"Turning" lights

[LeoZwalf]

Someone just posted yet another thread about DRLs. Right now people think they are stupid but give it a year or two and we'll be used to them. On that note, I'd ask why they only apply to the front of the car and why there aren't DRLs on the rear but that's for another thread (probably the one just started)

My current gripe is the madness of 'turning lights'. I dunno if that's the real word for them but I'm sticking with that for now.

They are what we always knew as foglights. But now they seem to switch on automatically (most look like they fade on/off) when the indicator is on or the steering is turned.

WHAT is this all about?? Mostly I see them and think the guy's got a bulb out... oh wait, it's fading, oh it's cos he's turning.

Anyone? Explain it? Anyone... Bueller?

[David87]

These make me laugh too. Never driven a car with them so can't comment on how good they are, but the cars that use the fog lamps do look like they just have a bulb out. Seems to be mainly Mercedes and Fiats that I've seen. BMW and others have proper ones that swivel and are in the headlamp units themselves and don't look stupid, though.

[essexplumber]

My 207gti has them and they do help. Can't see why you have a problem with them.

Edit: Mine has a bulb in the headlight casing.

Edited by essexplumber on Thursday 15th April 20:55

[LeoZwalf]

@ Essexplumber - I don't have a problem with them as such. I mean, I don't lose sleep over them or get aggressive towards the drivers of cars with them, nothing like that Just that I think they look stupid and really cannot see what good they do. You say they help on your 207, how so?

[Ray Singh]

Mercedes cars that have these look silly.
I would like to see the theory behind these and how much they actually help. I guess they are like the steering linked headlights of the early Citroens.

[dave_s13]

I had turny headlights on my L reg mr2 turbo.

Cool but useless.

[saaby93]

A bright light comes on when you turn the steering in that direction
So youre driving along a road with a slight left bend. Your left bright light comes on and the guy at the junction ahead pulls out thinking youve flashed him

[hooperpride]

I don't think I've ever noticed them, doesn't say much for my observation skills.

[LeoZwalf]

saaby93 said:

A bright light comes on when you turn the steering in that direction
So youre driving along a road with a slight left bend. Your left bright light comes on and the guy at the junction ahead pulls out thinking youve flashed him

No because they don't come on in a slight bend and look nothing like the flashing of the mainbeams.

[TheRoadWarrior]

dave_s13 said:

I had turny headlights on my L reg mr2 turbo.

Cool but useless.

Technically you had 'turny' foglights on your MR2.. but lets not split hairs.

I've driven the discovery3 with cornering lights(+Xenons), there are occasions where they work but its a bit naff when they come on when you're just threading the thing down a tight country lane, tuning the wheel but not planning on actually 'turning' as such. Cant complain about the discovery's lights too much tho.. they're simply stunning in all other respects, light up so much of the road they make driving at night so much easier.

[Vic Cooper]

LeoZwalf said:

Someone just posted yet another thread about DRLs. Right now people think they are stupid but give it a year or two and we'll be used to them. On that note, I'd ask why they only apply to the front of the car and why there aren't DRLs on the rear but that's for another thread (probably the one just started)

My current gripe is the madness of 'turning lights'. I dunno if that's the real word for them but I'm sticking with that for now.

They are what we always knew as foglights. But now they seem to switch on automatically (most look like they fade on/off) when the indicator is on or the steering is turned.

WHAT is this all about?? Mostly I see them and think the guy's got a bulb out... oh wait, it's fading, oh it's cos he's turning.

Anyone? Explain it? Anyone... Bueller?

It's called passive cornering light, but we clearly see it's like a
'Tesco Value' solution, isn't it?

Edited by Vic Cooper on Thursday 15th April 23:29

[saaby93]

LeoZwalf said:

saaby93 said:

A bright light comes on when you turn the steering in that direction
So youre driving along a road with a slight left bend. Your left bright light comes on and the guy at the junction ahead pulls out thinking youve flashed him

No because they don't come on in a slight bend and look nothing like the flashing of the mainbeams.

What do you call slight? Had them come on in a loan car (at dusk) as per above.

[Deva Link]

LeoZwalf said:

Someone just posted yet another thread about DRLs. Right now people think they are stupid but give it a year or two and we'll be used to them.

They're going to be mandatory on all new cars from 2011.

[saaby93]

Deva Link said:

LeoZwalf said:

Someone just posted yet another thread about DRLs. Right now people think they are stupid but give it a year or two and we'll be used to them.

They're going to be mandatory on all new cars from 2011.

Any takers for non-DRL vehicles cycles pedestrians being subject to higher 'I didnt see you' accidents

[cptsideways]

Nothing new! My 24 year old Toyota had them fitted as standard

[Deva Link]

saaby93 said:

LeoZwalf said:

saaby93 said:

A bright light comes on when you turn the steering in that direction
So youre driving along a road with a slight left bend. Your left bright light comes on and the guy at the junction ahead pulls out thinking youve flashed him

No because they don't come on in a slight bend and look nothing like the flashing of the mainbeams.

What do you call slight? Had them come on in a loan car (at dusk) as per above.

There are 2 systems - one is like steerable headlamps and only works at higher speeds and the other one is basically foglamps that come on and that only works at lower speeds.

With either system there's nothing that another driver could take as a "flash". Unlike auto HID lights which come on with "pop" - I turned the auto function on mine off for this reason, only to pull out right in front of a Jag XF when I thought he'd flashed me.

[boomboompow]

I don't understand the Merc/Seat/VW theory of using the fogs as turning lights, but my mrk3 Clio had turning lights mounted on the side of the headlight unit and they were very effective (and didn't make you look like a berk with one fog light on).