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When I get into a vehicle, I do several things - flip on the lights, belt up, put the key in the ignition. I do not think about such things, but do them automatically. Because of this, I never forget to turn on the lights when it starts to rain, or at dusk (which is a very important time to have them on for visibility reasons, long before it's dark enough that one notices they aren't on).
As to the question of whether or not it is effective, I do not presume to simply know the answer. But there are numerous studies of the issue, and in total they conclude that 24-hour headlight use reaps substantial benefits. http://www.dot.state.mn.us/govrel/re...011811_PDF.pdf
Daytime headlights are a better deal than insurance (ie, in the long run the average motorist will pay less by using headlights 24/7, as opposed to actual insurance that eliminates the threat of large one-time payouts at a cost of the average motorist paying more than they will receive in payouts). The costs-benefit analysis on this one is pretty obvious.
Daytime runners here too; this is the first car I've owned that had them, and I like them a lot. I figure they are pretty standard now? Bought my car a few years ago (paid in full next month!) but the one before that was a 1997 and I turned the lights on a lot more often because of no DRLs, and because it was a grey car that blended in beautifully with the road.
That actually backs what I said. As an adult, try changing the headlight on a 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse. You need those tiny arms of a child to reach where the light bulbs go! Not at all practical placement for adult arms.
Oh yeah, I knew what to do, but my arm couldn't contort as needed for that feat.
Thankfully I've since upgraded from that car, but must admit I'm still not into car repairs. With my current ride, the non-standard wiper blades pose the new challenge. Nope, not gonna mess with it. I buy them and then watch the Auto Zone guys struggle to figure it out each and every time.
Ha ha! My kids are 20-somethings and full grown adult males, so they certainly do not have "those tiny arms of a child"! They've been full size since they turned 14 or 15, so .....
I turn mine on all the time while driving. This way if some fool pulls out in front of me, they have very little recourse in court when I tell the cop and judge that MY lights were on and they have NO reason why hey didn't see me. Especially since we seem to be having a huge problem these days with people running red lights and stop signs.
My Silverado turns on my lights after 30 seconds if the wipers are on. So, if raining, I have my lights on. If pulling my trailer, I turn on the lights for two reasons. One, helps the bozos behind me to see the big white trailer and hopefully, not tail gate, and with the side clearance lights, helps someone I pass to see that I have a trailer behind me so they don't pull out too soon to pass too. (And with the lights on, the vehicle's generator power management is bypassed so I get a high current flow to the trailer's batteries.)
Other than that, DRLs.
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) but the one before that was a 1997 and I turned the lights on a lot more often because of no DRLs, and because it was a grey car that blended in beautifully with the road. 
