Daytime Running Lights
Mar 18, 2024 12:36:03 #
Can anyone offer a good reason why some cars have DRL and some do not? Unlike other countries, DRL are not required on all cars. As far as I'm concerned, they should be. Cars without lights get lost in the sea of cars with DRL. I'd think that manufacturers would like a law covering all cars because it would be one system for every vehicle.
Many states require headlights when wipers are turned on. Some people "cheat" by keeping the lights off when they run intermittent wipers. It's not the wipers themselves that require headlights; it's the reduced visibility during rainy weather. If I set the lights on my Fit to Auto, they turn on whenever I turn on the wipers.
Many states require headlights when wipers are turned on. Some people "cheat" by keeping the lights off when they run intermittent wipers. It's not the wipers themselves that require headlights; it's the reduced visibility during rainy weather. If I set the lights on my Fit to Auto, they turn on whenever I turn on the wipers.
Mar 18, 2024 12:44:35 #
jerryc41 wrote:
Can anyone offer a good reason why some cars have ... (show quote)
Something you might be missing here Jerry, is that when you have your lights on Auto, it is only the front lights that are on. My Prius just uses the LED headlights at a lesser luminance for running lights. But there are no taillights unless your turn on the headlights. Driving without lights in the rear is just as dangerous as without them in front.
Edit: Unless it gets dark enough to turn on the headlights automatically...
Mar 18, 2024 14:01:20 #
Around here, there are many cars (trucks) that are old enough not to have running lights or automatic headlights. They use parking lights and you manually turned on the headlights.
Mar 18, 2024 15:00:46 #
50ish years ago, motorcycles were mandated to run with their lights on as a safety measure, to make us stand out in traffic. With most cars now having DRLs, our safety advantage is gone
Mar 18, 2024 15:01:14 #
Some people do not turn their lights on in rain and fog. They say they can see and do not need lights. They miss the point the lights make them seen by other drivers.
Mar 18, 2024 18:00:45 #
jerryc41 wrote:
Can anyone offer a good reason why some cars have ... (show quote)
I have my lights set to auto so they are always on when the car is running. I wish everyone would do that. There have been times when I saw a black auto coming from a heavily shadowed area of overhanging trees that made it virtually invisible until it popped out into a sunlit area. I also was behind a gray auto in a heavy rain storm that did not have its lights on. It was late afternoon and the car was very hard to see. I kept well back because I was sure a car coming from a side road was not going to see it and cause an accident. Some people are knuckleheads and a law that would make autos have lights on when running would keep those idiots from harming others.
Mar 18, 2024 18:50:43 #
I have been driving with my headlights on full for decades. The headlights now turn off by themselves when you turn off the engine so I don't even think about headlights any more. Headlights (and taillights) increase your visibility, which is always a good thing on the road.
My Prius has LED headlights and they are aimed pretty high. I get flashed frequently on the road unless the oncoming car can see me switch to low beams. I saw an article on adaptive headlights recently. You drive with them on high beams but when the car sees an oncoming car the LED headlights are capable of blocking out the area where the car is so you still have high beams on your side of the road but on the other side the beams are reduced. Even on curves. There are regulatory issues in the USA so they are not seen here but there are some produced in Europe.
My Prius has LED headlights and they are aimed pretty high. I get flashed frequently on the road unless the oncoming car can see me switch to low beams. I saw an article on adaptive headlights recently. You drive with them on high beams but when the car sees an oncoming car the LED headlights are capable of blocking out the area where the car is so you still have high beams on your side of the road but on the other side the beams are reduced. Even on curves. There are regulatory issues in the USA so they are not seen here but there are some produced in Europe.
Mar 18, 2024 18:56:12 #
jerryc41 wrote:
Can anyone offer a good reason why some cars have ... (show quote)
It's cheaper to make the cars without them. But, on the more expensive cars of any line they are part of the package.
Mar 18, 2024 23:33:00 #
DirtFarmer wrote:
I have been driving with my headlights on full for... (show quote)
Just a note: Anytime my car is serviced, it is returned with the lights switched off. If you take your car in for service, check your lights are set up the way you want. Otherwise, you will find you are driving at night or in bad weather with your headlights off.
Mar 19, 2024 01:39:32 #
Bridges wrote:
Just a note: Anytime my car is serviced, it is returned with the lights switched off. If you take your car in for service, check your lights are set up the way you want. Otherwise, you will find you are driving at night or in bad weather with your headlights off.
Sometimes my wife switches them off so I do have to pay attention.
Mar 19, 2024 02:30:07 #
I owned a 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 which had DRLs. Until one burned out. I used to watch for GMCs and more than half I saw had the same DRL out. Top quality QC, by god.
Mar 19, 2024 04:25:09 #
Bridges wrote:
I have my lights set to auto so they are always on... (show quote)
I alway thought when the lights are switched to auto, that they only turn on when it starts to get dark. The lights just don’t automatically turn on when the car is started. At least not on my car.
Mar 19, 2024 05:27:27 #
allan catt
Loc: gillingham,kent,uk
In the uk.all vehicles made from 2011 must by law have DRLs.trucks,buses,vans must all be fitted with them,I think they are a good thing,I fitted them on my 2010 Mazda,but my new VW has them fitted.
Mar 19, 2024 06:46:06 #
Since I changed both my cars to LED headlights they are always on. No excuse not to keep them on, rain or shine.
Mar 19, 2024 07:43:49 #
J.Ed wrote:
50ish years ago, motorcycles were mandated to run with their lights on as a safety measure, to make us stand out in traffic. With most cars now having DRLs, our safety advantage is gone
I remember that being a complaint going back years, but motorcycles still have their headlight on, although I do see some with no light lit - saving electricity?
I added a headlight modulator to my Gold Wing. It switched back and forth between high and low beam in less than a second.
https://www.google.com/search?q=headlight+modulator&oq=headlight+modulator&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyCQgAEEUYORiABDIHCAEQABiABDIICAIQABgWGB4yCAgDEAAYFhgeMgoIBBAAGA8YFhgeMgoIBRAAGA8YFhgeMgoIBhAAGA8YFhgeMggIBxAAGBYYHjIGCAgQRRg80gEIMzYwNWowajSoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
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