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Why do newer cars have separate controls for front and rear headlights?

I'm not talking about daytime running lights.

The amount of times I've flashed or pulled over/alongside drivers to tell them the rear headlights aren't on. Only seems to affect newish cars.

The front dipped lights are on and I suspect drivers are oblivious to the rear ones being off until being challenged by another road user. As to them the dials could indicate lights are on and the road is being lit in front of them.

Whatever happened to switching your sidelights on and the rears came on automatically?
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Comments

  • bryanb
    bryanb Posts: 5,034 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    My car doesn't even have rear headlights!
    This is an open forum, anyone can post and I just did !
  • buglawton
    buglawton Posts: 9,246 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I'm a bit sceptical. Next time you speak to such a driver, ask if they really have separate controls. Also let us know what model of car.
  • Daylight Running Lights.


    Google it.
  • buglawton
    buglawton Posts: 9,246 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    bryanb wrote: »
    My car doesn't even have rear headlights!
    Just spotted it :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
  • KingS6
    KingS6 Posts: 400 Forumite
    buglawton wrote: »
    I'm a bit sceptical. Next time you speak to such a driver, ask if they really have separate controls. Also let us know what model of car.

    Ford Galaxy, Hyundai Ix35 and Kia Picanto.
  • Oakdene
    Oakdene Posts: 2,560 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Daytime running lights.... Its now standard ( I think) on all new cars, hence why your query is only in relation to newer cars...
    Dwy galon, un dyhead,
    Dwy dafod ond un iaith,
    Dwy raff yn cydio’n ddolen,
    Dau enaid ond un taith.
  • F1F93
    F1F93 Posts: 366 Forumite
    Daylight Running Lights.


    Google it.

    This. Not all DRLs are fancy strip LEDs, some are like this.
  • KingS6 wrote: »
    Ford Galaxy, Hyundai Ix35 and Kia Picanto.



    The Kia Picanto sat outside my office which belongs to our cleaner categorically does not have separate controls for the front and rear lights.
  • agrinnall
    agrinnall Posts: 23,344 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    You may think you're not talking about DRLs but I'm pretty sure that in fact you are. I've never heard of any car that has separate rear and headlight controls, I suspect it may be a legal requirement that they come on together. The only slightly weird ones were VWs where you could have one side and rear light on at the same time to display as parking lights.
  • So I suspect that the cars you have seen had drivers who failed to switch on any form of headlight and a running at night with the just the DRLs. Separate switches for front and rear would be a nonsense.
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