I had the dealership turn mine off coast a 100.00 they told me just about everyone comes in to have them turned off. Toyota service bulletin EL011-00. Or you could just do the gray wire mod.
Here are some facts about daytime running lights I pulled off the the web. Currently The NHTSA is looking into this in the US and possibly banning them.
1. Increase Visual Glare: Headlight glare from both oncoming and following vehicles is the most common complaint registered with our office. General Motors vehicles are the most often cited sources of DRL glare. Reported motorists' responses include the use of nighttime rear view mirror settings during daylight hours, maladjustment of external rear view mirrors, and the use of sun glasses even during low light and cloudy conditions. The most frequently cited reaction is one of "aggravation" or "irritation." All the aforementioned add additional stress to the task of driving, resulting in shorter tempers and less attention paid to the task of driving. Also, the maladjustment of rear view mirrors means they are not able to serve the purposes for which they are intended thereby increasing the likelihood of an accident.
2. Obscure The Directional Signal Lights: DRLs are blamed for reducing or obscuring the visibility of directional signal lights.
3. Increase Visual Clutter: Rather than simply increasing conspicuity, multiple vehicles with DRLs are found to be distracting and adding an element of confusion to otherwise normal traffic flow.
4. Mask Other Roadway Users: DRLs dominate visual attention to the exclusion and disadvantage of pedestrians, bicyclists, highway workers, and other vehicles that do not have DRLs.
5. Reduce The Conspicuity Of Motorcycles: Many motorcyclists feel that the conspicuity of their smaller vehicles is increased by operating with their headlights on during daylight hours. There is concern that the widespread use of DRLs on automobiles will eliminate the (assumed) value of daytime headlight use by motorcyclists.
6. Distort Distance Perception: Complaints of distorted distance perception vary. Certain individuals claim DRLs make on-coming vehicles appear closer than they really are. Others people make the opposite claim. What is consistent is that DRLs distort distance perception.
7. Reduce Emergency Vehicle Conspicuity: Daytime use of various lighting systems serve to distinguish emergency vehicles from other traffic on public roadways. This differentiation is diminished (if not eliminated) by large concentrations of DRL-equipped vehicles. This is also a concern for convoys of slow moving vehicles and special circumstances such as funeral processions where groups of vehicles are not moving in sync with normal traffic flow.
8. Motorist Failure To Use Standard Lights: Because DRLs provide a degree of forward lighting, many motorists fail to turn on their standard lights in low-light, low-visibility situations. This means the rear lights of certain vehicles are not illuminated. We believe DRL use increases the probability of rear end collisions. The potential for daytime tail light use to mask brake lights has already been recognized, as evidenced by DRL circuitry that excludes activation of tail lights.
Also some other interesting facts and links
"some of the studies are very interesting"
http://www.motorists.org/drl/home/daytime-running-lights-dont-save-lives/
http://www.howstuffworks.com/question424.htm
http://www.lightsout.org/studies.html
Turn The Lights Off, Please!
Over the past few years I have noticed the growing number of new cars equipped with so-called Daytime Running Lights. Adding to the growing clutter of glare and distraction are those drivers who have decided that burning their headlights night AND day wards off evil spirits and makes their 4000 pound car more visible to the legally blind.
Do these Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) and perpetually burning headlights actually do anything positive? I doubt it, but here's what I know for sure.
Headlights glaring in my eyes or bouncing off my rear-view mirror are darn annoying. It has become incredibly difficult to see directional lights blinking on oncoming cars. At night I see many cars with no taillights because their DRL systems light the headlights and not the taillights. Funeral processions have become invisible and emergency vehicles and traffic lights are harder to see. And, I know I am not the only person who resents the floodlight effect of a pickup truck or SUV melting my rear window!
How did this get this way? Why hasn't the government done something to stop this nonsense? There are laws against blinding other drivers at night with bright lights, how come its OK to blind each other during daylight hours?
The hot buttons amongst the safety types are "road rage, aggressive driving" and "distraction." Daytime use of headlights and DRLs contribute to all three of these government defined plagues, why isn't anything being done to eliminate these dangerous and obnoxious practices?!
Here is what my friend who is a (Rhode Island) police officer said. we can see the idiots who think they are cool driving with there lights on during the day. we see them coming half a mile away a nail them with a speeding ticket and what ever else we can. now he did say most of those cars are Audi bmw honda vw and gm pickups lots of GM pickups. I seriously doubt they are the only police station that uses your DRL against you. for me another reason not to have them on my vehicle.
