Automatic headlights: design flaw discovered in an unpleasant fashion

[nagarjuna]

Last night I discovered what I think should be considered a design flaw in the automatic headlight system. The first clue that something was wrong was the blue lights two inches from my bumper.

Since I knew I wasn't speeding, weaving, etc. I did a quick check and before the officer arrived at my window I knew what the problem was. Somehow the rotary headlight switch had gotten moved from the automatic to the manual position. Since I'm so used to the automatic operation I don't normally think to check that the lights are actually on, and in a brightly lit urban environment neither I nor my passenger noticed.

Fortunately, the officer (local police) was very nice and quickly realized it was just an honest mistake. He didn't even issue a warning. He explained that no headlights is often a sign of a drunk driver. Apparently he wasn't worried about that after talking with me, fortunately, since while I certainly wasn't drunk we had wine with dinner earlier and I'm not at all convinced about the accuracy of the field breath tests. A positive test would have been a temporarily life changing experience, and in this state refusing the test means you automatically lose your license for months.

Of course inadvertently driving without headlights at night has other obvious dangers as well.

Here's why I think this is a design flaw. Since headlights are a critical safety feature, and since automatic operation will naturally lead drivers to be less aware of them, the car should be designed with safeguards to prevent what happened to me last night. One safeguard would be to detent or otherwise lock the rotary switch in the automatic position so it can't be easily changed by accident. I would suggest a two-part procedure where you'd have to, say, depress another button to unlock the switch so it can be moved to manual mode.

Also, I think the car should warn you when you are driving at night without lights. It knows that's what you're doing, obviously, since it's equipped to detect when the lights are needed. There is a subtle change in the dash lighting now, but it wasn't enough to get our attention. Something much more noticeable is needed.

Of course it's always the driver's responsibility to check things like this, as I acknowledged to the officer immediately. But a better headlight control and warning system would make the care safer. Automatic systems are nice, but by their nature they tend to reduce driver awareness. If a car is going to do that I think it should try to help the driver regain awareness if the automatic system fails to do what he or she expects.

[Relee1]

I liket the automatic headlights, but they take some getting used to. I keep turning them off and not realizing it. I'd just prefer to not have the automatic function. But if you to have them, your suggestion of having a two part procedure with them sounds like a good one.

[fatabbot]

Originally Posted by nagarjuna

Of course it's always the driver's responsibility to check things like this, as I acknowledged to the officer immediately. But a better headlight control and warning system would make the care safer. Automatic systems are nice, but by their nature they tend to reduce driver awareness. If a car is going to do that I think it should try to help the driver regain awareness if the automatic system fails to do what he or she expects.

I highlighted the most important part. If every convenience/comfort feature had to be dummy proof (not calling you a dummy, I had a similar experience last night since the dealer switched mine from auto to off during my oil change), they'd stop offering them.

[Wagondude]

I personally wonder why there is even a switch position for automatic operation at all. GM has used automatic lights for years. You don't ever turn the headlight switch on. There is however a set of very specific actions required to override the system for manual operation. No way to screw that up.

[itzlinky]

Don't know, I hardly ever use automatic.

Always use to manual, so that's what I use.

[ardvark11]

Welcome to the new society,,,,everything has to be automatic and it is always someone else's fault. How anyone can call this a fault is way beyond my capacity to understand. How did I ever manage to make it this far in life having driven cars made with no seatbelts, auto door locks, auto headlights, tire pressure sensors, non-radials tires, etc,

[mtberman]

Agreed. I have made this mistake (switched headlights to 'off' and then forgot to switch back to 'auto') many times in many cars over the years. But it was my own fault and I never thought to consider it a design flaw. That's sort of like setting my house door to lock behind me as I leave and locking myself out, and then blaming the lock maker for the expense of calling a locksmith. As if they caused my error by making this convenience feature available to me.

Sorry for the hassle, and I understand the frustration of getting (almost) busted, but this really is a user error IMO and not a design flaw.

[fatabbot]

Originally Posted by Wagondude

I personally wonder why there is even a switch position for automatic operation at all. GM has used automatic lights for years. You don't ever turn the headlight switch on. There is however a set of very specific actions required to override the system for manual operation. No way to screw that up.

Hmm, good point. My 2001 Silverado had true automatic lights (i.e. no "switch" to make them automatic). Was quite nice.

[nikwax]

You have two places to verify that your headlights are on: the headlight switch, and the "headlights on" enunciator in the instrument panel. What else do you want, the President of Subaru to ride in the back seat and remind you to check your headlights? Need someone to remind you to close the doors (oops, got that) and buckle your seatbelt (oh, yeah, got that as well)?

[Somerset Max]

Sorry, but I have to agree that this is operator error, and not a design flaw.

No matter what features a car has, it is still the responsibility of the driver to make sure that all of his/her controls, switches, gauges, etc are in their "normal" or desired position.