Dear Tom and Ray:

We're writing to you rather than our Congressman or Senator only because we think you two are much more influential than they could ever hope to be. Our campaign is safety, and if anyone can rouse the sleeping gnats of congress and/or the automotive industry, you two stalwarts can. Here's what we want to see happen. When you turn on your car windshield wipers, your headlights go on automatically! How many times have you seen idiots driving in rain, heavy or light, without headlights? It seems to us it would be a very simple connection between the wiper switch and the headlight switch. So gentlemen, your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to start a campaign to light up America's wet roadways. Seriously, you could make a difference and save lives. Barry and Jane

Tom: Challenge accepted. In fact, we're even taking it a step further. We made a few phone calls yesterday, and convinced Volvo and General Motors to equip their cars with daytime running lights starting in 1995. That way, the headlights will come on automatically WHENEVER the car is running. How's that?

Ray: Actually, we had nothing to do with it, guys, but Volvo and GM are both introducing daytime running lights on their new cars starting this year. And I suspect other manufacturers will follow.

Tom: There's enough evidence now that headlights, even in the daytime, make an oncoming car more visible, and cut down on the number of head-on collisions. So when you start up a 1995 Volvo or certain 1995 GM models, the headlights will come on automatically.

Ray: And even though I was out the day they covered "sets" and "subsets" in math class, I think "all the time" includes "when it's raining." 1409

How can you tell if a used car is in good condition -- or even OK, for that matter? Find out by ordering Tom and Ray's pamphlet "How to Buy a Great Used Car: Things That Detroit and Tokyo Don't Want You to Know." Send $3 and a stamped (55 cents), self-addressed, No. 10 envelope to Used Car, PO Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475.

© 1994 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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