headlights during the daytime

headlights during the daytime

Author
Discussion

williredale

2,866 posts

151 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
I drive with dipped beams during the day. I'm not going to make any apologies because it makes my car more visible.

vescaegg

25,489 posts

166 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
PumpkinSteve said:
I have a new Polo and only sidelights stay on all the time as far as I'm aware.
It's defo my full (dipped) beams that are always on. When I flick the light switch at night when it's dark to turn the instrument lights on, the strength of the lights stays the same. Only way up from there is 'full' full beam....

Odd. Perhaps I'll browse the book.

stemll

4,065 posts

199 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
cuprabob said:
Some VWs use dipped beams as DRLs and cannot be switched off.
My Golf uses the inner lights as DRLs. The main headlights are the outer lights (when these are on the inner lights go out). The full beam is then a separate (from the DRL) filament in the inner lights.

The DRLs also go out and the main light come on when you drive at over 140kph (so the manual says) or the rain sensor turns the wipers on.

iphonedyou

9,234 posts

156 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
Fleckers said:
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
Why does it annoy you? Even one reason would do.

roadend1981

190 posts

157 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
On the Peugeot 308 2011 I had, had day time running lights,but not led like on the new model. Did notice, that when the daytime were on,it was different to having side lights on,used the same bulb,but just lit differently.

TheTurbonator

2,792 posts

150 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
When my son was first born and I used to keep them on all the time, and no doubt when the next one is born in July I'll be keeping them on again.

Statistical it's supposed to reduce accidents and make you more visible as others have pointed out and if it does and helps me avoid a collision when I have a new born baby in the car, then so be it.


Sorry if my post sounds a bit mumsnet boxedin

kwakus

267 posts

173 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
swifthobo said:
I always drive with my lights on.
This. When I done my bike test they told me to always ride with my headl;ight on to help people see me, cant see why I wouldnt do it in any vehicle to be honest, any car I drive I put the headlights on.

iva cosworth

44,044 posts

162 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
TheTurbonator said:
When my son was first born and I used to keep them on all the time, and no doubt when the next one is born in July I'll be keeping them on again.

Statistical it's supposed to reduce accidents and make you more visible as others have pointed out and if it does and helps me avoid a collision when I have a new born baby in the car, then so be it.


Sorry if my post sounds a bit mumsnet boxedin
rolleyes

*Al*

3,830 posts

221 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
What on earth is wrong with people using dipped beam during daytime? I do as i'd rather be visible to the dheads that seem to be blind when driving! Try moaning about the dheads that drive around at dusk or poor conditions with no lights on at all!!

SonnyM

3,472 posts

192 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
Fleckers said:
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
When I'm doing some spirited driving on B roads first you will hear my PSE at 7000 rpm then you will see my pure white Xenons coming towards you. And you'll be thankful you saw me coming.

smile

orangesrule

1,420 posts

147 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
I generally turn mine on, when i'm in the lanes, i duno why, but i feel that i'll be seen ever so slightly quicker.

Burnham

3,668 posts

258 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
kwakus said:
swifthobo said:
I always drive with my lights on.
This. When I done my bike test they told me to always ride with my headl;ight on to help people see me, cant see why I wouldnt do it in any vehicle to be honest, any car I drive I put the headlights on.
My other half is Czech and always drives with the lights on, as they have to back there. I've got into the habit too now, it's just safer so why not.

*Al*

3,830 posts

221 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
Do you complain about every bike you 'see' with it's light on? Crazy.

cuprabob

14,419 posts

213 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
stemll said:
My Golf uses the inner lights as DRLs. The main headlights are the outer lights (when these are on the inner lights go out). The full beam is then a separate (from the DRL) filament in the inner lights.

The DRLs also go out and the main light come on when you drive at over 140kph (so the manual says) or the rain sensor turns the wipers on.
My Scirocco is the same as it has Xenons. Sciroccos without Xenons have dipped beam lights on all the time.

Lights only come on at 140kph if they are in the Auto setting.

