The use of lights in heavy downpour or fog Those round glass things on the front of your car (square also can) As you may notice while you are reading this page, the tone is considerably less friendly and jokingly as the rest of this site. That is because I almost got myself killed just now, while trying to switch lanes to overtake the snail in front of me, while driving in heavy rain. In Singapore, most of the cars are white, silver or another light colour because light colours deflect the sunlight, making them less hot. Also in Singapore, we have rain. To those who might have been to Asia, you know that 'rain' in Asia means something different from rain in Europe. Rain in Asia means brutal downpour, the likes of which are almost biblical. You will not believe the amounts of water falling from the sky here, and as a result, you will not believe the amount of spray that cars on expressways produce. Now... here's a little magic: Do you know what happens to light-coloured cars (or any other colour, for that matter) in heavy downpour and spray in your wet side mirrors? They become invisible! Yes, that's right! Cars become invisible in heavy spray, when you try to detect them in your mirrors (for instance, while overtaking and trying to avoid deadly accidents). This is why all people with an IQ of 62 and above (your average monkey) switch on their headlights when they drive in heavy rain or fog. Not because they are trying to be cool, or because they are so dumb, they can't tell time and don't know it's not night yet, or because they haven't noticed the moon isn't out yet, but simply because they don't want to end up in a hospital with a double spinal fracture or worse. They want to be seen! Do you want to see the difference between cars with their lights off and cars with their lights on? Look below: This image shows you what you see in your side mirror during an average wednesday afternoon shower. Remember that, while driving, you only have about 1 second to check your mirror for traffic behind you, so you can't gaze at it like you can at this image. Now... let's see the same picture with a more intelligent driver behind you. Roll your mouse over the same image above to see the difference. Have I made my point? Hence, in western Europe, about 100% of drivers switch on their lights in bad weather. Better yet, in some countries, like Holland, switching on your lights is compulsory by law, day and night, rain or shine. In fact, in my Volvo in Holland, I wasn't even able to switch the lights off. It was made that way: whenever the car was running, the lights would be on There are roughly three reasons why people don't switch on their lights in heavy downpour: It's not compulsory It costs extra money I forgot 1) It's not compulsory Some drivers believe that the only way of living is to hold your breath until the government tells you to breathe. These drivers will take to the roads in heavy downpour without use of lights because they weren't told to do so by the government. After all, the rules clearly state use of lights is only compulsory after 7 pm, when it gets dark. Here's a question for you: It's not compulsory to relieve yourself in the bathroom. Do you piss in the corner of your kitchen? Or take a shit on you bed? You might want to grow a brain and start thinking for yourself! If you get fined for switching on your lights in heavy downpour, I guarantee, I will pay for it personally. 2) It costs extra money Do you know what costs extra money? Your airconditioning. Still, every single car in Singapore will run their airconditioners like their life depends on it. Airconditioners need a compressor (or second engine) to run, and thus suck extra fuel ($1.55 per liter) from your tank. Running the airconditioner costs about 10% extra fuel on your trip, yet you don't seem to care. Do you know what extra resources are needed from your car to operate the lights? Nothing, Nada, Zippedydoodah. Your lights are fueled by your battery, which is recharged by your running engine, whether you use it or not. Let me put this in an easy to understand sentence that you can read over and over again. Read it out loud if you need to. Your car's lights cost you absolutely nothing! In fact, do you know how much money you will save by not switching on your lights in heavy downpour on an average trip from Ang Mo Kio to Pasir Panjang? Exactly $0.000002 (the energy needed for your hand to reach to the light switch and turn it on). That is excluding the costs of having your car repaired or scrapped because someone smashed into it because the driver didn't see you. Let's not talk about the costs of your funeral for now. So get this straight, Mr or Mrs Kiasu: by not turning on your lights in rain or fog, you can only loose (magic word in Singapore: Loose!). 3) I forgot You also forget to use your indicators when you switch lanes or make a turn. You also forget to keep left, unless you are overtaking, and continue to drive 60 on the right lane of the expressway. You forget that the white lines are actually lane markers and continue to drive in between two lanes, thinking the lines are a guide for you to line your Mercedes star on to. You also forget the 200 cars behind you when you stop in the middle of a narrow street to plan your day. You forget that it's dangerous to stop your car in the far right lane of a busy expressway because you missed the exit, and plan to reverse so you can still exit where you want to. You also forget where the accelerator paddle is when you need to reverse into a parking spot while holding up traffic. You also forget that your car is only 1.5 meters wide and therefore don't dare to pass when an obstacle on the road only leaves you with a 3 meter wide gap. God forbid, one day you will forget to brake when you approach a red light at a busy intersection Unfortunately, the only thing you don't forget, and should, is to renew your driving license. So, here's another reminder for you. When it rains, or when there's fog, or haze, or it's cloudy, or there's a wild horde of locusts, or visibility is low for whatever other reason you can think of: Switch on your fÚ©kïñg lights! Idiot! Top