Just Sayin': Shedding more light on cars in the dark

A reader made a plea for automakers to produce cars that have automatic exterior lights and to mandate that this be a standard accessory [“Make cars that must have lights on at night,” Just Sayin’, March 9]. He sees some cars on roads at night with their headlights and taillights off.

This suggestion is all well and good, but how many cars now on the road were built before this technology was available? Nowadays, this feature is standard in new cars if the driver sets it to “automatic.” But it doesn’t address the much older cars on the road.

In some instances, a driver may have vehicle lights off because streetlights and light from adjacent buildings might fool him. The driver doesn’t realize his gaffe because ambient light tricks the driver into thinking his lights are on.

One way to address this night driver without car lights on is to honk your horn in hopes of getting the driver’s attention.

— Ted Thode, Huntington Station

Places where state can install solar

There are likely hundreds of miles of power-line right-of-ways throughout New York State that average about 50 to 75 yards in width and are maintained by power companies for access. Why isn’t the state investigating the possibility of installing solar panels in these right-of-ways?

This strategy has several benefits:

Access to upload the solar energy to the grid.

No need to negotiate as many expensive deals with givebacks to local municipalities that cost money and court fees; slight discounts on power usage could be an incentive.

Maintenance of these properties is already being done by power companies.

The magnitude of the number of miles of right-of-ways without purchasing land should compel the state to consider this as compared with the density of a solar farm and the associated cost. The possibly shorter time to complete this suggestion merits a review.

I have emailed the state several times with this suggestion but never received a response.

— Jim Nardone, St. James

Monthly charge for paper bill unwelcome

I was recently notified by Lowe’s that beginning April 25 there will be a charge of $1.99 a month to send Lowe’s credit card customers a paper bill in the mail. The idea, of course, is to force customers to sign up for electronic billing.

While I certainly understand the reasoning behind electronic billing — saving paper, ink and postage — I, like most people, am inundated with junk email every day. I know there would be a good possibility that I will either miss Lowe’s notice or inadvertently delete it, thinking it’s more junk.

Missing the bill and not paying on time will, of course, immediately generate a late fee and interest charge.

The reason I had applied for a Lowe’s credit card was to save 5% on eligible items. Now is it even worth having the card? I hope the other stores don’t follow suit.

— Richard Tellerman, West Islip