The TRUTH about DRLs you be the judge

[chaz]

funny thing, but when i was growing up & first got my drivers license, you were taught to only put lights on, ( including running, parking, ,etc.) 1/2 hr. before dark. you could also come out to a dead battery if they were left on, this was long before vec.s had the automatic on/off feature. if you drove with them on during the middle of the afternoon, not only would people turn theres on , or honk, for you to turn them off, but even the cops might pull you over wondering why they were on. with remarks like ," you in to a funeral " you might even get a ticket for it. they were only put on in case of an emergency. even unless you had a tractor trailer, you had to turn those amber "roof" running lights that pickups & vans had, off. only motor cycles had the headlight on. thats just the way it was where i lived, so , thats a habit that still sticks with me, lights (any lights) go on 1/2 before dusk, anyway, i may be old fashioned in a way, but my point is, with so many vec. on the road today, & most with some kind of light on, i do find it somewhat distracting in a certain sense. im not sure if thats good or bad, who knows, with so many lights on everything ,everywhere, all the time, maybe some day ill be desensitized to them all, including any that are flashing. so i can see certain points of view brought up by the OP.

 

[Ron Helmuth]

a visual confusion

Not much to really add in-but generally speaking this dumbing down of drivers seems to fit a new driving generation that barely learned to read road signs much less obey them. I'm older than many of you-I'm not intending that as a put down of the younger driver, just the ones that 1/Can't read English and
2/Won't obey same.

Older Saturn vehicles are the ones that catch your eye-at least mine- to me they are a perfect example of how DRLs should work. Catches your attention enough to pay a little more attention.

However, many of those same Saturn drivers then fail to realize at night that their headlights are not on, thus when you approach a Saturn from the rear-their tail-lights are not illuminated-as their headlights are not truly on.

I get a bit visually confused when I see a GM vehicle emerge from a side street for example- with turn signal on and then suddenly the turn signal goes off and the other side's front signal then "fades" on as solid to represent the Daytime Running Light.

How a marker/indicator light visually comes to also mean DRL is a bit confusing to my logical mind.

Overall I agree the DRL concept makes some sense and I do manually turn mine on for low light/heavy traffic conditions.

 

[MikesToy]

Mine is always on. Makes my 4Runner purty when it's cloudy. lol

 

[JohnsD90]

Screw DRL, I'm glad i don't have them at all.

 

[FlyFishNH]

Rock Slide...do you know how to disable them in an 02? They are obnoxious...its daytime, Who needs headlight?

 

[charlier180]

I think the DRL's or lights on make it easier to see other cars. Just my opinion.

I also agree that lights on even during the day make a vehicle more visible to other motorists.
Here in Pennsylvania it is the law that when the wipers are on the headlights must be on.
Cannot tell you how often this year if I had not done a triple take I would have hit a moron who was NOT using their headlights before dusk or just after dawn or when their wipers were on.

I use my headlights all the time especially when towing. Even with reflective tape on my trailer and it's color many people just DO NOT SEE IT be they distracted drivers or simply idiots. I live near a busy east/west highway. In the morning the sun glare from the east makes vehicles INVISIBLE unless they use their headlights. Same goes for the evening when the sun is setting.

 

[Jeff Kleb]

DRLs


First of all......MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Okay, regarding the DRLs, I guess I could go either way on them. On the good side, they do increase visibility of cars equipped with them to other vehicles on the road. Just after sunrise or just before dusk, such lights do make a positive difference.

On the bad side, they are simply a small part of the continual "dumbing down" of society. People often forget to turn on their running lights (marker lights that come on when headlamps are activated) during darkenss, rain or fog. While they're more easily seen by oncoming traffic, they may end up nearly invisible to vehicles approaching them from the rear!
:infidel:

As a tractor-trailer driver, I can also tell you that a car equipped with DRLs makes it somewhat harder for me to judge the distance I need to get back over after I overtake them. As someone else mentioned earlier, the ANGLE of the light beam is very significant in this regard. It is especially irritating when one lamp is aimed higher than the other.
:whip2:

I oppose any MANDATED use of DRLs, but have no problem with manufacturers who do it on their own. GM was a pioneer in this regard - but primarily because they sold a lot of vehicles to Canada, which has required DRLs in all new cars since the 1990 model year. I think GM made all their cars have them back in 1997 or 1998 - mostly to save money by having all cars built with DRLs for both the USA and Canada.

My 2009 Freightliner Cascadia has DRLs, but they are the amber ones - where the turn signals stay "bright" when the parking lamps or headlamps are not switched on. People can more easily see me, but the amber light doesn't blind anyone. Maybe that is the way to go, huh?

On a separate note, if our state governments REALLY wanted safer and more efficient traffic flow, more emphasis would be placed on enforcing existing laws that mandate the use of directional signals when turning or changing lanes -- as well as laws that require drivers to keep right (i.e., staying out of the left-hand lane) except when passing. Those "left lane bandits" are much more of a threat to everyone else's safety than somone not having DRLs on his/her car.
:spider:

 

[gptoy96]

Canada has mandated them since 1990.
See this good read on Wikipedia: Daytime running lamp - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Some parts here fall into the same category as Scandinavian countries because of the lower light at higher latitudes. The I like them. Keep an open mind.

