Are DRL's really getting this stupid?
Discussion
Driving to work this morning, and low and behold, i'm blinded yet again, by some DRL's on a country road.
However, it's only as the opposing car passed me, that i realised it was actually his front fog lights that were burning my eyeballs.
However, his sidelights and headlights were off. This was confirmed by no tail lights as i checked the mirror.
It was an '11' plate VW, possibly a new Bora.
Im guessing there's no option to have front fogs on as a stand alone lighting, so assume these are DRL's. And if so, how can manufacturers be allowed to do this, seeing as it is illegal...
However, it's only as the opposing car passed me, that i realised it was actually his front fog lights that were burning my eyeballs.
However, his sidelights and headlights were off. This was confirmed by no tail lights as i checked the mirror.
It was an '11' plate VW, possibly a new Bora.
Im guessing there's no option to have front fogs on as a stand alone lighting, so assume these are DRL's. And if so, how can manufacturers be allowed to do this, seeing as it is illegal...
They're most probably not fogs, but ordinary DRLs placed in the normal fog light location because many owners think that lights in this location look 'cool' and 'sporty'.
In all honesty though, I have never ever been 'blinded' by either DRLs or by fog lights, and can't see what all the fuss is about. I do agree that more often than not, they do look stupid though. Worst offender for me is the Citroen DS3 with the vertical DRLs, which only serve to make the car look tall and narrow.
In all honesty though, I have never ever been 'blinded' by either DRLs or by fog lights, and can't see what all the fuss is about. I do agree that more often than not, they do look stupid though. Worst offender for me is the Citroen DS3 with the vertical DRLs, which only serve to make the car look tall and narrow.
C. Grimsley said:
Ha ha, sounds like you just want to moan, some people hey?
Today I went to sainsburys and the bread was all sold out, couldn't believe it, just thought I would tell everyone.
Carl
This is Pistonheads, a forum where we waste our time and discuss cars and issues surrounding cars. If you want to make a bread based complaint among fellow bread lovers then www.breadheads.co.uk is the site you are looking for, just be warned the crusty bap section can get a bit NSFW.Today I went to sainsburys and the bread was all sold out, couldn't believe it, just thought I would tell everyone.
Carl
Piepiepie said:
Lets Torque said:
All new cars have to have DRL as standard starting from March 2011.
There is a way of turning them off but many owners don't bother/know. They come on instantly aswell.
Oh i know that, and i fThere is a way of turning them off but many owners don't bother/know. They come on instantly aswell.
king hate them, but using the front fogs as drl's?Piepiepie said:
It was an '11' plate VW, possibly a new Bora.
Im guessing there's no option to have front fogs on as a stand alone lighting, so assume these are DRL's. And if so, how can manufacturers be allowed to do this, seeing as it is illegal...
VW, and Skoda (I know as I have them on my Fabia) have twin bulbs in the "foglight" unit. So we have one bulb and reflector for fog lights, operated as such by the light switch inside. Next to the foglight in a bulb and reflector for the DRL so they are not foglights nor are positioned as such. They are bright but not illegal and to do their job as required by some law in Europe. I think.Im guessing there's no option to have front fogs on as a stand alone lighting, so assume these are DRL's. And if so, how can manufacturers be allowed to do this, seeing as it is illegal...
Getragdogleg said:
This is Pistonheads, a forum where we waste our time and discuss cars and issues surrounding cars. If you want to make a bread based complaint among fellow bread lovers then www.breadheads.co.uk is the site you are looking for, just be warned the crusty bap section can get a bit NSFW.
Bugger actually thought that was a genuine site. Looks like I will have to stick around here a bit longer lol.Carl
Patrick Bateman said:
Bright they may be but if you have trouble coping with them then don't dare drive your car at night.
I get quite bad glare/flare or whatever it's called when I drive at night for the first 10 mins or so until my eyes adjust.A car cresting a hill in a wooded section of road with drls is a massive distraction for me personally.
If you can't see more than a ton of metal coming towards you in daylight you have some issues....
nouze said:
Codswallop said:
In all honesty though, I have never ever been 'blinded' by either DRLs or by fog lights, and can't see what all the fuss is about.
I'm sure Stephen Wonder would agree with you.Doesn't the VXR8 have driving lights built into the foglight cluster as well?
I'm loving the slightly higher driving position of the M3 against the VX, as the slightly lower seating position meant you were much more susceptible to a badly adjusted beam than in a typical car. I remember seeing a foreign people carrier coming the other way this morning with lights that slightly dazzled me in the M3, they'd have been a lot worse in the VX.
Now I'm no longer qualified to moan about low-seated drivers, the only complaint I have about DRLs is that they don't light the back of the car up. I've been behind a few cars with DRLs whose drivers are content that they can see forward, but disregarding the fact that the first I'll see of their dull silver car in the fog and pouring rain is when my headlights illuminate it, possibly a bit closer than I'd wanted to be. It's not a danger in any way, but I can just see it making oblivious drivers even more oblivious. I'm sure someone will be along soon to provide an anecdote of a DRL-equipped car driving along in the dark with no (tail)lights on.
I'm loving the slightly higher driving position of the M3 against the VX, as the slightly lower seating position meant you were much more susceptible to a badly adjusted beam than in a typical car. I remember seeing a foreign people carrier coming the other way this morning with lights that slightly dazzled me in the M3, they'd have been a lot worse in the VX.
Now I'm no longer qualified to moan about low-seated drivers, the only complaint I have about DRLs is that they don't light the back of the car up. I've been behind a few cars with DRLs whose drivers are content that they can see forward, but disregarding the fact that the first I'll see of their dull silver car in the fog and pouring rain is when my headlights illuminate it, possibly a bit closer than I'd wanted to be. It's not a danger in any way, but I can just see it making oblivious drivers even more oblivious. I'm sure someone will be along soon to provide an anecdote of a DRL-equipped car driving along in the dark with no (tail)lights on.
nouze said:
What's wrong with dipped beam, why can't it be used as DRL's? Why the fk did the nanny EU state ever allow this unfocused LED crap to hit our roads. It is a fking joke.
Bit harsh but it's a good point. Why don't manufacturers just set dipped beam so it's always on? Volvos have been like that for decades. I think the LED thing is certainly more fashion than anything.k did the nanny EU state ever allow this unfocused LED crap to hit our roads. It is a fking joke.I've got to agree. If it's been deemed necessary to light a vehicle all the time, why not just use the lights that are already on it? We have a VW Caddy on hire this week, and it's normal dipped beam and tail lights come on with the engine. Simple, none of this string of LEDs rubbish. Although it makes the 'off' position on the headlight switch totally useless...
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