Lights come on if the rain sensor gives 4 wipes and light switch is set on Auto.

fangio

988 posts

233 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
It seems lots of drivers are in desperate need of eye tests if you lot think lights are necessary in daylight!!!!!!!!! shoot

I have NO problems as I wear glasses. I know a lot of very vain men who cannot recognise a friend across the street....(Women too!)

Edited by fangio on Sunday 27th May 22:44

Fleckers

Original Poster:

2,851 posts

200 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
iphonedyou said:
Fleckers said:
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
Why does it annoy you? Even one reason would do.
OK to answer a few questions.

I call them main beam, not side lights or full beam, I do know the difference
yes I do see cars with their lights on, BUT it does not mean that I crash in to cars that dont have their lights on
the time of day I have been taking about is not early morning, or late evening, this weekend I have been driving from about 10am until about 4pm, no way was the sun low, bad light or anything else.
as I said I sort of get DRL's i get bikes wiht their lights on, but some of the cars I have seen have been 8 - 10+ years old so they dont have built DRL's so I am assuming people are turning their lights on.

Why does it annoy me, we I learnt to drive a long time ago and back then there was certain times of day when you had to turn your lights on it was between dark and dawn

this ooooooooh look I have lights on so I can be seen it rubbish, if you feel that bad about the need ot be seen in case someone has not seen you you have the option to flash your lights and use your horn but I guess you are too busy doing getting your high viz jacket on and wearing a crash helmet just in case someone get a bit close.

maybe its just me, but I dont want to drive with my lights on thinking I am in mortal danger

okie592

2,711 posts

166 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
vescaegg said:
It's defo my full (dipped) beams that are always on. When I flick the light switch at night when it's dark to turn the instrument lights on, the strength of the lights stays the same. Only way up from there is 'full' full beam....

Odd. Perhaps I'll browse the book.
It depends what polo age and model you have, some have dipped beams on all the time acting as DRL, bluemotion have them next to the fog light and older polos Aka when the mk5 first came out had dedicated drl in the full beam the same as a golf. if you look when the swtich is off and DRL is on, the rears and interior lights arent on, but when you turn to sidelights, drl go out and polos and golfs have seperate sidelight bulbs that also activate the rears, numberplates etc.

so on your polo your DRLS are the dippedbeams, but when you put on sidelights they will go out. i run with xenons on most of the time,

if you dont like them you can have them turned off in vagcom.

the thing i dont get is people with citroen DS3s that run with headlights on when the LED DRL are alot more attractive,



Edited by okie592 on Sunday 27th May 23:06

sebhaque

6,402 posts

180 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
In my old VX220 or in my Mini I tend to drive with the dipped beam on no matter the prevailing weather/time. I found that having my lights on made people aware that the small car coming towards them was indeed a small car, and not something far away travelling slowly. It's amazing how much difference it actually makes in cars like that, driving around with your headlights on. I don't tend to bother much in the Evo, although I will admit I tend to run around with my sidelights on if it's just not dark enough to warrant dipped beams.

I can't see a reason why people like the OP get wound up about someone driving around with some lights on. Foglights, incorrect levelling, or blown bulbs I can understand, but to get irritated by a pair of headlights does seem to be rather strange. Flashing lights and hi-vis won't do much to stop people pulling out on your or generally being aware there's a car moving unless you coat your entire car in a hi-vi and drive around giving everybody a free headlight disco.

ETA - while the OP may proclaim to see every car on the road, most drivers don't. The general population seems to forget to cancel indicators and check their tyre pressures, if they can't do that for themselves then I'd rather make myself as reasonably visible to them as I can. I'd be willing to bet nearly all daytime crashes involve cars without headlights on.

Edited by sebhaque on Sunday 27th May 23:10

welshjohn

1,215 posts

180 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
My luguna is a funny ligh grey greenish colour and in some light conditions it is almost invisible.so always drive with dip beam on.feels safer expecially with the kiddies on board.

gazchap

1,523 posts

182 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
I drive with my headlights on all the time, as it makes me more visible which must be A Good Thing.

Also, in the Celica, the headlight switch is flat on the top when the lights are on, which feels more comfortable when indicating as it's a flat "platform" to push against. It's a tiny thing, but I can instantly tell if I've not got my lights on just by indicating.

(obviously there are other telltale giveaways of not having lights on)