Don’t put car in motion before brain is in gear

Whatever people do, they usually do it for a reason. It may not be a good reason; it may not be well-informed or thought through, but it’s still their “reason” for doing — or not doing — something.

So what, pray, is the “reason” so many motorists driving in heavy rain, mist or thick fog fail to turn on their lights so they can be more clearly seen by fellow road users?

At full stretch, my imagination can think of six possibilities, but we can quickly halve that number of options.

For hopefully we can discount the possibility that they actually want to help cause a crash by remaining invisible.

Surely, too, the reason cannot be that it is physically too strenuous to twist the switch that sends electricity to the light bulbs. And is it really possible that more than half the vehicles driving around on a rainy or foggy day do not have any lights that work?

A fourth slightly more plausible reason might be bravado: that lights-off drivers somehow think it is courageous or clever to demonstrate their super-human eyesight or skill in poor visibility.  

For these, the news is that other road users do not think you are brave or smart.  They think two other words, the first beginning with “F” and the second starting with “I”.

Option five might be a mistaken view that using lights costs money.  That it somehow “wears out” the bulbs, or the voltage regulator, or the alternator, or the battery, or that the recharging loads increase fuel consumption.  Is there any truth in that?  Well, yes, to about the same extent that eating food wears out your teeth.  

So to those who keep their lights off to avoid infinitesimally small electrical wear and tear (at the risk of death), I suggest you stop eating.  Better to die young of starvation than to blemish those pearly whites.

SIXTH AND FINAL REASON

The sixth and final reason, and sadly the most likely and the most depressing, is utter thoughtlessness — either a complete lack of consideration for others and/or an outright failure to correlate engaging gear with engaging the brain.

The former option would stem from the all-too-evident “me first, me only” culture that pervades so much of our road use.  

Turning on lights in rain or fog does not improve the vision of the driver the lights belong to. But it is a considerable aid to everyone else, in highlighting the existence and orientation of other vehicles.  

The “selfish” driver cannot fail to notice this, but somehow “reasons” that he or she is under no obligation to reciprocate. What sort of mentality is that?

The latter option (brain use) requires that the driver has not noticed that the lights of other cars are helpful.  

And for that to be possible requires the driver to be not merely short of due care and attention but effectively unconscious; in a total and permanent mental stupor.  

The same judgement must be passed on those who turn on their sidelights only.

Have they not noticed, by observing other cars,  that these are not big enough or bright enough to significantly cut through the fug?

Headlights, please. On dip. Whenever visibility is impaired, however slightly, by any prevailing road, exhaust or climatic condition.  There is no “reason” not to.