# I got a shiny nickel for the person that invents this **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 30, 2009, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-shiny-nickel-for-the-person-that-invents-this/494835 "2009-04-30T13:29:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-shiny-nickel-for-the-person-that-invents-this/494835/21 "2009-05-01T12:58:46Z")
I have a Chevy Equinox, it has daytime running lights, headlights that come on automatically in anything less the daylight and wipers that clear the windshield if moisture is detected. I have started it in the morning on a dark rainy day and did not have to touch the headlight or wiper switches all the way to work. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-shiny-nickel-for-the-person-that-invents-this/494835/22 "2009-05-01T13:34:16Z")
> [@Larry\_Mudd](#): > > ‘Round these parts, if you import a car from elsewhere, you can’t insure it (or drive it, natch,) until you’ve paid to have it modified so that it complies with the requirement to have Daytime Running Lights. There are exceptions for collectors’ vehicles where such modifications would depreciate the vehicle, but otherwise you have to have the work done - and depending on the model of your car, it can sometimes put you out of pocket more than you might think is reasonable. Thank you. 🙂 Oh, and in response to the OP, I drive a '98 Corolla which basically has always-on headlights. I haven’t had to turn my headlights on in over 10 years. Unfortunately, this did once almost cause me to get punched in the face by the guy in front of me at one of those drive-through-the-holiday-lights places. ---
**Author:** ![theater\_in\_a\_crowded\_fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aca169/32.png) [@theater\_in\_a\_crowded\_fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theater_in_a_crowded_fire)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-shiny-nickel-for-the-person-that-invents-this/494835/23 "2009-05-01T15:03:15Z")
For what it’s worth, my 2006 Grand Prix has exactly this feature. If you turn the wipers on after about five seconds the headlights come on as well. The delay prevents them from coming on if you’re just clearing the windshield. The car also has a light sensor that automatically turns the headlights on or off depend on whether or not they’re needed. It’s definitely not a luxury car. I haven’t touched the headlight switch on this car twice in two years of owning it. ---
**Author:** ![imfloating](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bc79bd/32.png) [@imfloating](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/imfloating)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-shiny-nickel-for-the-person-that-invents-this/494835/24 "2009-05-01T17:23:13Z")
What happens in the car wash ? You must be able to turn the feature off which means you’ll have to turn it back on again which means what’s the point. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-shiny-nickel-for-the-person-that-invents-this/494835/25 "2009-05-01T18:25:49Z")
My car has auto headlights, but I really don’t like it because sometimes I want to get in my car at night and turn on the key without lighting up the broad area in front of my car. And to turn it from Auto to off, you have move the switch from Auto to On, then Off, so the lights are coming on briefly either way. However, having headlights automatically come on with the wipers sounds like a good option to me. Might prevent you from getting a ticket. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2009, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-shiny-nickel-for-the-person-that-invents-this/494835/26 "2009-05-01T19:36:28Z")
> [@zenith](#): > > Nebraska doesn’t require this, AFIAK. > > In states that have this law, daytime running lights count or do you need to put on the regular lights? > … IIRC, in California daytime running lights aren’t enough in the rain, they want full headlights. This is probably so the tail lights will also be on. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2009, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-shiny-nickel-for-the-person-that-invents-this/494835/27 "2009-05-02T07:51:23Z")
My 2004 Jeep has the lights on with wipers as an option I can turn if I choose, as does my friend’s 1998 Jeep. I have this turned on, and the auto on/off headlights feature. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2009, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-shiny-nickel-for-the-person-that-invents-this/494835/28 "2009-05-03T04:00:17Z")
> [@palindromemordnilap](#): > > Another idea would be for the lights to come on automatically whenever daylight dropped below a certain level, which means automatically when you enter a tunnel or a parking garage as well as cloudy or rainy days My '03 Chevy has automatic lights; the DRLs come on whenever I turn the engine on during the day. At night the regular headlights come on. If I go into a tunnel or parking garage, the full headlights will come on after a slight delay, presumably to keep them from coming on during brief spots of darkness, like overpasses or heavy shade. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-a-shiny-nickel-for-the-person-that-invents-this/494835.md?page=1)