Day running lights

wba31

SCO wrote: »

If a car had DRL it should also have automatic lights to prevent this.

I used to agree with this, i leased 2 307s via my dads employee scheme (peugeot mechanic) in 2006 and the cars had auto wipers and auto lights on, and when raining the auto lights would come on too, but not illuminate the dash. genius idea.

however i have recently bought a 2008 civic, with auto lights and wipers. When out in the rain the other week i started the car, the wipers started going, no headlights, manual switch on. So unfortunately, honda owners that are not bright enough to put lights on in the rain still would have no lights on...

Tilt

wba31 wrote: »

I used to agree with this, i leased 2 307s via my dads employee scheme (peugeot mechanic) in 2006 and the cars had auto wipers and auto lights on, and when raining the auto lights would come on too, but not illuminate the dash. genius idea.

however i have recently bought a 2008 civic, with auto lights and wipers. When out in the rain the other week i started the car, the wipers started going, no headlights, manual switch on. So unfortunately, honda owners that are not bright enough to put lights on in the rain still would have no lights on...

This is exactly what i'm on about... good drivers should not need these gizmo's. They are giving some of our less proficient drivers a 'false sense of security' because they become reliant on the technology which in some circumstances could have fatal consequences. As someone has pointed out, do auto lights switch on in day time fog?

It is quite obvious that there is a worrying trend of poor driving skills these days and manufacturers have recognised this by 'spoon feeding' such drivers with these devices.

brat

The current crop of DRLs have little or no road safety heritage or purpose. The Audi LED strip was designed to appeal to a certain type of road user, the type whose credit worthiness has allowed them to move on from blue Saxo lights, and retro fitted [STRIKE]driving [/STRIKE]fog lights.

Other manufacturers have jumped on the 'fashion' bandwagon.

Gloomendoom

brat wrote: »

Other manufacturers have jumped on the 'fashion' bandwagon.

Not really. They have to fit them... it's the law!

Daytime Running Lights

brat

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Not really. They have to fit them... it's the law!

Daytime Running Lights

The style rather than the purpose was what I was referring to.

McCoy

I can see some value to them being fitted as standard to new cars, but to spend good money having them installed in an existing car rather than just flicking your own lights on when conditions require it seems a little extreme.

As for rain-sensitive wipers I've never been able to get my head around the idea that such things are necessary to eliminate a driver having to push a stalk on one side of the steering column when water droplets begin appearing on their windscreen, given that they're presumably pushing the stalk on the other side constantly in order to indicate.

Just adding technology where none is required.

interstellaflyer

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Not really. They have to fit them... it's the law!

Daytime Running Lights

If it's by law then why are manufacturers only fitting them as standard on on their higher trim levels, for example, you have to go to Titanium X spec to get them as standard on a Focus according to the current brochure which I have in front of me.

McCoy

interstellaflyer wrote: »

If it's by law then why are manufacturers only fitting them as standard on on their higher trim levels, for example, you have to go to Titanium X spec to get them as standard on a Focus according to the current brochure which I have in front of me.

Damn good question.

interstellaflyer

Also, you have the option to turn them off, kind of makes them pointless.

Angry_Fanboy

interstellaflyer wrote: »

If it's by law then why are manufacturers only fitting them as standard on on their higher trim levels, for example, you have to go to Titanium X spec to get them as standard on a Focus according to the current brochure which I have in front of me.

Because the lower models have dipped-beam systems designed to remain on continuously in lieu of dedicated daytime running lights.