No thanks for the ‘all-time-on’ headlight ‘requirement.’ (as described in a comment below).

Regarding state inspection, it’s new to me.. So is paying a yearly ‘property tax’ on our vehicles. But the two appear connected, because, if you drive a beater, it’s value is low - thus you pay far less ‘property tax’ on it. But, beater’s are prone to mechanical defects due to age; and if the owners were not required by law to have them inspected yearly, many would be too dangerous to be on the roads…

There is no required inspection in Wisconsin. It seems that on highways or freeways and rural roads most people drive with their lights on, not so much on city streets.

Many cars default to headlights on or automatic. My 2007 Volvo does that and I don't override it. My 2012 Prius does not however and I have to remember to turn them on.

Here in NY state we have mandatory inspection annually. There's a small fee connected to it, as well as a large fine if you get ticketed for not doing it. Many inspection stations don't charge senior citizens, although I'm not sure if the practice is universal; I just know that a friend who is over 80 doesn't get charged.

My wife and I often sit by the window of our favourite watering hole and watch the traffic go by as we have a few beers. What we have noticed over the last several years is that there has been a very pronounced change in car colours. Where once people seemed to prefer bright colours, now shades of grey are the norm.

Sometimes people forget, which is not good but it happens.

Government required Vehicle inspection is not free in most states. Therefore, it amounts to a regressive tax (burden to the poor). Furthermore, if one investigates the causes of accidents, one finds that they are mostly driver error, not equipment failure caused. So, "safety" inspections do not reduce the accident rate significantly.

In certain areas, you are badass (instead of dumbass) to drive with your lights off at night. Let's hope Darwin was onto something...

I agree with everyone here, except I am perplexed why so many people where I live have their headlights on at noon on a cloudless, sunny, 95 degree day in the middle of July (literally, nearly everyone). If we can't see you under those weather conditions, we can't see you with your headlights on either. If it sunny, bright, and cloudless outside (and if I'm squinting from the brightness), I don't turn my lights on. I really don't see the point.

I owned a Chevy in the 80s, that had no off switch for the headlights. If the car was on, the lights were on.

It's a law, here in Illinois, that if you have your windshield wipers on, your headlights need to be on, as well.

it's required in pennsylvania to have an inspection every year. however, everyone knows a guy. i am fortunate that my car has automatic headlights and i really only toggle the switch when i turn on the high beams or use the lights with road work areas. i think there have been so many safety improvements made for vehicles, but we're still at the mercy of careful driving skills. glad you made it without any incident.

Our law in PA is that you are required to have headlights on if it is raining. People are so stupid...they are not meant just for them to see but for others to see them, so it is to protect their stupid asses as much as ours. We also have state inspections and emission control checks. We all bitch and complain, but I feel safer knowing that everyone elses' car is as safe as mine with most parts working properly.

It seems bizarre to me that such requirements would not be law! Throughout the EU, all new models of car since 2011 must have "daytime running lights" front and rear which are illuminated whenever the car's engine (or motor) is running and are estimated to reduce accidents by 5-15%. In the UK, all road vehicles more than three years old and first registered for use within the last 40 years must be submitted for an annual MOT test (the name comes from the now-defunct governmental Ministry of Transport, which introduced the test) and, if they fail the stringent road-worthiness and emissions checks, cannot be used legally on the road. Vehicles over 40 years old are exempt because testing stations would need specialist tools to test such old vehicles, but are still required to meet the minimum standards set out in the MOT test and drivers who fail to maintain vehicles to that level can be prosecuted if stopped by police.

I do agree with you about the headlight though. That should be your responsibility.

Requiring a total inspection is over kill and to much government regulation. I do think you should be required to have insurance before you can get your tag but requiring an inspection is to much. Hell some states require an emissions check before you can get a tag. That is major overkill as a lot of older vehicles would cost to much to comply. Diesel emission equipment cost a lot to maintain and it just isn’t worth it.

I agree. About a decade ago, there was some guy about a mile from me that went too far. He had the entire car done in chrome. The cops made sure he didn't drive it shortly after that.

Every day I see cars without two headlights or missing tail lights or brake lights. You can also see cars not fit for the road like cars with worn out shock absorbers or wheels out of alignment and who knows what other problems. Some cars have monitors that tell them when something is wrong and these should be made standard equipment on all vehicles. Mandatory equipment checks should be preformed on cars to make sure they are safe to drive. With all the technology available today to make cars safe it should not be left to the manufacturers to decide to place it on a vehicle or not.