DRLs and backlit instruments

[wibblebrain]

Anyone else noticed the increase in the number of plonkers driving at night with no (rear) lights on?

These exceedingly bright LED daytime running lights and often backlit instruments mean that they don't realise they haven't got any "proper" lights on and so are basically invisible to people behind them.

In every case I've come across these people have been blissfully unaware despite any attempt to alert them to the situation.

[mrmr96]

This is why DRL's should include rear position markers too. (and they should also be a sensible brightness front and rear)

[Cyder]

Shouldn't be a problem soon, I believe from next year automatic headlights are mandatory for new models.

Unless of course said idiots switch the lamps off. Then there's no helping them.

[anonymous-user]

Volvos have headlights that can never be switched off - they are on dipped all the time. Oddly you still get a control for the lights but it doesn't actually DO anything. Not sure why that isn't the standard solution to the need for DRLs, other than the stylists love of chintzy LEDs.

[Cyder]

2 reasons for it...

1. Head Lamp bulbs tend to blow more regularly (typically a halogen bulb will last 800hours and a xenon bulb 2500hrs) LED's last forever in comparison.

2. Stylists love to style stuff, and LED lights are their favourite toy at the moment. And you can sell the higher spec LED version to the punter for £££'s too.

[Cyder]

Obviously.

[aw51 121565]

wibblebrain said:

Anyone else noticed the increase in the number of plonkers driving at night with no (rear) lights on?

These exceedingly bright LED daytime running lights and often backlit instruments mean that they don't realise they haven't got any "proper" lights on and so are basically invisible to people behind them.

In every case I've come across these people have been blissfully unaware despite any attempt to alert them to the situation.

It's interesting (concerning?) that, when running at night on DRLs only (as you describe), these drivers seem oblivious to the absence of the normal 'beam spread' on the road ahead (and kerbs etc) which headlights give!

"It's dark, I can't see much ahead, are the headlamps on? Damn!" *click* "That's better, I can see OK now!"


No, not a flicker of the registers with them...

[tenpenceshort]

I think the issue rotates more around the modern habit of permanently lit instrument binnacles than it does DRLs. An easy reference point for needing your lights on always used to be the instrument binnacle; the unlit dials would reach a point where you knew it was time to put your lights on.

Now cars typically have dials that are either permanently illuminated or entirely digital, so that reference point is missing.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

i think its an issue that if your already our in it you dont notice the decline in light levels as you adapt where if you come out from a bright environment to a dusky one you go ooh its dark i cant see

[tenpenceshort]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Of course it's not the only thing you rely on, but it's a good reference point.

That the OP (and I) have noticed a reduction in people putting their lights on suggests that something has changed their decision making. DRLs don't provide any noticeable forward illumination in dusky conditions, so we have to assume either people have become worse at looking out of their windows and judging the lighting conditions, or they have some other reference point missing. I wonder what that might be?

[CrutyRammers]

tenpenceshort said:

I think the issue rotates more around the modern habit of permanently lit instrument binnacles than it does DRLs. An easy reference point for needing your lights on always used to be the instrument binnacle; the unlit dials would reach a point where you knew it was time to put your lights on.

Now cars typically have dials that are either permanently illuminated or entirely digital, so that reference point is missing.

Totally agree with this.

[alangla]

tenpenceshort said:

Of course it's not the only thing you rely on, but it's a good reference point.

That the OP (and I) have noticed a reduction in people putting their lights on suggests that something has changed their decision making. DRLs don't provide any noticeable forward illumination in dusky conditions, so we have to assume either people have become worse at looking out of their windows and judging the lighting conditions, or they have some other reference point missing. I wonder what that might be?

I reckon it's a combination of the permanently lit dashboard, brighter street lighting and DRLs, in that order. As someone previously said, not being able to read the dials used to be a good indicator of when to turn the lights on, but not any more with permanent dashboard illumination. In urban areas, I reckon your headlights probably contribute little or nothing to what you can actually see - the street lights probably provide 80-90% of the light, especially if you're looking further up the road than the few yards your lights illuminate. The DRL issue I reckon is a distant 3rd - if you look out the front you might see them reflecting on another vehicle, but it should be pretty obvious they're not your headlights, unless you're in a VW with halogen DRLs (and most of them that I see have at least one bulb out).
I also agree with the previous poster who suggested wiring the DRLs to the tail lights - the number of idiots who drive about in mist/heavy rain with no rear illumination beggars belief. One other suggestion I'd make is to wire the lights-on telltale on the dash to the dipped beam, not the sidelight - in a brightly lit urban area it's not always immediately obvious if you're on side or dipped lighting.