Do cars need to have their taillights on?

Jackmydad

sevenhills wrote: »

If you read my earlier post, I have read about research in the USA and Canada, where the introduction of DRL caused more accidents for motorbikes.
I am sure auto and LED lights have some advantages, as people don't seem to know when to turn them on, and how to fix them when a bulb blows.

You have to wonder if such people automatically need a licence. . .

edde

sevenhills wrote: »

If you read my earlier post, I have read about research in the USA and Canada, where the introduction of DRL caused more accidents for motorbikes.
I am sure auto and LED lights have some advantages, as people don't seem to know when to turn them on, and how to fix them when a bulb blows.

Since there's about 25 times the number of cars and they do about 50% more miles a year the total saving I guess would work in the drl lights favour even if they increase motorbike accident rates.

The best way to reduce accident would be to stop motorbikes on paper that would reduce road deaths by about 14%. However that's just a quick calculation and no way a usable ideal as no one would buy into it.

[Deleted User]

daveyjp wrote: »

Of course the real reason for the 'pretty DRL lighting unit' is profit maximisation. A basic bulb is pennies. A new LED DRL unit is hundreds or thousands of pounds and they do fail, despite LEDs supposedly being longer lasting. The bulbs are fine, the controllers fail- kerching for the dealer.

Just trying to change a stanadrd headlight bulb on a modern car is a big job in itself. Obviously you're not supposed to think about these things when you're buying your brand new set of wheels from the dealer. They want you to bring it back for them to change. Kerching.

sevenhills

edde wrote: »

Since there's about 25 times the number of cars and they do about 50% more miles a year the total saving I guess would work in the drl lights favour even if they increase motorbike accident rates.

Motorcycle accidents account for 30% of road fatalities, but not 30% of total accidents.

owen_money

z1a wrote: »

Safer to turn this feature off. If you go under a bridge or are briefly in a shadow, lights will come on, and could be seen as a signal that you're letting someone out.

Yes but rule 110 of the highway code states,

Flashing headlights. Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there. Do not flash your headlights to convey any other message or intimidate other road users.

In that case they shouldn't pull out just because you've flashed your lights, they are in the wrong.

If everyone followed the rules of the road there would be less accidents and deaths. When will people learn?

Nick_C

My car doesn't have DRLs. If its dark or raining I turn the lights on!

DRLs are just a waste of energy on a sunny day.

[Deleted User]

I just put my LED number plate lights on. Apparently they blind people.