THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 18, 1995 TAG: 9510180002
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 37 lines
Daytime running lights! Yet another brilliant idea to protect the unthinking from themselves instead of making them think! Do people realize that on some of these so-equipped vehicles, only their headlights are on and not their taillights? Will they forget this in the dusk/dawn hours or when visibility is bad due to rain or fog and think they're visible? Probably.
There are quite a few folks around here (including some police officers, who should be setting a good example) who drive around with either parking lights on or no lights during periods of low visibility. How many rear-end accidents are going to happen because of this new ``safety feature''? How many people even know if their brake lights are functioning properly right this minute?
Not a day goes by that I don't politely inform at least two people that they have problems with the lights on the back end of their vehicle. Most say they were unaware of the problem.
How about a pictogram that shows when a light is out? Both of our cars have it; we immediately know if any exterior light is out and can put in one of the handy spares we keep in the trunk.
People should drive when they're behind the wheel; read on their front porch; eat and drink at a table; primp in the bathroom; make routine phone calls from a stationary device.
Let's make driving safe, and set a good example (especially those who are sworn to uphold the law!). Driving shouldn't be a frustration!
NICHOLAS PELIGRO
Chesapeake, Oct. 8, 1995 by CNB