DRL idiots.

[fjord]

Im a fan of DRL's, they're amazing!!!!!!

Actually, no, they're fking stupid, but this isn't the normal DRL rant.

Twice this week, in total darkness, i've seen people driving along using DRL's as headlights.... What in the actual fk.

First one was to be expected, it was some dizzy woman driving a citroen people carrier. I'll let that one slide.

Last night was a 3-series. Now, a slight deviation from my moan, because I need to compliment BMW on their use of DRL's on the new F30. Unlike those fking tts at Audi, BMW realised you don't need to use your DRL's to try and post the fking batman symbol on a cloud 25 miles away with your fking fairy lights, and to be honest, the BMW ones were how they should be.


I only took note because i've never really seen them before.

When looking in the mirror, i see the car is in total darkness from the back end.

If car companies insist on using DRL's, and people who cant work a car insist on buying them, for fk sake please light up the rear end as well...

[detchibe]

Oddly enough saw exactly the same thing on the M11 last night, black Astra with no lights on apart from the DRL's

[chrisw666]

It's quite easy in a lot of newer cars to drive with no headlights on a well lit road as the dash lights up when you start the engine anyway.

[Risotto]

I'd suggest the problem is more to do with the fact that modern cars tend to have dashboards that light up irrespective of whether your headlights are on.

I know there's a side/dipped/main indicator but the fact that you couldn't read your dash instruments used to be a pretty good clue that you didn't have your headlights on when you should.

Edited by Risotto on Thursday 28th March 14:52

[BOBTEE]

I'm not sure it's the DRLs at fault, more the dash. The dashes on most new cars light up all the time, therefore when it's dark outside and all your dash is lit up you can easily assume you've switched your lights on... I've done it, didn't get far before I noticed mind.

[big_boz]

The LED DRLs on my wife's KIA are brighter than the headlights on an ALFA 156, side by side test was completed a few months back.

And, all volvo's used to have DRL's as standard, people didn't moan about them in the 80's/90's, why the sudden hatred for them?

[fjord]

big_boz said:

The LED DRLs on my wife's KIA are brighter than the headlights on an ALFA 156, side by side test was completed a few months back.

And, all volvo's used to have DRL's as standard, people didn't moan about them in the 80's/90's, why the sudden hatred for them?

Because Volvo just used normal headlights as DRL?

If companies did that these days, there would be no issue from me. It's those fking bright white stips of lights that fking piss me off.

Even worse are the solid lines of light, like in the Evoque.

[Krikkit]

Risotto said:

I'd suggest the problem is more to do with the fact that modern cars tend to have dashboards that light up irrespective of whether your headlights are on.

I know there's a side/dipped/main indicator but the fact that you couldn't read your dash instruments used to be a far better indication that you didn't have your headlights on than a small icon of a headlight ever was.

Indeed - it's a good test of visibility. If you can't read the dash properly then it's definitely time for lights!

[new_bloke]

big_boz said:

The LED DRLs on my wife's KIA are brighter than the headlights on an ALFA 156, side by side test was completed a few months back.

And, all volvo's used to have DRL's as standard, people didn't moan about them in the 80's/90's, why the sudden hatred for them?

That's not quite true - my dear dad spent most of the 80s flashing his headlights at volvo drivers (not that they'd have noticed - he was in a morris traveller with candles for lights...) - he was obviously ahead of his time!

[big_boz]

fjord said:

big_boz said:

The LED DRLs on my wife's KIA are brighter than the headlights on an ALFA 156, side by side test was completed a few months back.

And, all volvo's used to have DRL's as standard, people didn't moan about them in the 80's/90's, why the sudden hatred for them?

Because Volvo just used normal headlights as DRL?

If companies did that these days, there would be no issue from me. It's those fking bright white stips of lights that fking piss me off.

Even worse are the solid lines of light, like in the Evoque.

Ah so its LED DRL's that get your back up!

[LADANIVA]

DLRs have become very bright not like latter day Volvos.

Infortunately there is more blinding going on with these fairly light DLrs than enough.

It Effing daft

[Talented009]

big_boz said:

The LED DRLs on my wife's KIA are brighter than the headlights on an ALFA 156, side by side test was completed a few months back.

And, all volvo's used to have DRL's as standard, people didn't moan about them in the 80's/90's, why the sudden hatred for them?

Well for starters Led headlights were a myth back then.
Hyundai seems to be the new Christmas lights culprit

[rumple]

Sorry guys but are you seriously telling me that having permant illuminated dashboards is an excuse for driving without lights?

[chrisw666]

rumple said:

Sorry guys but are you seriously telling me that having permant illuminated dashboards is an excuse for driving without lights?

I think there is a difference between an excuse and a reason that a mistake could be made.

[Frik]

big_boz said:

The LED DRLs on my wife's KIA are brighter than the headlights on an ALFA 156, side by side test was completed a few months back.

They are brighter, that's kind of the point. They aren't design to light up the road in front of you though, which is why you have headlights.

DRLs are about as much use as no lights at all at night. Therefore anyone who uses them in place of headlights is an idiot. This is not the DRLs fault.

[MagicalTrevor]

I'm certainly not defending them, I agree with the OP, but did you know that you only HAVE to have your dipped beam on when on a >30 mph road. You can legally drive on a 30mph road with just your sidelights on. Certainly wouldn't recommend it and anybody who does so is a dick.

[Graebob]

Automatic headlights.

[big_boz]

Talented009 said:

big_boz said:

The LED DRLs on my wife's KIA are brighter than the headlights on an ALFA 156, side by side test was completed a few months back.

And, all volvo's used to have DRL's as standard, people didn't moan about them in the 80's/90's, why the sudden hatred for them?

Well for starters Led headlights were a myth back then.
Do not even get me started on the ones on those new Hyundais

All that this is pointing to is that basically you notice my wife (and in the not too distant future my spawn) in her car better than you would have without the "annoying LED DRL's".

That is a win as far as i am concerned and frankly that is what they are for. Just because some people have enough time on their hands to get annoyed by them is by the by, and i could give a st.

To OP's point about driving in the dark with them on, surely these idiots would have been driving with NO lights had they not had DRL's, so again, that's a Win no? Now that's not to say they shouldn't be shot for not putting their lights on, but at least you can see them.

[mat777]

fjord said:

big_boz said:

The LED DRLs on my wife's KIA are brighter than the headlights on an ALFA 156, side by side test was completed a few months back.

And, all volvo's used to have DRL's as standard, people didn't moan about them in the 80's/90's, why the sudden hatred for them?

Because Volvo just used normal headlights as DRL?

If companies did that these days, there would be no issue from me. It's those fking bright white stips of lights that fking piss me off.

Even worse are the solid lines of light, like in the Evoque.

Why do they have to use separate LEDs instead of just making the headlights, or at least sidelights, permanately on? Not only do most cars with mid-life facelifts to support DRLs they were designed without look utterly gash, but as said LEDs are a stupidly intense light compared to a normal headlight bulb.

I still don't get why we need them anyway... Just another example of catering to the symptoms instead of fixing the problem (ie teaching people to be more fking observant so they can see if a car is moving or parked)

[jimmy156]

big_boz said:

The LED DRLs on my wife's KIA are brighter than the headlights on an ALFA 156, side by side test was completed a few months back.

And, all volvo's used to have DRL's as standard, people didn't moan about them in the 80's/90's, why the sudden hatred for them?

That has as much to do with 156 headlights being about as bright as a glow worm in a jam jar as it does DRL being too bright