Daytime running lights
Discussion
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?????
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?????
PH is a strange place, in GG one chap is retro fitting them !
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
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?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 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.
Edited by Stoofa on Monday 6th August 00:39
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.
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.
Edited by Durzel on Sunday 5th August 11:41
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".
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".
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...
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...
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!
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!
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.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...
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.
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.
Certain ways of doing DRLs are ok with me. LEDs are fine, DRLs in the fog light position aren't, DRLs as the sidelight bulbs aren't. If they're LED and in the headlight or away from the fog light, that's fine. So I may be in the minority here, but I like the strips on the DS3.
I don't know if its the same for other cars where the DRL is the sidelight, but on the Up/Mii/Citigo, they're the sidelight bulbs, the sidelights are dual filament bulbs so turning on the sidelights makes the lights dimmer than the DRL. I know the rear lights will come on with the sidelights, but I don't get why the front sidelights are dimmer.
I don't know if its the same for other cars where the DRL is the sidelight, but on the Up/Mii/Citigo, they're the sidelight bulbs, the sidelights are dual filament bulbs so turning on the sidelights makes the lights dimmer than the DRL. I know the rear lights will come on with the sidelights, but I don't get why the front sidelights are dimmer.
mjb1 said:
Mandat said:
It would help to know what car you are talking about.
My Golf has an easy on/off function for the DRL's. Isuzu D Max. If someone can't see a vehicle that size in the day without it being lit up like a christmas tree, they shouldn't be anywhere near a public road!
Some feckwits couldn't even see a 40 foot double-decker bus, running with dipped beams, as was per regs at my old depot. Like you say - these sort of feckwits should not be allowed near a public road!!!My Golf has an easy on/off function for the DRL's. Isuzu D Max. If someone can't see a vehicle that size in the day without it being lit up like a christmas tree, they shouldn't be anywhere near a public road!
Hooli said:
WinstonWolf said:
I have decided I f
king HATE DRL's. No rational reason other than they look ste IMHO 
That is all...
+1king HATE DRL's. No rational reason other than they look ste IMHO That is all...
Plus they should be front AND rear to allow for all the dozy mongs who dont put their lights on in the rain
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