Failing to light up ~ backlit dials and 'day running' lights
Discussion
The manufacturers who are fitting back lit dials and/or daylight running lights really need to do something about making drivers aware they ARE NOT switching on their lights at night. In the last week I have followed four cars with no rear lights (I'm talking new, two years old or less) showing. The last one I followed for eight miles and no amount of flashing attracted the attention of the driver. When we eventually went our different ways at a T junction, and I pulled alongside, I told him his lights weren't on and he simply drove off (didn't switch them on).
I live in the sticks and both my wife car and my sons have day running lights and back lit dials and I can see how easy it is to jump in start up and on the basis that you can see where you are going and see the instruments think you have lights switched on. On a clear night reflectors and brake lights are a fail safe for anyone failing to light up but in misty weather out on the moors it won't be long before an eight wheeler comes across one of these drivers and the outcome won't simply be a ticket for no lights.
I live in the sticks and both my wife car and my sons have day running lights and back lit dials and I can see how easy it is to jump in start up and on the basis that you can see where you are going and see the instruments think you have lights switched on. On a clear night reflectors and brake lights are a fail safe for anyone failing to light up but in misty weather out on the moors it won't be long before an eight wheeler comes across one of these drivers and the outcome won't simply be a ticket for no lights.
Well no, people who drive with their DRLS only would be driving with no lights on in a older car.
My car has light up dials and when it's getting dark only the needles light up. This is a bottom spec golf with no auto lights or wipers. I assume it's the same across the board. Bmws Defo do it.
It's not a new problem.
My car has light up dials and when it's getting dark only the needles light up. This is a bottom spec golf with no auto lights or wipers. I assume it's the same across the board. Bmws Defo do it.
It's not a new problem.
JordanTurbo said:
I know what you mean.
My Audi lights up the dials (needles and numbers) as soon as the ignition is switched on. I can see how it would be quite easy to jump in and forget about lights in the twilight hours when you can still see where your going.
It's a 2001 without DRLs.
Our Audi S4 B8 won't light up the dash board if the switch is left to off (DLR's only), however if you set the switch to auto or dipped lights the dash is lit up all the time.My Audi lights up the dials (needles and numbers) as soon as the ignition is switched on. I can see how it would be quite easy to jump in and forget about lights in the twilight hours when you can still see where your going.
It's a 2001 without DRLs.
lemonslap said:
Our Audi S4 B8 won't light up the dash board if the switch is left to off (DLR's only), however if you set the switch to auto or dipped lights the dash is lit up all the time.
No auto lights or DRLs here.Dials are lit all the time. Rest of the dash buttons light up once you switch to side lights or dips.
JordanTurbo said:
I know what you mean.
My Audi lights up the dials (needles and numbers) as soon as the ignition is switched on. I can see how it would be quite easy to jump in and forget about lights in the twilight hours when you can still see where your going.
It's a 2001 without DRLs.
Same here, my dash is completely blank until I put the ignition on being a 2008 Civic and when on it's the same in the day as at night (though is slightly dimmer without the lights on but not really noticeably so)My Audi lights up the dials (needles and numbers) as soon as the ignition is switched on. I can see how it would be quite easy to jump in and forget about lights in the twilight hours when you can still see where your going.
It's a 2001 without DRLs.
Only yesterday I was behind a lady in a Fiesta, in virtual darkness; she had no lights on, but her dashboard was lit up. Car makers see permanently lit dashboards as progress, but they've assumed that all drivers have the intelligence to turn on the lights..er..when it gets dark.
I hired an Insignia a couple of years ago, and I'm sure that the light switch defaulted to 'auto' whenever the ignition was switched on, ensuring that the car would have lights on, after dark, without any driver input.
If I pulled out of of a junction, in the dark, in front of someone with no lights on & there was a collision...whose fault would it be??
I hired an Insignia a couple of years ago, and I'm sure that the light switch defaulted to 'auto' whenever the ignition was switched on, ensuring that the car would have lights on, after dark, without any driver input.
If I pulled out of of a junction, in the dark, in front of someone with no lights on & there was a collision...whose fault would it be??
I've said this before: any car fitted with DRLs should have automatic lights by default for the very reasons outlined above. Front DRLs should also be accompanied by illuminated rears - at least then if the numpty fails to turn their lights on, they have rear lights showing.
I can't believe that such a serious safety issue has been overlooked, and also that so many people are so fking dumb that they can't remember to check they have headlights on when it gets dark.
I'm not normally an advocate of 'auto-everything' but in the case of idiots driving around with only front DRLs on, I'm prepared to make an exception in order to protect us from the cockholes who really should have their licences revoked.
I can't believe that such a serious safety issue has been overlooked, and also that so many people are so fking dumb that they can't remember to check they have headlights on when it gets dark.
I'm not normally an advocate of 'auto-everything' but in the case of idiots driving around with only front DRLs on, I'm prepared to make an exception in order to protect us from the cockholes who really should have their licences revoked.
The problem isn't the car. It's the person behind the wheel.
Trouble is we see driving a car as a right as opposed to a licensed privilege.
By expecting technology to do everything for us, we remove responsibility which is probably why we have so many numpties driving cars these days.
We shouldn't be blaming car manufacturers for lighting dials what we should be doing is questioning why drivers don't think to turn their lights on when it's dark?
Trouble is we see driving a car as a right as opposed to a licensed privilege.
By expecting technology to do everything for us, we remove responsibility which is probably why we have so many numpties driving cars these days.
We shouldn't be blaming car manufacturers for lighting dials what we should be doing is questioning why drivers don't think to turn their lights on when it's dark?
New one on me. As far as I know most people with DRLs think theyre front and rear.
you'd only know by getting out and seeing theres nothing lit on the back
Lit up dials are a real pain
If it's approaching dusk and you only want your sidelights on, the instruments dim so you cant see them
you'd only know by getting out and seeing theres nothing lit on the back
Lit up dials are a real pain
If it's approaching dusk and you only want your sidelights on, the instruments dim so you cant see them
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