Headlights during the day........

Peterbilt has the ideal system with the dedicated DRL bulb on the 579.


Most automakers are moving to that kind of system, especially with led lamps. In fact separate DRL systems are the law of the land in the EU.


Volvo FH tractors with EU spec led daytime running lights.

 

My personal preference is to leave the marker lights on all the time. It increases my visibility and I don't pay to replace them (I haven't been told not to use them during the day). When I push in the tractor brake valve, the running lights come on regardless of what I do (2002 Peterbilt 379). I have a switch that makes them "brighter" for night driving.

Even if I did pay for them, I would still run them all the time. Not only does it improve visibility, but, at least in my mind, when I run through a scale, it shows the operator that all my lights work and they have one less reason to pull me in to check.

 

Greyhound has had a headlamp on policy since the 1960's.

 

Sometimes I'm running at night and don't turn them off when it gets light. Sometimes I'm running in a daylight headlight area and don't turn them off when I leave it. Some times I'm running overlength loads and have to have the lights on to make my corner lights come on at the end of the load.

I don't intentionally run lights on when I don't need them but I don't care if they are on when they don't need to be, it isn't hurting anything.

 

^^^ THIS ^^^

It isn't whether YOU can see that matters, it's whether OTHER people can see you QUICKLY. Marker lights alone during the day aren't as effective as headlights.

I grew up in the Seattle area. During the '60's they ran a headlights required experiment on Highway 18 from Auburn to North Bend. There was a remarkable drop in fatalities.

Split seconds can be the difference between a collision or having someone see you in time to avoid a lane change on a freeway or attempt a pass on a 2 lane.

If my wheels are turning the lights are on. Air brakes and headlights, engage and go.

 

It isn't those that have them on during the day. Its those who seem to refuse to use them in low light conditions or when there is a solid need for them. Like snowing or fog or darkness. Whether or not it be a big truck or small car.

 

Volvo incorporated the same off with ignition for the headlamps that their cars have had for years. The running lights will stay on when you turn off the ignition but if the switch is in the headlight or headlight/auxiliary light position, all the lights shut off with the ignition.

 

These people should be ticketed and gotten off the road. They always seem to drive dark colored vehicles too.

 

I think there should be a law...
If it's raining, fog, snow all head lights are on!
.... 40 tons at 60 mph?
You want to be as visible as possible
I keep a few spare bulbs in the truck

 

I'll be honest, I don't really have any safety reason to run my lights during the day (well I kinda do cause I haul gas). But I've been driving nights ever since I got my cdl and am new to days. So for me, I feel like I'm doing something wrong if all my lights are not on while I'm moving down the road. It's like an itch, I've tried driving without them a couple times and couldn't get more than 10 miles without having the itch to flip them on lolol.

I know in Florida it is the law to have headlights on in rain, wether a cop is actually going to pull someone over in the pouring rain for that though .... Idk.