Daytime running lights - split from storm thread

[worth]

Originally Posted by Pinner

Maybe it was an American model...

When I said lights, I meant tail lights. They had DRL on. I'm amazed at the number of people I see without tail lights on at night time.

I would almost say tail lights are more important than DRL at night. I think it's almost better to have daytime running tail lights in the event someone forgets to turn their lights on, rather than headlights. As it was said already, the purpose of them are for other people to see you, not for you to see.

In poor conditions, especially at night, tail lights are a requirement, and there are way too many people who don't drive with them on.

[worth]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

This is something that has driven me nuts for years. There are a lot of cars (especially Hondas and Toyotas) that rely on a backlit gauge cluster being lit whenever the car is on to display the gauges properly. When it turns dark out, the average appliance driving sheeple see their instrument cluster lit up and a bit of light showing in front of their car, and incorrectly assume their lights are on. They don't bother looking at the radio or air-con controls, which are not backlit constantly and could give them a clue. I think any car with a backlit gauge cluster should automatically be forced to be equipped with light sensing light switches. Like Acey said, that technology is not expensive these days.

This. This is the problem. Exactly. If your lights aren't on, the dash cluster shouldn't be lit. Then perhaps most people would figure out their lights aren't on.

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

I assume that is the theoretical reasoning, but you can see the signals just fine with the light still on on other cars.

At best, it seems completely unneccessary.

I beg to differ. Stand in front of a Dodge where the signal light is right beside the Daytime Running Lamp with your eyes at the same level as a seated driver in a car, and tell me that your ability to see the blinking indicator is not at best partially obscured by the blinding light from the DTR, and tell me if you can not see it better without a DTR right beside it.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

I beg to differ. Stand in front of a Dodge where the signal light is right beside the Daytime Running Lamp with your eyes at the same level as a seated driver in a car, and tell me that your ability to see the blinking indicator is not at best partially obscured by the blinding light from the DTR, and tell me if you can not see it better without a DTR right beside it.

If that were the case, why does the light stay on when the headlights (not just the DRL) are on? The headlight beams are even brighter than the DRL. That argument doesn't even make sense.

Seriously, if I was a cop, there would be a lot of Chrysler vehicles getting pulled over for having headlights not working.

[Pinner]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

If that were the case, why does the light stay on when the headlights (not just the DRL) are on?

Because it should be dark when the headlights are on making the amber signal light easier to see.

The headlight beams are even brighter than the DRL. That argument doesn't even make sense.

The DRL are run at a limited wattage on the "high" beam making more glare.

Seriously, if I was a cop, there would be a lot of Chrysler vehicles getting pulled over for having headlights not working.

Good luck with that, take it up with the feds, not the owner of the vehicle.

[You Need a Thneed]

If the signal lights aren't bright enough to be seen no matter what the conditions around them, they simply aren't bright enough. I've never once missed seeing a turn signal because there was a daytime running light shining right beside it. If your eyes aren't sharp enough to see a yellow light right beside a white light, you shouldn't be allowed to have a driver's license.

Like I said, at best, totally unnecessary.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

Neither of my cars have this feature (newest is an '02 Mazda) - so I am wondering - what is the threshold that the sensor decides it is dark enough? On a day like today when it is snowing heavily, kind of dim, etc., would the lights kick in? Or does the driver still need to use common sense and flip them on when it is technically daytime but not necessarily a clear, sunny day?

(Thanks for the split, mods.)

They'd likely be on today. When I drive through a tunnel (such as under Centre street on Memorial) they kick on briefly.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

If the signal lights aren't bright enough to be seen no matter what the conditions around them, they simply aren't bright enough. I've never once missed seeing a turn signal because there was a daytime running light shining right beside it. If your eyes aren't sharp enough to see a yellow light right beside a white light, you shouldn't be allowed to have a driver's license.

Like I said, at best, totally unnecessary.

I agree they aren't that hard to see, but on many cars the signal lights were designed without DRL's in mind.

