|
Ray Luxury-Yacht
6,374 posts
85 months
|
I'm not MASSIVELY opposed to DRL's per se - I don't really like them, but as they're just another thing to add to the list of stuff on our roads that might 'annoy or antagonise me' but that I have no control over and can't change, for the good of my psyche and my blood pressure - as I've got older, I've learned to count to 10, look the other way, and not react.
After all, reacting negatively to something else on the road outside of my own vehicle, just results in anger and rage that ultimately winds up no-one but myself. So I don't do it anymore - even if some dick massively cuts me up or causes me to take evasive action due to their idiocy and lack of attention..
But anyway, the point I was going to make was this. DRL's are here to stay, we know that. But how come some of them are so flipping bright? Some cars use ordinary incandescent bulbs, and they're noticeable without being distracting.
But Audis etc? They leave a burned-on image on your retina like high-beams do, if you look at them directly!
The manufacturers must know this, because when the indicators are switched on, the DRL in that side of the lamp unit dims significantly, so that other road users can see the flashing indiactor above the monstrous brightness of the DRL!
So - why so bright?????
|
|
|
Citizen09
632 posts
40 months
|
Ray Luxury-Yacht said: So - why so bright????? It looks good in the brochure, when advertising a "safety feature"?
|
|
|
Nigel Worc's
5,279 posts
57 months
|
|
|
Stoofa
352 posts
37 months
|
Ray Luxury-Yacht said: I'm not MASSIVELY opposed to DRL's per se - I don't really like them, but as they're just another thing to add to the list of stuff on our roads that might 'annoy or antagonise me' but that I have no control over and can't change, for the good of my psyche and my blood pressure - as I've got older, I've learned to count to 10, look the other way, and not react.
After all, reacting negatively to something else on the road outside of my own vehicle, just results in anger and rage that ultimately winds up no-one but myself. So I don't do it anymore - even if some dick massively cuts me up or causes me to take evasive action due to their idiocy and lack of attention..
But anyway, the point I was going to make was this. DRL's are here to stay, we know that. But how come some of them are so flipping bright? Some cars use ordinary incandescent bulbs, and they're noticeable without being distracting.
But Audis etc? They leave a burned-on image on your retina like high-beams do, if you look at them directly!
The manufacturers must know this, because when the indicators are switched on, the DRL in that side of the lamp unit dims significantly, so that other road users can see the flashing indiactor above the monstrous brightness of the DRL!
So - why so bright????? All DRL's are bright because in "theory" they are competing with the sun. These lights are suposed to be visible even on the brightest sunny day, so they have to be this bright - I'd question why you are staring at these lights, surely there are more important things to concentrate on? All DRL's are required to dim at night, so once you switch on other lights (Side or Main) they are required to dim. On my Octy vRS for example I don't have any sidelights. So I go from just bright front DRL's to dim DRL's with rear lights to dim DRL's with headlights and rear lights. Most of those stupid aftermarket DRL kits don't do the dimming part, but there, the kind of people who fit those really don't care about other drivers and the fact you might be blinding them.
|
|
|
Durzel
1,511 posts
37 months
|
Since manufacturers are obliged now to fit DRLs I would suspect the more aspirational brands will seek to implement their version of DRLs so their cars still stand out from the pack (who also have DRLs), if that makes sense.
For example in Audis case it's already common knowledge that they use retina-burning LEDs for theirs, thus (rightly or wrongly) they've used that as a marketing tool. LED DRLs on Audis are as much a sign of "I've got a newish Audi" as they are for safety benefits.
They are also a highly visible sign that you've got a newish car, hence why some people aspire to fit aftermarket ones.
That being said I kinda like the whiter/LED versions of DRLs, the ones that are basically just halogen bulbs just look like someone has left their fogs on. Achieves the same goal I guess (visibility) but not particularly aesthetically pleasing.
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
gareth_r
830 posts
106 months
|
So... motorcyclists were encouraged to use dipped headlamps in daylight to make themselves more conspicuous.
Daytime headlamps for bikes was made compulsory in some countries.
