Cars driving at night with only daytime running lights (no taillights)

I drive from Chicago to the far NW Suburbs and without fail there are at least two cars each night, late model cars, with very bright lights on. But no taillights. I have since read that newer cars with daylight running lights illuminate the dashboard (why? stupid!), but drivers are unaware that they have no lights behind them. How would they?

Well if the morons read their manuals, but that would be asking a lot