Failing to light up ~ backlit dials and 'day running' lights

[Gary T]

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.

[Gary T]

JordanTurbo said:

AFAIK American DRLs do. When I had my 57 plate passat, I could set different modes for the DRLs using VCDS (VAG-COM).

Off - no DRLs at all

Europe - Only front side lights switched on with ignition

USA - All side lights on (front and rear) with ignition.

I don't see why we can't do the same.

Separate to this I could also set it to use the indicators instead of sides at the front as amber marker lights. Although I feel this would be way too confusing for the average british road user.

Amber corner markers are dangerous (in the short term anyway) when the 5 series first came out with amber markers in the UK my brother had cars pulling out in front of him on main roads thinking he was turning left (a result of a quick glance right from the side road seeing amber and thinking indicator is on). As mentioned elsewhere in the string those developing cars seem to have no link to those setting legislation (this is not restricted to the motor industry).

[Gary T]

Cyder said:

Regs are changed now in Europe and you can illuminate rear lamps with DRL.

Interesting as current IVA regs (amongst other things I'm building a kit ) say that if DRL are fitted only DRL should show from front with NO lights showing at rear when DRL are illuminated. It also says DRL should go out once normal driving lights are switched on.

[Gary T]

Cyder said:

I just checked the ECE vehicle lighting reg (48) and found the following. It's interesting that the IVA seems not to have caught up yet with the updated legislation.

6.2.7.6.2. Daytime running lamps operate in conjunction with the lamps listed in paragraph 5.11. where, as a minimum requirement, at least the rear position lamps shall be activated; or

5.11. The electrical connections shall be such that the front and rear position lamps, the end-outline marker lamps, if they exist, the side-marker lamps, if they exist, and the rear registration plate lamp can only be switched ON and OFF simultaneously.

Makes sense to have rear lights a must with front DRL, the recent problems I have encountered in the sticks, people driving with just front DRLs (I am sure these are genuine mistakes rather than intentional), wouldn't happen

[Gary T]

Riknos said:

It's not DRLs that are the problem - it's the backlit dashes.

Most of the cars I see driving around without lights on (and this seems to be every day now!) don't have DRLs, so must have backlit dash.

My car has a backlit dash and I've had it for 18 months and never once forgotten to put lights on. It's no excuse, if it's dark you use lights, if it's light you turn them off, if it's cold you use heat, if it's warm you use aircon, etc, it's pretty simple stuff.

The original post covered both backlit dash 'and' DRL due to incidents in rural locations where a backlit dash on its own wouldn't be a problem i.e. you cant drive around in the dark (no street lighting) with a backlit dash as you simply cant see where you are going. However if you have backlit dash and DRL it might appear to some that auto lights have come on (the DRLs on my sons Fiesta a very bright and dash is backlit and I can see how easy it would be to drive off thinking all is ok).

Now in built up areas/towns/suburbs with street lighting I can see how back lit dash on its own can be a problem where people don't realise they haven't got any lights on at all. However in these locations these cars can be seen by other road users so usually wouldn't prove the same hazard.

In rural locations, no street lighting, and in times of poor visibility, mist/fog, a car showing no rear lighting at all could easily get rear ended and if by an eight wheeler result would be dire.

Edited by Gary T on Friday 7th November 08:29