Many (most? all?) new bikes have their headlamps on all the time, even when sold in countries where it isn't compulsory (my 2004 Triumph, for example).
All new cars have to have daytime running lights.
Are motorcycles still conspicuous?
This is another piece of "everybody knows" legislation dreamed up by a bureaucrat whose job description is "dream up stuff to justify your existence".
|
|
|
Mr Happy
4,273 posts
89 months
|
I generally don't have a problem with DRLs, even the Audi ones! The ones that royally piss me off though, are Volvo's newest style of four ultra-bright LEDs in a housing where the front fog light should be. They're stupidly bright, it's as if they're an LED front fog. I wouldn't be surprised if they're at least 1.5x brighter than most Audi LED DRLs... 
|
|
|
henrycrun
1,398 posts
109 months
|
Collision stats will inevitably increase as non-illuminated road users lose out in the arms race.
In the year 2525, man will be obliged to carry a torch just to cross the road...
|
|
|
NinjaPower
2,318 posts
49 months
|
mjb1 said: And I think DRLs are only effective at making a vehicle more visible because they are not that common yet. In 15 years time when 95% of the cars on the road have them, we'll all be back to square one. I actually think you might be right. I recall reading some study conducted a number of years ago that showed that in countries which introduced 'headlights always on' laws, accidents reduced noticeably for the first year or so, but after that the rate crept back up again due to motorists brains becoming accustomed to seeing lights everywhere and started subconsciously ignoring them. If anyone can find that study I'll be greatful because I can't!
|
|
|
R300will
3,603 posts
20 months
|
NinjaPower said: mjb1 said: And I think DRLs are only effective at making a vehicle more visible because they are not that common yet. In 15 years time when 95% of the cars on the road have them, we'll all be back to square one. I actually think you might be right. I recall reading some study conducted a number of years ago that showed that in countries which introduced 'headlights always on' laws, accidents reduced noticeably for the first year or so, but after that the rate crept back up again due to motorists brains becoming accustomed to seeing lights everywhere and started subconsciously ignoring them. If anyone can find that study I'll be greatful because I can't! Makes sense tbh it's like a bad smell in a room, you soon stop smelling it because your brain cancels it out. Be interesting to see how the stats pan out.
|
|
|
fangio
505 posts
103 months
|
Mr Happy said: I generally don't have a problem with DRLs, even the Audi ones! The ones that royally piss me off though, are Volvo's newest style of four ultra-bright LEDs in a housing where the front fog light should be. They're stupidly bright, it's as if they're an LED front fog. I wouldn't be surprised if they're at least 1.5x brighter than most Audi LED DRLs... ....and Citroen,Mercs,retrofits,etc.  
|
|
|
julianc
1,637 posts
128 months
|
So DRLs reduce accidents. So would a blanket 1mph speed limit. So when can we expect the latter?
|
|
|
jaf01uk
1,512 posts
65 months
|
julianc said: So DRLs reduce accidents. So would a blanket 1mph speed limit. So when can we expect the latter? It's coming, just in increments... 
|
|
|
mjb1
Original Poster
662 posts
28 months
|
Coming back to this - I've had the vehicle just over a week now, and the DRLs are seriously annoying me (and other motorists). They are not leds in/around the main headlight, they are traditional incandescent bulbs (at a guess about 25w each) in with the fog lights. They are way brighter than normal sidelights, and other drivers think I've got my fog lights on. I keep getting lights flashed at me and waved at every time I drive the thing.
When I picked the vehicle up I asked the dealer if they could turn the DRLs off for me, but they told me they didn't think it was possible (or they couldn't be bothered to find out). This morning I lifted the lid on the fuse box and pulled out the relay that controls them. It doesn't appear to affect anything else, and it's only 30 seconds to replace it if I need to.
|
|
|
Cyder
4,772 posts
89 months
|
The reason for the brightness - The DRL's have to provide a certain overall light output. So the larger the lamp the dimmer it can be and by the same token the smaller the lamp the brighter it must be.
|
|
