Daytime running lights

pitkin2020

anotherbaldrick wrote: »

When the main headlights switch on, either full or dipped beam DRL's are turned off. The fixing of the DRL's is not the issue ,they do not move, what causes the light to deflect is the nose up or nose down attitude of the car in response to road humps and potholes.

I agree with that but fixing can also be an issue, anything that is screwed or bolted can work loose. Fog lights work loose and so can headlights so it can be an issue. I doubt aftermarket DRLs are even part of the MOT so I also doubt they ever checked after fitting to make sure they haven't worked loose or the angle they are pointing hasn't changed.

Flyboy152

pitkin2020 wrote: »

Originally Posted by Trebor16
But it is not a legal requirement for them to be used, just for them to be fitted.

Yes you are correct but you can't turn them off unless you put your side lights on head lights. With no side lights or headlights DRL's will be on...........

I would like to see the relevant law that says that they can be fitted and not used.

Jakg

pitkin2020 wrote: »

Has anyone fitted an after market kit to their own car??

Yes - although it wasn't a "kit", it was just some LED strips.

pitkin2020 wrote: »

Was it an easy job to do??

If you know a bit about auto-electrics, yes - I connected mine to an ignition live - some cars will already have a spare one under the bonnet, but I had to run a wire from inside the car, though the bulkhead down to the bumper.

When the ignition comes on, they go on. When the ignition goes off, they go off.

I've also fitted a switch, so I can turn them off (i.e. if I'm parked up listening to the radio etc and I dont want them on)

pitkin2020 wrote: »

Ideally if I were to fit them I would want them to work without having to switch the side lights but then they would automatically turn off once you turned on side/full lights.

Out of interest - why would you want them to turn off?

pitkin2020 wrote: »

If anyone has any links to a half decent and reasonably priced kit i'd be very interested, and even more interested if anyone can find a decent set of "How to" instructions lol

How "reasonably priced" would you like?

I use the Chinese LED strips on eBay - usually pay ~£4 (I've bought loads for different things!)



Just wired up next to the fogs in the fake vent thing.

Wig wrote: »

What are they? Additional lights that you fit to the car? For what purpose? Why not just turn on your headlamps?

Headlights are designed to illuminate - they do the job fine, but they will use more power, and you'll burn your bulbs out quicker.

LED running lights can be just as visible (although obviously wont illuminate much), and use a fraction of the power.

Stephen_Leak wrote: »

I like the idea of being seen and not hit, but don't want to dazzle oncoming drivers. So, my personal compromise is to always use my side lights. I have, however, upgraded the bulbs to the halogen version. They still have the "capless/wedge" fitting, but also have the pointed end, where the gas is sealed in. like halogen headlight bulbs. They still only draw 5W but the light output is comparable to a conventional 21W bulb.

On my car, the sidelights are in the same reflector housing as the main beam - the problem is this housing is more for illuminating the road than being seen, and although the sidelights themselves are pretty bright (LED's), they are very small so are pretty hard to see.

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

ive notice that DRL's are supposed to be turned off at night time but most if not all people ignore this when driving during the night with them on,their brighter than the dipped beam and as such i reckon the police should be enforcing the rules regarding DRL's and night time driving rant over.

They aren't - they only need to dim etc if within so many mm of a headlight / indicator.

A lot of cars (Mercedes for example) DRL's are on permanently, with or without the headlights... the only ones I know that do dip / turn off are the Audi ones, which are as part of the light cluster.

pitkin2020

Out of interest - why would you want them to turn off?

I would only want them on when side/head lights aren't on i.e day time, I don't really see the point of them being on all the time as I would have no intention of using them instead of or in conjunction with other lighting.

Thanks for the info, those on your ZT do look like factory fit very nicely done.

anotherbaldrick

Flyboy152 wrote: »

I would like to see the relevant law that says that they can be fitted and not used.

That is correct , it is EU law all vehicles have to have DRL's fitted from new but their is no regulation you must use them . As standard most manufacturers wire them so that in daylight running they are on and cannot be switched off, but I know on my Golf this can be disabled if you know the trick. ( with ignition off push upwards the indicator stalk and hold it , turn on ignition and after 3 sec's you will get a beep to confirm disablement)

Flyboy152

anotherbaldrick wrote: »

That is correct , it is EU law all vehicles have to have DRL's fitted from new but their is no regulation you must use them . As standard most manufacturers wire them so that in daylight running they are on and cannot be switched off, but I know on my Golf this can be disabled if you know the trick. ( with ignition off push upwards the indicator stalk and hold it , turn on ignition and after 3 sec's you will get a beep to confirm disablement)

But not according to section 23 of The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989.

