Daylight Driving Lights

Deneb

neilmcl wrote: »

So again I ask which vehicles have proper DRLs fitted that also activate rear lights because I've not come across any as they're probably in contravention of the relevant legislation.

Volvos. The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations say that DRLs should illuminate automatically when the engine of the vehicle is running, and either the obligatory position lamps (but not the headlamps) are switched on, or the obligatory position lamps are switched off.

stator

chrisw wrote: »

That's odd. My 2016 Volvo V60 has the rear lights illuminated with the front DRL leds on.

Volvo V60 first released 2011
It's the date the car was designed, and type approved, not manufactured

photome

firefox1956 wrote: »

OK so Daytime Running Lights.........
But I am afraid you are wrong.......some do have DRLs on with no rear red lights & some makes of car DO have rear red lights on with DRLs.

I wasnt aware any car has DRL on the rear.

what makes of car have them

photome

I thought volvos automatically run with sidelights on rather than DRL ,so all 4 corners would have lights on

takman

firefox1956 wrote: »

Driving on a rainy motorway with poor visibility I sensibly had my dipped headlights on.
I was obviously aware of other vehicles that stupidly only has their daylight driving sidelights on.
I then became aware of something rather strange.........
Some makes & models of cars that had their daylight driving sidelights on did not have any rear red lights showing........
Very strange.......never noticed it before !!
I then started to take more notice & it became obvious that the drivers of these vehicles were probably not aware that when the daylight driving front lights were on no rear lights were showing.
New Kia Sportage was one of them although there were several others.

The kind of drivers who don't put their headlights on in poor visibility are the ones who probably wouldn't have put any lights on at all if they didn't have DRL.

neilmcl

Deneb wrote: »

Volvos. The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations say that DRLs should illuminate automatically when the engine of the vehicle is running, and either the obligatory position lamps (but not the headlamps) are switched on, or the obligatory position lamps are switched off.

I read that as having both set's of "position lamps", eg side lights and rear lights together, either on or off with DRLs. It could be that some cars DRLs are integrated with the side lights and therefore with the DRLs and side lights on the rear lights will also be on.

neilmcl

chrisw wrote: »

That's odd. My 2016 Volvo V60 has the rear lights illuminated with the front DRL leds on.

And what position to you have your headlamp control set?

According the manual you will only get the rear lights on during daytime if you deliberately set the switch to the position/parking light setting and if you have DRLs these will come on in lieu of the front position lights. If you set the control to O or Auto then DRLs will be used and position lamps will be off. I'd imagine this to be no different to most other cars with DRLs, you just choose to drive with your position lights on, personally I wouldn't for the safety reasons I highlighted above.

Car_54

neilmcl wrote: »

They're called Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) and they are completely separate to the main headlight system so no car with just DRLs lit will have their rear lights on. Which is why in poor visibility it is advised to put your main lights on too.

That's not advice, it's a legal requirement. And it's a lot older than DRLs.

Robisere

"Sidelights" are a joke, it's time they were done away with. I don't mean DLR's, I mean actual tiny front lights, coupled with rear lights. Drivers think these are visible in poor visibility and do not switch on main (dipped beam) lights. They are not visible in poor visibility at a distance. Dipped beam headlights are visible in such conditions. The difference is even more marked in rainy weather. I use the headlamp lowering control to lower my beams in poor daytime visibility, to avoid dazzle.

I have a Hyundai Tucson, which does have DLR's, but if I judge visiblity to be poor, I use dipped beam headlamps, which switches off DLR's. That way, I can be sure that following drivers see my rear lights on.

My other gripe is about drivers who do not check their lights, and drive about with inoperative brake and headlamp bulbs.

Jackmydad

[quote=[Deleted User];72866749]That's not advice, it's a legal requirement. And it's a lot older than DRLs.[/QUOTE]
But, like a lot of "legal requirements" it's regularly ignored.
Some of the drivers you see need a permanent orange beacon flashing on top of the vehicle, Never mind about DRLs.
And the number seems to increase yearly.
At least (I suppose) the DRLs are "idiot proof"