I agree, they've been around a long while now, just part of daily life and I like them also. Not annoying at all.

 

[gptoy96]

I'd like to know what IDIOT came up with the idea of lighting up the dash with a turn of the ignition key. Thats part of the "no lights on when they should be " issue ,in my opinion. We should need to turn lights ON if we want the dash lit up! Our vehicles get "smarter" every year,guess what we're getting every year?

This, I have a problem with. My wife got pulled over for the first time ever because she was driving down the road and had thought her headlights were on.

This should be a no-brainer, dash lights on= headlights on.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

What I'm reading here is not too much resistance to the turn-signal based design of DRL and lots of emotion about headlight based DRLs. I don't "like" the headlight based DRLs but they do work.

I have been in my GF's car when she's in my 4Runner. The amber DRLs seem fine. In a daytime rain the combo of Fog Lights and the amber DRLs is awesome. That combo delivers great visibility for other drivers, I think it looks cool too. GA has a lights/wipers law. I don't know if the fogs+DRLs meets the criteria but I do know I haven't been given a 2nd look by the law.

The fogs are low and bright but not glaring, the DRLs are bright. IMHO it's great visibilty for others with few negatives (if any). I don't think would cause the issue Jeff Kleb mentioned (hard to judge when driving a rig and passing other vehicles).
:cheers:

 

[charlier180]

On a separate note, if our state governments REALLY wanted safer and more efficient traffic flow, more emphasis would be placed on enforcing existing laws that mandate the use of directional signals when turning or changing lanes -- as well as laws that require drivers to keep right (i.e., staying out of the left-hand lane) except when passing. Those "left lane bandits" are much more of a threat to everyone else's safety than somone not having DRLs on his/her car.
:spider:

I agree.. I would also add people who do not know that a YIELD sign at the end of an on ramp means if one cannot merge SAFELY they should STOP regardless of how much in a hurry they are. I cannot tell you how many times I have had people try to drive into the side of my car trailer and tow vehicle when I was in the lane at the end of an on ramp. Would also help that people on an on ramp PAY ATTENTION to the traffic around them. That and knowing a YIELD can become a STOP sign would prevent 99+% of the rear end accidents I see on ramps.

BTW Jeff, as a professional driver what is the proper way to signal a big rig that it is safe to pull in front of one's vehicle? At one time it was common for the vehicle being passed to flash their high beams. Years ago I used to do that (had an uncle who was a professional driver). Now-a-days, I turn my normal headlights off then back on to signal a big rig it is okay to pull in front of me.

 

[Falls]

I love my amber DRL's !!! I think they look good and wish they would not be on in the "Park" position , but they have saved me in a few circumstances .

The article/story sounds a little out there.

 

[LINY4Runner]

:nicethread:

Here's my take on it:

Daytime Running Lights make the roads a safer place. A previous poster compared them to seatbelts and I agree with that. I don't think the government should have anything to do with it. It should simply be in the design of the vehicle.

The 4th Gen DRLs are probably the best system I've seen out there.
The GM DRLs that use the high beam with limited power are obnoxious and should be taken off the road.

If I were to make a law about DRLs it would have the following guidelines:
DRLs must be amber in color
DRLs must be an incandescent bulb or LED. No halogen.
DRLs must be in a seperate lens than the turn signal.
Cars equipped with DRL MUST also have installed auto-on head/taillights for low light conditions AND/OR when wipers are switched on.


These 5 points would solve all complaints about DRLs and we would all soon embrace them.

 

[Jeff Kleb]

BTW Jeff, as a professional driver what is the proper way to signal a big rig that it is safe to pull in front of one's vehicle? At one time it was common for the vehicle being passed to flash their high beams. Years ago I used to do that (had an uncle who was a professional driver). Now-a-days, I turn my normal headlights off then back on to signal a big rig it is okay to pull in front of me.

I suppose there is not a 100% "proper" way of letting us know it is safe to get back over....but flashing the high beams is quite common; even though it blinds me for a second. Your idea of dimming low-beams down to parking lights momentarily is what I prefer - and it doesn't blind anyone.
:dancin:

Of course, I always reciprocate by blinking my marker lights off for a moment or flashing my four-ways after I get back over -- as a way of saying "thank you" to other drivers, be they in cars or big rigs. Courtesy begets courtesy, right?
:girl:

 

[charlier180]

I suppose there is not a 100% "proper" way of letting us know it is safe to get back over....but flashing the high beams is quite common; even though it blinds me for a second. Your idea of dimming low-beams down to parking lights momentarily is what I prefer - and it doesn't blind anyone.

A few years ago I noticed big rigs dimming low-beams down to parking lights momentarily. I thought I read somewhere that, contrary to popular belief, flashing high beams did, in fact, blind big rig drivers. Soon after I started towing my trailer, I became more aware of the challenge of blind spots and depth perception when driving a larger vehicle.

