11:05:00 1985

[]

In most states the regulation is: headlights on from 1/2 hour before
sunset to 1/2 hour after sunrise.  I beleive the reasoning behind this
is to encourage people to put their headlights on before the twilight
period, when it can get dark pretty quickly without you really noticing
it (if you are driving).  During the evening twilight your eyes adjust
to the darkness quickly, and you may not think you need your headlights
on because it doesn't look "all that dark".  If you were to go inside
just before the twilight, and then come out twenty minutes later, you'd
put your lights on when you hopped in the car.  

The law in NJ was 1/2 hour before and after for a long time (it was when I 
took my driving test years ago).  Many states also have pretty bizarre
regulations about driving with parking lights on, or with fog lights on,
without having your headlights on.  

As for driving with your headlights on during the day, I was always
under the impression that you should keep your headlights *off* unless
the weather was pretty foul.  I don't think leaving them on all day 
increases the visibility of your car, unless it is dark to begin with.
As far as I know, the only people who drive with headlights on during
the day are: funeral processions, police on the chase, volunteer firemen/
rescue squadders on their way to a call, or someone warning you about
a speed trap down the road (quick flashes of the lights).  Better to
leave the "daytime headlights" for those situations that really require
it.

--Hal Stern
  {ihnp4, harpo, bellcore, ima}!inmet!stern