Newer Mini headlights..?

JustAnotherSaver

I have had issue with these DRLs for some time. When things are used as they should be everything is fine. Problem is they often aren’t and in today’s health and safety crazy world, measures should be taken to make it impossible for people to not use things incorrectly. 

So if DRLs are on ... the rear should light up also, regardless of absolutely anything. Never mind that people behind may or may not need your back end lit up in daylight in order to see you, if your front is lit up then your rear should be also. 

Also auto dash lights. They shouldn’t exist. 
My dash has no lights unless I turn at least sidelights on. 
My wife’s car is lit up regardless. 
So recently when I fuelled up and got back in the car, I wondered why everyone was flashing me. I then realised I hadn’t put on any lights whatsoever. i was driving in the dark with no lights. 
Ok you can say there’s a symbol on the dash which comes on when you turn your lights on and you’re right, but it was about 11pm, i’d been driving for 3.5hrs and I simply just missed it. This wouldn’t have happened if my dash didn’t light up unless I turned the lights on. 

photome

JustAnotherSaver said:

I have had issue with these DRLs for some time. When things are used as they should be everything is fine. Problem is they often aren’t and in today’s health and safety crazy world, measures should be taken to make it impossible for people to not use things incorrectly. 

So if DRLs are on ... the rear should light up also, regardless of absolutely anything. Never mind that people behind may or may not need your back end lit up in daylight in order to see you, if your front is lit up then your rear should be also. 

Also auto dash lights. They shouldn’t exist. 
My dash has no lights unless I turn at least sidelights on. 
My wife’s car is lit up regardless. 
So recently when I fuelled up and got back in the car, I wondered why everyone was flashing me. I then realised I hadn’t put on any lights whatsoever. i was driving in the dark with no lights. 
Ok you can say there’s a symbol on the dash which comes on when you turn your lights on and you’re right, but it was about 11pm, i’d been driving for 3.5hrs and I simply just missed it. This wouldn’t have happened if my dash didn’t light up unless I turned the lights on. 

If rear lights were on all the time in daylight hours, as in your theory of when DRLs are on the rear should be on as well, I think there would be more rear end shunts as brake lights would be easier to miss, although i have no scientific date to back that up

JustAnotherSaver

That’s why brake lights are brighter, and many cars have a 3rd brake light also. 

ElephantBoy57

photome said:

If rear lights were on all the time in daylight hours, as in your theory of when DRLs are on the rear should be on as well, I think there would be more rear end shunts as brake lights would be easier to miss, although i have no scientific date to back that up

That is why I don't think the front lights should be unneccessarily bright, because the glare will mean drivers may not see the indicators or cyclist without lights.

born_again

scoot65 said:

I sometimes see cars driving at night with just their DRLs on and no lights at the rear. I would have thought that there would be a warning light on the dash to inform that driver that only DRLs are on and therefore no rear lights. However this doesn't seem to be the case.      

They do.... 
When DRL's are on your dash has a bright background light. When you switch to headlights it goes dim, to make it easier for your eyes....

JustAnotherSaver

ElephantBoy57 said:

That is why I don't think the front lights should be unneccessarily bright, because the glare will mean drivers may not see the indicators or cyclist without lights.

Drifting off topic here but that's another issue i have on the road. I know not everyone will agree but 2 things regards indicators, 1 of which you mentioned...

1) Nearby really bright lights which can stop the indicator from being so clear to you. Has happened more than once to me.

2) Modern design. I understand things have to 'look good' because things that look good sell which is what it's all about, but a bit of common sense should be a factor as well when designing indicators on the rear of vehicles.

Some of the cars around, the designers have made the rear indicator so bloody small, like a really thin small slit. Some Audi's can be bad for it although i'm sure there's worse culprits out there. I have been behind cars before and with all the other lights going on i've not noticed straight away their indicator because it's just a thin slit surrounded by bright lights.

Ok it doesn't happen all the time or even daily/weekly, but it has happened. Yes you can say pay more attention and you should notice absolutely everything without fail 360 degrees at all times the millisecond it happens ... but it's just my opinion that these thin slid indicator lenses are a poor idea.