Is it just me?
Author
Discussion

juan king

Original Poster:

1,093 posts

209 months

Friday 11th November 2011
quotequote all
..that does not get this 'I hate DRL/LED brake lights, they burn my retinas!' movement on here?
I just really dont see them as a problem TBH, and if that is all you have to worry about in life then you are pretty lucky!

PurpleMoonlight

22,362 posts

177 months

Friday 11th November 2011
quotequote all
They don't do anything to enhance the look of a car in my opinion.

No doubt it's been introduced as a percieved safety enhancement.

Nick3point2

3,920 posts

200 months

Friday 11th November 2011
quotequote all
I don't get it either, but there are a lot of very... umm... 'particular' people on pistonheads.


Purplemoonlight I think the OP is referring to people complaining about brightness not about general appearance.

juan king

Original Poster:

1,093 posts

209 months

Friday 11th November 2011
quotequote all
Yep, i just meant the brightness aspect really.

Melvin Udall

73,668 posts

275 months

Friday 11th November 2011
quotequote all
I'm the same, to be honest. I find far more blinding issues with headlights, than foggies, or DRL's.

redgriff500

28,982 posts

283 months

Friday 11th November 2011
quotequote all
DRL's I object to as it highlights the latest safest cars hence making the older less safe cars / motorbikes / bikes / pedestrians less obvious.

Its like flouresent vests - you used to pay attention to them but when everyone wears them they become "background" and hence pointless.

The superbright LED brake lights are worse than normal ones for dazzling - probably not an issue in an average car but in a low sportscar they are right in your eyeline and if you have a long dark commute you eyes ache at the end of it.

But none bother me enough to rant about.


Dog Star

17,184 posts

188 months

Friday 11th November 2011
quotequote all
Some DRLs are waaaaaaaaay too bright.

I will cite Audi as the worst culprit for this - put it this way - they have to dim the DRL on the relevant side when the indicators are being used. That, in my book, means that they're too bright to start with.

I definitely think that any car that has a great string of the things fall into this category though to some extent. What's wrong with a couple of subtle LEDs? Less is more.

C8PPO

20,347 posts

223 months

Friday 11th November 2011
quotequote all
I must say, whilst not wishing to climb on the general bandwagon, certain cars do have absurdly bright brake lights, to the point where I would indeed consider them certainly a major distraction. It's only certain cars, not LEDs in general - I think it is probably some of the german marques. Whereas you can look straight ahead when a filament brake light is on at close range, you certainly can't with some LEDs.

LukeSi

5,780 posts

181 months

Friday 11th November 2011
quotequote all
Dog Star said:
Some DRLs are waaaaaaaaay too bright.

I will cite Audi as the worst culprit for this - put it this way - they have to dim the DRL on the relevant side when the indicators are being used. That, in my book, means that they're too bright to start with.

I definitely think that any car that has a great string of the things fall into this category though to some extent. What's wrong with a couple of subtle LEDs? Less is more.
I'm going to agree there, and the problem with Audi DRLS is that they seem to die, so you will see a newish audi with loads of broken leds. The system on the BMWs is much better, the DRL is actually just the headlights but on a much lower setting. (Or you could use the parking lights which is the angel eyes)

thinfourth2

32,414 posts

224 months

Friday 11th November 2011
quotequote all
Nick3point2 said:
I don't get it either, but there are a lot of very... umm... 'particular' people on pistonheads.
I think the term you are looking for is "drama queen"

juan king

Original Poster:

1,093 posts

209 months

Friday 11th November 2011
quotequote all
thinfourth2 said:
I think the term you are looking for is "drama queen"
smile well put!

kambites

70,290 posts

241 months

Friday 11th November 2011
quotequote all
Different people's eyes seem to respond differently do different kinds of lights in some way that I don't claim to understand. I've very rarely found DRLs to be a problem (although I do sometimes have to dip the mirror if an SUV stops just behind me in a traffic jam) but I find the combination of front fog lights and dipped beams, which don't seem to bother some people at all, completely blinding.

Edited by kambites on Friday 11th November 09:28

Mazdarese

21,131 posts

207 months

Friday 11th November 2011
quotequote all
Has anyone else noticed, that when viewed through a rear-view mirror DRL's seem to 'dance' around slightly when on a bumpy road? It's really weird. Headlights look ok, but the DRL's move around. I've noticed it particularly on Mercedes'

marcosgt

11,403 posts

196 months

Friday 11th November 2011
quotequote all
Not as bad as the Superbike riding "I need my full beams on to be seen" merchants...

One day I'm going to swerve into one of these berks having had my eyesight permanently compromised!

M.

LuS1fer

43,034 posts

265 months

Friday 11th November 2011
quotequote all
Blue eyes are more sensitive to light than brown. I don't have a particular issue with LEDs per se but when fitted in volume they are unnecessarily bright.

I have also already seen muppets running round at night with no rear lights thinking DRLs come on at the back too.

The other thing is that I had a hire Merc Vito with DRLs and often opted to have those on instead of turning the dimmer sidelights on which would of course activate the rear lights too.