DRL - safety?

knightstyle

I agree 100% with the poster, these lights are a menace but car manufacturers sell cars based on what we want!
So we need to have a go the manufacturers!

Honey_Badger

knightstyle wrote: »

I agree 100% with the poster, these lights are a menace but car manufacturers sell cars based on what we want!
So we need to have a go the manufacturers!

No point having a go at the manufacturers as DRL are a legal requirement on new vehicles.

European legislation adopted in 2008 required dedicated daytime running lights (DRL) to be fitted to all new 'types' of passenger cars and small delivery vans since February 2011. Trucks and buses followed from August 2012.

http://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/safety/daytime-running-lights

Strider590

Whilst a definite contributing factor, I don't think the dash lights coming on without the need for headlights is actually a big deal, people have been driving about with no lights on at night for decades. Some people just aren't paying attention (which is probably why they drive everywhere at 40mph )

Tilt

DRLs work fine with competent drivers. However since DRLs came to be, it appears that less-competent drivers are on the increase as (like the OP) I seemed to be seeing more and more cars driving at or after dusk without their normal lights on thus having no lights on at the rear at all.

I also think that on some cars the DRLs (the LED ones) are far too bright as it gives the incompetent driver the impression that he/she has their dipped head lights on.

On a previous car (09 plate Punto Evo) I was able to turn off the DRLs but on my 65 plate 500x I don't seem to be able to. But they are the non-LED type. Plus my car has a digital dash which dims when I put my normal lights on and also I have a green 'light' symbol telling me that they are on.

My overall opinion is that I would prefer to have the option of turning the DRLs off as I think they are unnecessary. If we have to have DRLs then the rear lights should come on as well so that drivers don't "forget" to put their normal lights on when they are needed.

Maybe in the not too distance future all new cars will have automatic lights which turn on when it's dusk which will assist the less competent drivers. Unfortunately though we will still have those who drive in day-time, poor visibility conditions (such as fog or heavy rain etc) without using their appropriate lights.

JustAnotherSaver

* makes thread, primarily about people using only DRLs & the no lights on the rear of the car as a result & the safety of this. Also makes comment about dashboard lighting although clearly not the key point of the thread*

*returns to thread*

*reads first 5 replies with people focusing on the minor point of dashboard lighting & skipping around the main issue of no lights on the rear of the car*

*gives up*

chrisw

My Volvo V60 has the rear lights on with the front DRL leds.

I can't see why it would be so hard or even cost anything for other manufacturers to follow suit.

neilmcl

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

* makes thread, primarily about people using only DRLs & the no lights on the rear of the car as a result & the safety of this. Also makes comment about dashboard lighting although clearly not the key point of the thread*

*returns to thread*

*reads first 5 replies with people focusing on the minor point of dashboard lighting & skipping around the main issue of no lights on the rear of the car*

*gives up*

You start a thread that's going to lead to obvious discussion, if you don't like the way the thread goes then either contribute more yourself or don't bother in future. Didn't you get what you wanted from Santa or something!

And btw it wasn't a "minor point of dashboard lighting", as you inferred yourself this is usually a good indicator for drivers that their headlights AND rear lights are on, clearly not in all cars as has been shown but there your go.

JP1978

So part of the OP's rant suggests that he can easily drive with no lights on yet is moaning at others for doing the same?

Really?

JustAnotherSaver

JP1978 wrote: »

So part of the OP's rant suggests that he can easily drive with no lights on yet is moaning at others for doing the same?

Really?

Are you being stupid?

Awkward?

Or have you genuinely totally misunderstood the post, somehow?

I don't think it's the 3rd one since it's not that hard to grasp so that leaves only 2 other possibilities. I don't know which one of those it is so you tell me.

JP1978

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

Are you being stupid?

Awkward?

Or have you genuinely totally misunderstood the post, somehow?

I don't think it's the 3rd one since it's not that hard to grasp so that leaves only 2 other possibilities. I don't know which one of those it is so you tell me.

You infer in your OP that its easy to drive with only side lights on under certain circumstances - and the way its written also infers you have done it on occasion. Yet you are berating others for driving with just DRL's showing.

So maybe its you thats just stupid?