SafeSpeed wrote:
I'd put a 2 minute delay on turning off the headlights to allow for all the variations of intermittent and 'flick wipe' functions. (i.e. headlights stay ON until wipers have been OFF for 2 full minutes.)
I can see a problem with washing your windscreen and then having people flash headlights at you for the next two minutes. FWIW, I often switch my wipers on and then apply intermittent squirts of the washer because I've found that technique most efficient at cleaning the screen without emptying the washer tank and provides the maximum visibility while the screen is being cleaned.
SafeSpeed wrote:
Headlights on when cars are parked is the only downside I can think of at present, and we could perhaps disable the link when the handbrake was applied.
I can see a problem with that because every time you pulled up at traffic lights or a road junction your headlights would go out! Perhaps it would be better to only kill the headlights if the engine was switched off. Perhaps it would be better to reinstate the Swedish idea of day notice lights.
SafeSpeed wrote:
Ahh - another downside and it's perhaps a biggie. Start driving in daylight rain... carry on driving until it's dark. Then the rain stops. Two minutes later the headlights go out without warning!
Yikes, indeed!
Perhaps we could give drivers the choice of automatic or manual wipers and headlights. If you choose "automatic", your headlights would switch on automatically when your wipers did and and/or whenever the ambient light reduced below a set threshold. This works on the assumption that if you want control of these you will accept responsibility for using them correctly. If enough vehicles had these systems, it would establish a norm for using headlights with wipers, and those on "manual" would be more inclined to follow that convention. Hey, as a side effect it could also overcome the phenomenon of flashing with your wipers (which is something many of us who alternate between Japanese and European vehicles do quite often)! Of course, even if in "auto" mode you could manually switch either wipers or headlights on.