Biglad_3

I have a 2011 Skoda Octavia Vrs you can go into the maxidot computer to turn on/off with the ignition. So the option is there depending on the owner, why you would want them off I don't know !

Likewise the DRLs are on full brightness when no lights are on. When you select sidelights the DRLs dimm there is no actual sidelight in the headlamp. When you then select dipped beam the DRLs also stay on at the reduced brightness, so they never actually go off !

I was stopped by the police for having fog lights on............they are useless about knowing the law, I had to show them that they were DRLs legal and are on all the time even with the lights selected off.

almillar

I have no hesitation, even on a slightly dull day, in turning my headlights on. How many accidents are 'sorry mate, didn't see you' type ones? People really don't look behind or in front of them.
Driving with your foglights on in good conditions, is of course illegal, annoys other road users and shouldn't be done.
I'm not exactly happy about DRS but to be honest, I don't see what some people on here are talking about with dazzling other drivers etc - they're not that bright! Also, I hope it puts an end to people driving round with their sidelights on. They switch these on, their dashboard lights up, and they think everyone can see them, but they're a bit pointless in my opinion, as these drivers have a false sense of security, thinking their car is better lit than it actually is. Then it gets dark and they forget about putting on dipped beam!

rubenoff

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daytime running lamps pros and cons rubenoff

rubenoff

there are some important things that we as driver's of automobile,s need to practice in order to respect the eye's of oncoming
driver's in nightime driving situations Fog lamps are supplied on many newer vehicles however these should not be used in clear weather and or nightime situations Because there is an increase of lighting being projected from the front of our vehicles towards the eyes of the other approaching driver,s Most vehicles now have the ability built in to the vehicle to allow operation of the fog lamps alone and the operation of rear vehicle tailamp.s and front park lamps, most common sense and properly written Motor Vehicle regulations will allow the use of fog lamps in place of the low beam lamps Because of lamps are normally being aimed lower so as to better peer under the fog, use of low and high beam is sometimes useless in foggy conditions because of the white light glowing backwards off the fog moisture particles into the eyes of the vehicle driver, amber colored fog lamps seem to work better because of less light spatter back into the eye,s of the driver using the fog lamps and the amber colored light is easier on the eyes of the oncoming drivers
The motor Vehicle regulations need to be re written to allow law enforcement to issue citaton's to drivers that drive around with fog lamps lit in clear weather or at nightime when the weather is clear.
Auxillary driving lamp's must be operated from the high beam light operation only so that the added light operates when the most seeing distance is required ahead of the vehicle at night, and to ensure that the auxillary driving lamps cannot be operated on Low beam operation to protect the eye's of the oncoming driver's
Frequent road side police Vehicle inspection's are required to catch and correct improper wiring and switching that allow the lights to be operated in a manner that decrease,s public safety and allows a disrespect to the eye's of the oncomimg driver's and allow a blinding headlamp situation that can create road rage and set up a head on collision accident waiting to occur
Some of the early Daytime Running lamp.s installed on vehicles allow the daytime running lamps to be lit in the daytime and then at the nightime they are called fog lamps and or Auxillary driving lamps and the operator has no means of shutting the lamps off
to respect the eyes of oncoming motorist's and or meet properly written and safe Motor Vehicle regulations that are supposed to be there for the protection of all drivers you and I
there is a great need to ensure that all vehicles have their headlamp alignment inspected in the following conditions
(1) when the unit is new fresh from the factory
(2) any time weight has been added to the vehicle ie. Canopy. winch, tool box, fuel tank, welder
or a deck that is used for carrying weight
(3) when the unit is used for towing trailers,
(4) anytime repairs are completed to the suspension of vehicle ( new springs etc. accident's)
(5) when the unit ages and there is settlement of the suspension ( 3-5 years)

as drivers we have the responsibility dim our lights when meeting oncoming vehicles, and when following vehicles to prevent our headlamps from blinding other's who share the roadway system
as a matter of common courtesy and to lower the risk's of creating accident's