As pinner said, DRL's usually run on a low wattage setting of the high beam bulb and throw more glare than a lowbeam. DRL's at night are way more annoying than headlights.

On a sunny day, with the sun behind you, it is tricky to see oncoming signal lights that are right beside the DRL. I personally like cars that use the fog/driving lights as the DRL's. It looks better and makes this issue moot.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

This is something that has driven me nuts for years. There are a lot of cars (especially Hondas and Toyotas) that rely on a backlit gauge cluster being lit whenever the car is on to display the gauges properly. When it turns dark out, the average appliance driving sheeple see their instrument cluster lit up and a bit of light showing in front of their car, and incorrectly assume their lights are on. They don't bother looking at the radio or air-con controls, which are not backlit constantly and could give them a clue. I think any car with a backlit gauge cluster should automatically be forced to be equipped with light sensing light switches. Like Acey said, that technology is not expensive these days.

The automotive purist in me detests cars that have all their lights on all the time; I find it aesthetically unpleasing, and it is a waste of light bulb life. I don't mind the way some manufacturers have ingeniously integrated day time running lights, but then there are others that take the cheap way out...

I am ashamed to admit I have committed this error a couple of times when I drove.

I used to laugh at those people who don't have their lights on at night. Then it happened to me, and I felt like an idiot. To my defense, I was learning how to drive manual at that time, and my attention was focused on not stalling the car. Since then, I now make sure to notice the headlight icon on my dashboard when I drive at night.

[wooohooo]

Reminds me of my ex in high school... she was a fine althought slow driver, she always wondered why cars would honk her. It wasn't because she didn't turn on her lights, it's because she thought her normal lights were high beams.

[Sliver]

I have a Chrysler and I hate the wink. I'm with thneed...it looks like crap. I've looked into disabling it, but it's a really big hassle.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

Neither of my cars have this feature (newest is an '02 Mazda) - so I am wondering - what is the threshold that the sensor decides it is dark enough?

Yesterday I had to manually turn on my headlights during the day- it was the first time in months I have actually had to turn them on. The system just isn't set for snow storm this far into spring.

However I think that if GM can have a system like mine available in 2003 models, why can't the other car companies follow suit?

[worth]

My Chevy has auto lights (2004) and they didn't turn on yesterday driving at about 4pm.

And I spotted another person driving this morning at 6am without lights and kindly gave them a flash of my hi beams and they turned their lights on, so I guess some people understand.

[hockeycop]

Originally Posted by Meelapo

Was this a white van and did you flash your headlights at it around the Beddington on ramp turn off area? My girlfriend and I were driving back from the Chinook Theatre and as we were getting on to the Beddington on ramp I noticed a van with absolutely no lights on. The car behind flashed its lights and then the van just turned on the right turn signal.

Hahaha. I actually think that was me behind you. Single flash (lights off then back on) from a black Dodge Charger?

[Acey]

As far as I know you are not required to put DRL's on a car brought from the States, nor is it illegal to disable the DRL on your Canadian vehicle. The law says only that cars initially intended for sale in Canada after Jan. 1, 1990 must be equipped.

[Swayze11]

Oops, my bad.

[mr.jim.lahey]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

My Jetta's running lights are front and back, which is interesting. There's absolutely no need to turn them on because they are always on anyway. Beams won't work unless the headlights are in the "on" position though..

This fact caused nothing but trouble for my POS 2002 Jetta. Constantly blowing dash light bulbs. Dealer said it was because the daytime running lights always had all the lights on, causing stuff to overheat.

[CRXguy]

Originally Posted by Acey

As far as I know you are not required to put DRL's on a car brought from the States, nor is it illegal to disable the DRL on your Canadian vehicle. The law says only that cars initially intended for sale in Canada after Jan. 1, 1990 must be equipped.

Newer cars imported from the U.S. are required to have DRL's when you do the Canadian Tire inspection.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by CRXguy

Newer cars imported from the U.S. are required to have DRL's when you do the Canadian Tire inspection.

Usually what they do is disable the switch to turn off the DRL's. A friend of mine had this done on a Solara he bought in Spokane.