Day Running Lights

[Craphouserat]

Thanks again for all the info folks.

I have tried the stalk method - does not work. Even my far more intelligent O/H has tried - same result. I won't be removing any fuses - I'm sure I'll get used to them and if they are soon to be law - then so be it, but I will never be a fan and believe,that in thhis country at least, they are not required. Too many people rely on car technology as it is e.g I know there is a thread elsewhere about a female reversing into another motor because the car didnt beep to tell her! With DRL's people will just expect the car to know what lighting is required and when and if no rear illumination is provided then it's dangerous. Sure it is dark a lot, especially up here, but lights are not required all of the time.

Anyway - just my opinion. Thanks for all thoughts and info.

[Deva Link]

Craphouserat said:

Deva Link said:

To my mind that confirms what I said in my first reply - you're not seeing DRLs, you're seeing the auto lights being on. Either they're set to be on all the time or you've got a light sensor fault.

Was definitely told us we have DRL's - handbook says we do - guess I'll drop him an email explaining my worries. I'm sure i'll come across as the same dummy I am here ! Auto lights - I presume is the lights coming on automatically as required by conditions? DRLs are on - day running lamp - they are just on and are a different wattage bulb?

I'll email him - he can show his colleagues and laugh !

Yes, you may well have DRLs, but if you're getting the rear lights coming on then that's not the DRLs - that's the normal lights. DRLs generally go off when the normal lights come on - they certainly do on our new Golf.

[Deva Link]

Craphouserat said:

Thanks again for all the info folks.

I have tried the stalk method - does not work. Even my far more intelligent O/H has tried - same result.

I suspect that's because it's the ordinary lights that are on, not the DRLs.

Craphouserat said:

With DRL's people will just expect the car to know what lighting is required and when and if no rear illumination is provided then it's dangerous.

In normal daytime driving you don't know the DRLs are on. When it goes dark they provide no forward illumination so you turn your lights on (or they come on automatically if you have auto lights).

Obviously there are some people who will drive off in the dark and forget to turn on their lights, but DRLs are no more likely to make you do this.

[cuprabob]

As said previously, the stalk method to de-activate the DRLs does not work on the latest build cars

This whole confusion has come about because VW have tried to implement DRLs on the cheap on some models by just using the normal headlights and making the auto function effectively redundant.

I agree that having DRLs makes it no more likely that people will be driving around in the dark with no lights on. The auto function is more likely to cause this as people get too lazy to switch on there own lights.

I've never been blinded or distracted bt DRLs and as such they don't annoy me.

Edited by cuprabob on Wednesday 27th July 11:16

Edited by cuprabob on Wednesday 27th July 11:17

[trix-a-belle]

Stoofa said:

There is no law at the moment - it does not come into effect until next year.
Also the law is that the lights are a requirement on cars requiring type approval post January 2012.
Anything that currently has type approval does not require them nor will they require them next year - so that is anything on the road at the moment.

Stoofa
Sorry but I beg to differ on the date dft.gov document
wikipedia drl
Europa.eu
& this document is not clear on whether it is actually just new cars seeking type approval or all cars manufactured

[TDIfurby]

I can shift DRL's to the foglights for most motors that I am aware of, with my laptop. I know many find it annoying to have permanent dipped beam.

[cuprabob]

Just taken delivery of a new Scirocco and to my surprise it has an option on the MFD to switch them off.

As it has Xenons, it has low intensity lights where traditionally the main beam buls would reside.

[Helicopter123]

Soon we will all be used to these - they are a safety feature with significant benefits.

[Stoofa]

trix-a-belle said:

Stoofa
Sorry but I beg to differ on the date dft.gov document
wikipedia drl
Europa.eu
& this document is not clear on whether it is actually just new cars seeking type approval or all cars manufactured

The date was changed.
I'll attempt to find the updated information which pushed the date back to 2012.
It is also definitely only new cars that require type approval - or else there wouldn't be the option to turn them off on all current cars.

[catso]

Helicopter123 said:

Soon we will all be used to these - they are a safety feature with no significant benefits.

EFA

[liner33]

My 09 plate superb can switch them off on the mfd settings , my mums 11 plate Fabia has a small switch in the fusebox area for switching them off , since the polo is very similar its worth a look

[Helicopter123]

liner33 said:

My 09 plate superb can switch them off on the mfd settings , my mums 11 plate Fabia has a small switch in the fusebox area for switching them off , since the polo is very similar its worth a look

Suspect that this might have legal, or more likely insurance implications. If you intend to disable the system I would suggest it makes sense to let your insurer know, just to be on the safe side.

[liner33]

Do you usually inform your insurers when you switch your lights on??

[Helicopter123]

liner33 said:

Do you usually inform your insurers when you switch your lights on??

No, but if I had an accident at night with them off I'm sure I would be held to blame.

The point is that if you do anything to alter how the car should appear on the road from standard, such as switching off a safety feature, then this could quite easily give the insurer an "out".

Best protect yourself that's all I'm saying.

[Defcon5]

cuprabob said:

As it has Xenons, it has low intensity lights where traditionally the main beam buls would reside.

What does it use to flash then if it has no main beam lights?

[liner33]

Helicopter123 said:

No, but if I had an accident at night with them off I'm sure I would be held to blame.

The point is that if you do anything to alter how the car should appear on the road from standard, such as switching off a safety feature, then this could quite easily give the insurer an "out".

Best protect yourself that's all I'm saying.

But they arent a safety feature and there is no legal requirement to use them, if you werent meant to switch them off why fit a switch to allow you to??

If you do run DRL you soon get fed up of people either telling you that your lights are on , or plod stopping you for having foglights on, the dealer advised my Mum to leave them off as they are more trouble than they are worth

DRL and cornering lights are more trouble than they are worth most of the time

[cuprabob]

Defcon5 said:

What does it use to flash then if it has no main beam lights?

Don't know but will check sometime

[Deva Link]

liner33 said:

If you do run DRL you soon get fed up of people either telling you that your lights are on , or plod stopping you for having foglights on, the dealer advised my Mum to leave them off as they are more trouble than they are worth

DRL and cornering lights are more trouble than they are worth most of the time

No-one ever mentioned the DRLs on our Golf - Ive done a long motorway trip today, and my observations might be skewed as I suppose the average ago of cars on the motorway is younger than the general population, but a lot of cars had DRLs, and there are a lot of Poloa and Golfs around with them already.

I'm amazed a dealer said to turn them off, as they are touted as a safety feature.

Agree on cornering lamps though - my Merc has them and they make no difference at all. I do regularly get comments from people on that car though, as the fog/cornering lamps also act as follow-mw-home lamps and they come on in the dark (or even under a filling station canopy) when the car in unlocked.

[MikeGTi]

I turned mine off on't Golf after about a week of having it.

If I want my lights on, I'll turn them on.

Also worth noting that the Golf has a function in Auto setting which switches on dipped beam above 86mph (or thereabouts).

[cuprabob]

MikeGTi said:

I turned mine off on't Golf after about a week of having it.

If I want my lights on, I'll turn them on.

Also worth noting that the Golf has a function in Auto setting which switches on dipped beam above 86mph (or thereabouts).

...and if the windscreen wipers.are on auto and wipe 4 times continuously