Of course, I always reciprocate by blinking my marker lights off for a moment or flashing my four-ways after I get back over -- as a way of saying "thank you" to other drivers, be they in cars or big rigs. Courtesy begets courtesy, right?

I agree 110% that Courtesy begets courtesy. The roads would be a nicer place if more people were more courteous. I also flash my four-ways after I get back over as a "Thank You".

 

[ExJeeper]

I cant believe somebody charged you $100 to turn off DRL. I bought my 00 yesterday, spent 10 minutes on a search here. Spent about 2 minutes to open hood and unplug the connector. If you can unplug a wall lamp you can disable your DRLs.

 

[lockerc18]

:nicethread:

Here's my take on it:

Daytime Running Lights make the roads a safer place. A previous poster compared them to seatbelts and I agree with that. I don't think the government should have anything to do with it. It should simply be in the design of the vehicle.

The 4th Gen DRLs are probably the best system I've seen out there.
The GM DRLs that use the high beam with limited power are obnoxious and should be taken off the road.

If I were to make a law about DRLs it would have the following guidelines:
DRLs must be amber in color
DRLs must be an incandescent bulb or LED. No halogen.
DRLs must be in a seperate lens than the turn signal.
Cars equipped with DRL MUST also have installed auto-on head/taillights for low light conditions AND/OR when wipers are switched on.


These 5 points would solve all complaints about DRLs and we would all soon embrace them.

I like your points! Very good.

I am quite happy with my DRLs. One experience in particular made me realize how valuable they are.

I was driving on the Mass Pike a while back. Lots of traffic, and it was getting toward dusk. I looked in my rear view mirror and saw a long line of vehicles behind me, going way back around a long bend in the road. I guess it must have been a good half mile or more. Way in the back of the line, I saw another 4Runner, and it had DRLs. The cars all kind of blended into each other, because most cars are almost the same dull color these days, and because like I said, it was starting to get dark. But, even way back there, I could see the 4Runner's DRLs very clearly. They really stood out. They didn't glare blindingly, they just stood out and made the vehicle quite visible. From that point on, I realized that especially in low light conditions, DRLs help a heck of a lot, if they're designed according to the points above, which is almost exactly how the 4Runner's are designed. Separate, amber lights. They work very well.

I wasn't a real proponent of them before then, but I sure am now.

 

[SurfToy]

Hate it or not when I ride a bike I always ride with Highbeam during the day. (I use high and low normally beginning at dusk). If I go out and get an uneasy feeling about a car pulling out in front of me or some other situation that may be a "close call" invariably I left the headlight on low beam. The second I go back to high beam all is good. It's not the 5 extra watts it's the reflector angle. (Ex: Have someone aim a flashlight at your chin, it's bright. Aim it in your eyes and WOW!)


GM headlight based DRL's were, in most cases, the highbeam at 75%-80% not the low beam, again the reflector angle.
:cheers:

I know this is an old thread, but I wouldn't recommend this AT ALL. The problem is (assuming you have a modern bike), motorcycle highbeams are as bright/spread as car highs. Consider this scenario; you're on a bike, and Joe Motorist is at a driveway or side street waiting to pull out. All he sees as you approach is a dazzling white light. He now can barely (if at all) see you or your motorcycle, so he has to judge your speed and proximity based on the small sun approaching him. That's a recipe for disaster. A modern (say post-1985) motorcycle's lowbeams are more than sufficient for daytime visibility.

I've put 60K miles on various bikes over the years, and once logged 22K commuting miles in a year on the freeways of SoCal. I learned a lot while remaining undead during that time. :cheers:

 

[b.abe825]

Only thing I want to add to this is I read an article about the gas cost of DRL's. It went on to estimate how much gas would be saved per day by not using them and mentioned the effect on gas consumption in Canada because they are mandatory.

The savings was in the millions of barrels a day. I forget how they came to that number, but it seemed almost reasonable at the time.

I guess they worked on the premise that the DRL's are a constant drain on the battery that is recharged by the alternator... blah blah... I guess like running the A/C...

 

[SubSonic]

More fire to an old post:

DRLs are fine. I like that my Runner's are the amber turn signal lamps instead of low intensity high-beams...that's my take on it.

To pan on DRLs, one would think that these same folks are against seatbelts and airbags too...did these same folks rail on moving the fuel tanks out from behind the seats of pickup trucks in the late 40s, to between the frame rails? (I just completed the relocation of my 1948 Chevy P/U's fuel tank as a part of my restoration of it...)

And to think, folks on here are railing on and on about "glare" and whatnot from DRLs, yet there are pages and PAGES of threads and replies in this forum on upgrading to HIDs and other genuinely blinding headlights that can endanger anyone that meets their vehicle while they're using them...Go figure. So we're supposed to be OK with forcing folks off the night time roadways with poorly aimed, over-powered HID headlamps but whine about some daytime glare from DRLs? Makes no sense to me. Then again, one of my list of must have features on my 4Runner when I bought it was factory installed/functional DRLs.