Here are some facts about daytime running lights I pulled off the the web. Currently The NHTSA is looking into this in the US and possibly banning them.
1. Increase Visual Glare: Headlight glare from both oncoming and following vehicles is the most common complaint registered with our office. General Motors vehicles are the most often cited sources of DRL glare. Reported motorists' responses include the use of nighttime rear view mirror settings during daylight hours, maladjustment of external rear view mirrors, and the use of sun glasses even during low light and cloudy conditions. The most frequently cited reaction is one of "aggravation" or "irritation." All the aforementioned add additional stress to the task of driving, resulting in shorter tempers and less attention paid to the task of driving. Also, the maladjustment of rear view mirrors means they are not able to serve the purposes for which they are intended thereby increasing the likelihood of an accident.
2. Obscure The Directional Signal Lights: DRLs are blamed for reducing or obscuring the visibility of directional signal lights.
3. Increase Visual Clutter: Rather than simply increasing conspicuity, multiple vehicles with DRLs are found to be distracting and adding an element of confusion to otherwise normal traffic flow.
4. Mask Other Roadway Users: DRLs dominate visual attention to the exclusion and disadvantage of pedestrians, bicyclists, highway workers, and other vehicles that do not have DRLs.
5. Reduce The Conspicuity Of Motorcycles: Many motorcyclists feel that the conspicuity of their smaller vehicles is increased by operating with their headlights on during daylight hours. There is concern that the widespread use of DRLs on automobiles will eliminate the (assumed) value of daytime headlight use by motorcyclists.
6. Distort Distance Perception: Complaints of distorted distance perception vary. Certain individuals claim DRLs make on-coming vehicles appear closer than they really are. Others people make the opposite claim. What is consistent is that DRLs distort distance perception.
7. Reduce Emergency Vehicle Conspicuity: Daytime use of various lighting systems serve to distinguish emergency vehicles from other traffic on public roadways. This differentiation is diminished (if not eliminated) by large concentrations of DRL-equipped vehicles. This is also a concern for convoys of slow moving vehicles and special circumstances such as funeral processions where groups of vehicles are not moving in sync with normal traffic flow.
8. Motorist Failure To Use Standard Lights: Because DRLs provide a degree of forward lighting, many motorists fail to turn on their standard lights in low-light, low-visibility situations. This means the rear lights of certain vehicles are not illuminated. We believe DRL use increases the probability of rear end collisions. The potential for daytime tail light use to mask brake lights has already been recognized, as evidenced by DRL circuitry that excludes activation of tail lights.
Also some other interesting facts and links
"some of the studies are very interesting"
http://www.motorists.org/drl/home/daytime-running-lights-dont-save-lives/
http://www.howstuffworks.com/question424.htm
http://www.lightsout.org/studies.html
Turn The Lights Off, Please!
Over the past few years I have noticed the growing number of new cars equipped with so-called Daytime Running Lights. Adding to the growing clutter of glare and distraction are those drivers who have decided that burning their headlights night AND day wards off evil spirits and makes their 4000 pound car more visible to the legally blind.
Do these Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) and perpetually burning headlights actually do anything positive? I doubt it, but here's what I know for sure.
Headlights glaring in my eyes or bouncing off my rear-view mirror are darn annoying. It has become incredibly difficult to see directional lights blinking on oncoming cars. At night I see many cars with no taillights because their DRL systems light the headlights and not the taillights. Funeral processions have become invisible and emergency vehicles and traffic lights are harder to see. And, I know I am not the only person who resents the floodlight effect of a pickup truck or SUV melting my rear window!
How did this get this way? Why hasn't the government done something to stop this nonsense? There are laws against blinding other drivers at night with bright lights, how come its OK to blind each other during daylight hours?
The hot buttons amongst the safety types are "road rage, aggressive driving" and "distraction." Daytime use of headlights and DRLs contribute to all three of these government defined plagues, why isn't anything being done to eliminate these dangerous and obnoxious practices?!
Here is what my friend who is a (Rhode Island) police officer said. we can see the idiots who think they are cool driving with there lights on during the day. we see them coming half a mile away a nail them with a speeding ticket and what ever else we can. now he did say most of those cars are Audi bmw honda vw and gm pickups lots of GM pickups. I seriously doubt they are the only police station that uses your DRL against you. for me another reason not to have them on my vehicle.
It takes all of 1 min to do on a '00 4Runner. 
