headlights during the daytime

[Fleckers]

OK so I think I get the DRL even thought I dont like them

but this weekend during the day time its not like its been grey or overcast but I have seen so many cars of different types and ages driven by ddifernet people, men, women young old, chav, none chav etc with their head lights on

these are no DRL or side lights, but normal main beam head lights

WTF !!!!

or is it just they turn lights on when its dark and dont bother to ever touch the switch again ??

maybe its a new club but its not one I am going to join

[cptsideways]

Headlights can be seen in your periphal vision even if you are not looking, (as opposed to to not seeing them at all) its part the reason DRL's are now mandatory on all new cars. And bright sunshine is the one time where they can make a car much more visible.

They had most probably just come from somewhere where it was raining maybe? not that many motorists set there lights to on by default.

[varsas]

Do you mean main beam or dipped beam?

I have seen this (actual main beam on during the day) twice over the last week. Baffling and annoying, still bright enough to distract in the early morning.

[blank]

You noticed them.

That's the point. Makes the car more visible. Doesn't do any harm IMO.


I often do it myself, especially in cars where the headlamps turn off with the ignition. Just leave them 'on' all the time and forget about them.

[vescaegg]

My polo (current version) has full beam lights on at all times. They cannot be turned off. However, the lights in the cabin do not stay on at all times, so when it's actually dark, the headlights come on automatically but you have to flick the switch each time to merely light up the speedo.

Utterly fking pointless and stupid

[Contigo]

Have DRL's on mine and always set the lights to Auto so they come on when going into tunnel or multi-storey etc....

If they make me seen then so be it, I don't get annoyed with others doing it. It's not in the same pet hate as people with front fogs on when it's not foggy.

[varsas]

vescaegg said:

My polo (current version) has full beam lights on at all times. They cannot be turned off. However, the lights in the cabin do not stay on at all times, so when it's actually dark, the headlights come on automatically but you have to flick the switch each time to merely light up the speedo.

Utterly fking pointless and stupid

Try pulling the indicator stalk towards you, you should feel it 'click'. The blue warning light on the dash will go out and you'll now be on dipped beam. Failing that check the manual.

[poing]

varsas said:

Do you mean main beam or dipped beam?

I have seen this (actual main beam on during the day) twice over the last week. Baffling and annoying, still bright enough to distract in the early morning.

I think you are getting confused between headlights and side lights. There are 3 settings, side lights > headlights dipped > headlights full beam.

I often drive with headlights on during the bright daylight, as others have said it helps people see me. There are 2 reasons at this time of year:
1. Low sun/dirty windscreens means people are more likely to see me.
2. Tourists, since it's that time of year where people are looking around themselves at the pretty scenery instead in front of them.

Having headlights on and having a better chance of being seen far outweighs being called names by people who think it's stupid to me.

[falkster]

This is even getting picked up by the older generation!! I was driving to work the other day and this guy was behind me with full beam and fog lights on in the bright sun light!!

[PumpkinSteve]

vescaegg said:

My polo (current version) has full beam lights on at all times. They cannot be turned off. However, the lights in the cabin do not stay on at all times, so when it's actually dark, the headlights come on automatically but you have to flick the switch each time to merely light up the speedo.

Utterly fking pointless and stupid

I have a new Polo and only sidelights stay on all the time as far as I'm aware.

[varsas]

poing said:

varsas said:

Do you mean main beam or dipped beam?

I have seen this (actual main beam on during the day) twice over the last week. Baffling and annoying, still bright enough to distract in the early morning.

I think you are getting confused between headlights and side lights. There are 3 settings, side lights > headlights dipped > headlights full beam.

I often drive with headlights on during the bright daylight, as others have said it helps people see me. There are 2 reasons at this time of year:
1. Low sun/dirty windscreens means people are more likely to see me.
2. Tourists, since it's that time of year where people are looking around themselves at the pretty scenery instead in front of them.

Having headlights on and having a better chance of being seen far outweighs being called names by people who think it's stupid to me.

Nope, I suspect it's the OP (and a few others) getting confused. I only mentioned as the OP does say main beam, which is possibly what he meant. If he did, then yes I noticed it too and it's very annoying. I am fairly sure these two people had main (or full) beam on. Their headlights where so bright I had to look away, despite it being about 7:30am on a sunny day. Lots of others had dipped (or low) beam on, which doesn't bother me.

Edited by varsas on Sunday 27th May 19:52

[swifthobo]

I always drive with my lights on.

[FreiWild]

falkster said:

This is even getting picked up by the older generation!! I was driving to work the other day and this guy was behind me with full beam and fog lights on in the bright sun light!!

But that's not what this thread is about or is it?

The OP refered to the use of dipped beam during the daytime, which IMO is perfectly justifiable.

Nearly everytime I get in the car, regardless of weather and light conditions I will turn on my headlights.

[Wafflesmk2]

I put mine on yesterday afternoon. Why?

Well, the sun was about 3 inches from the floor and was brighter than holding your face against a nuke as it goes off.

I had the sun behind me so was coming at other motorists out of the sun (narrrrrrr dagga dagga dagga) and thought it might be a little easier for them to see me if the lights were on.

[devnull]

I nearly always drive with dipped beams on, plainly for visibility purposes.

When i'm driving my MX5, it's a must - notice i get treated far differently compared to when i'm driving the mercedes (get pulled on out, etc) - most likely due to the size of the car. Anything i can (legally) do to make me more visible on the road is a bonus.

[cuprabob]

Some VWs use dipped beams as DRLs and cannot be switched off.

[anonymous-user]

I drive a dark blue car, and i always drive with my lights on, because it stops people "not seeing me".

[fozzymandeus]

My car's automatic lights occasionally switch themselves on when the differential light front to rear is high (e.g if there is bright sunlight shining on the rear of the car and the front is in its own shadow).

Maybe some of them are like that?

[g3org3y]

Wafflesmk2 said:

I put mine on yesterday afternoon. Why?

Well, the sun was about 3 inches from the floor and was brighter than holding your face against a nuke as it goes off.

I had the sun behind me so was coming at other motorists out of the sun (narrrrrrr dagga dagga dagga) and thought it might be a little easier for them to see me if the lights were on.

^This. Early mornings and late afternoons.

[Ed.]

The test data that was used to bring in DRL's was from Sweden and Canada that used dipped main headlights.