What’s so dangerous about daytime running lights?

I used to think DRLs were a necessary evil, they come on when I turn the key, I have no say in the matter unless I want to hack my car (and I don’t) When it’s dark or overcast as a matter of habit I put my main ‘dipped’ headlights on. Most people in the US seem to rely on DRL and according to various websites DRLs have reduced front and side impact crashes by 5% or 0% depending upon which data set you look at. The word you should pay attention to here is front-not back. At the back DRLs don’t operate the tail lights which is fine in clear visibility but drive in rain, spray, fog or snow and unless you put the main lights on no one can see the back of your car, until you either brake and your brake lights come on, you indicate to pull out, or they run into the back of you. Brake lights and tail lights are not the same thing. Driving back down I15 yesterday from NV to UT in snow and heavy spray, I saw multiple cars with their DRLs on and nothing else. There were also some drivers who didn’t have DRL but hadn’t turned their lights on. Don’t take my word for it, have a friend check the back of your car and see what comes on when you have only DRL. On one of the sites I visited (lightsout.org) they equate DRLs to stone age technology when sensors could be installed that would turn the lights on automatically or better yet, improve the driver training programs and stop relying on safety devices that don’t make us safer.

http://www.iihs.org/research/qanda/drl.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daytime_running_lamp

http://www.lightsout.org/story.html#ourcase

http://m.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/car-life/auto-therapy/spotlight-on-daytime-running-lights/article2191954/?service=mobile