Running lights on - rear lights off? More common

Why wouldn't you use the AUTO setting? Mine come on plenty early enough before it's dark, though it's obvious some manufacture's AUTO is more sensitive than others.

Because like Frank Sinatra I prefer to do things my way I often turn my main lights on before the auto would cut in. I tend to judge things by the conditions prevailing at the time and use my own judgement. 

The auto setting is very useful abroad in areas with auotoroute tunnels, which require you to use dipped headlights. They switch on as soon as you enter and go off a few seconds after leaving. I generally leave the setting on my XTrail on auto, but often over ride it depending on conditions. As it does not recognise heavy rain or fog when light levels are high. 

Daylight Running Lights, the clue is in the name. They warn other road users ahead of you of your approach during daytime, so no reason for the tail lights to be on. Drivers who do not switch their lights on when conditions require it are idiots. There is so much publicity about drivers not putting headlights on in fog but people still do it. People also drive with just side lights on, why? At least Fiat have made this impossible and probably other marques as well.
Education is the only way to stop drivers running without the apropriate lights switched on, but as my grandad always used to say...you can't educate pork! Of couse another answer is for more traffic officers to catch offending drivers but that aint gonna happen is it.
Drivers who think that it is OK to drive with just DRLs on when conditions dictate otherwise fall into the same category as those who use front and rear fog lights inappropriately, those that don't indicate and those that blind you with their stop lamps when stationary.

One night I told a young woman her lights were not on ..... it's OK she said ... I'm only going down the road!!!

You can't legislate for idiots. 

Do you by chance drive a manual ..... ? 

I really  do not understand this aversion to using lights in daytime.  Anything that helps you to see another car, or be seen must be good.

And seeing a car in front of you via rear running  lights is as essential as seeing a car coming towards you IMO.

The idea began in Sweden and was piloted  by Volvo,many lives have been saved in Sweden alone by the use of lights in daytime.

Having driven Volvos since 1971, we expect our cars to have these lights, it was a shock to discover that so many drivers are apparently against them.

We always drive with our lights on, and were pleased that VW seem to have adopted the idea.

Val made the comment about those averse to using proper lights when it's dark & drive with just their DRL on. Volvo's lights were on both front & back, unlike today's  cars where their DRL are only on at the front &bthe drivrrs are oblivious to the fact. 

I did not think she said people were adverse to using lights, rather that many think their lights are on because they see the front lights (the new DRLs) and forget they have none at the back.

If the legislation had required DRLs to be  both front and rear this would not be happening.  

It would seem that there are some who are adverse to DRLs of any kind, this is what I do not understand.

Nor do I understand why the EU limited the requirement to front lights only.

One possible reason for not having DRL's on the rear is that it would likely encourage people to rely just on those lights whether dark or not. According to the AA website DRL's are not suitable for nighttime use as they are too bright. I imagine following a car with rear DRL's would be a bit like following someone with their fog lights on?

David

Yes, DRLs do dazzle at night. With regard to educating drivers it could start with the salesman on handover. If the salesman could give an explanation of the use of DRLs and warn that they are a safety device and not a substitute for any other lighting requirement we may get somewhere. Of course you would have to educate the salesman first.
It is my understanding that the issue of DRLs has been resisted by various governments for years due to the fact that running with lights on causes more pollution as the alternator has to work harder. Technology has moved on now with LED lighting systems and smart alternators making DRLs viable.
I cannot see the benefit of having the tail lights on in daylight. When driving conditions deteriorate then the driver should be switching his lights on anyway. So, we are back to driver education.