Dipped Headlights during the day - any point?

**Timbuk2**

There are ads on the radio now advising people to drive with their dipped headlights on during the day, as this buys them a little more visibility, thus could prevent accidents. I've even noticed an increasing number of cars doing this.

Is there any point of doing this?

TherapyBoy

Yes. If you've got your dipped lights on it makes your car easier to see, even during the day. =]

high heels

ehhh yes due to people seeing you more.. When you are over taking its hard to make out a car in the distance.. The lights make it easier.. Same with coming out of juctions It just makes it easier for you to be seen..

neilthefunkeone

About as much point as another head light thread....

Personally i see no point.. i can see another car perfectly without lights.. I drive with side lights but mainly cos i have cool ccfl angel eyes!!!!!!

deceit

I've always done this just out of habbit. Think its only really useful on really sunny days though

Rosita

I have never been able to work out why this advice is given. If your sight is so poor that you cannot see a car ahead of you in broad daylight it is difficult to see what difference headlights will make.

cormie

Folks, try driving a van where your only vision of what's behind you is your wing mirrors and you'll see how important dipped headlights are especially in bad weather and especially when rain is so heavy it's flowing all over the glass of your wing mirrors and side window!

aflib

cormie wrote: »

Folks, try driving a van where your only vision of what's behind you is your wing mirrors and you'll see how important dipped headlights are

agreed.in some countries its law to drive with your lights on regardless what time of the day it is

Ush1

I always put on the dips as it's what the RSA recommends. Are sidelights only for when the car is parked in a dimly lit place?

thebiglad

Rosita wrote: »

I have never been able to work out why this advice is given. If your sight is so poor that you cannot see a car ahead of you in broad daylight it is difficult to see what difference headlights will make.

It is intended to make you more obvious in peripheral vision - i.e. approaching a junction with just a glance rather then stop and check - makes the approaching car much more visible.

Motorcyclists have used the technique for years

Even if you are the safest driver in the world and would never pull in front of another vehicle without checking and rechecking etc - well, consider this a bit or insurance against those of us who are not perfect and share the road with
you:p

Atomic Pineapple

Been driving with my dipped headlights on for years.

Cant wait until its made mandatory to have them on all the time, for two reasons

It increases visibility in dull, cloudy, dark, overcast and sunny conditions, that pretty much covers all the time in Ireland!

And secondly cos idiots in this country cant even properly control there lights in fog, rain, dull light conditions!

Also its technically illegal to drive with just your parking lights on I believe, its also completely pointless

MunsterCycling

Cue increases in number of motorcyclists killed by blind cage drivers who can no longer make them out due to DRLs

high heels

A light is a light.... more people will see it.. how the hell does it mean more motorbikes will be hit???

BlackWizard

high heels wrote: »

A light is a light.... more people will see it.. how the hell does it mean more motorbikes will be hit???

He is saying that the lights will be blinding and will result in a few road annoyances being removed permanently from our roads due to car drivers not seeing them Ah I'm just kidding, I've no issues with bikers.

Atomic Pineapple

BlackWizard wrote: »

He is saying that the lights will be blinding and will result in a few road annoyances being removed permanently from our roads due to car drivers not seeing them Ah I'm just kidding, I've no issues with bikers.

Dipped headlights are not blinding

Cookie_Monster

I don't see the point of headlights over sidelights TBH.

I drive everywhere with the sidelights on and turn on the headlights early enough when its getting dark but I wouldn't have the headlights on during day.

no1beemerfan

Bizarre-Ink wrote: »

Yes. If you've got your dipped lights on it makes your car easier to see, even during the day. =]

If you can't see other cars on the road during the day you shouldn't be driving!


I don't really see the need and as stated in previous posts it'll make motorbikes more invisible.

BlackWizard

draffodx wrote: »

Dipped headlights are not blinding

I know that I was just explaining to highheels what he was saying.

Stoolbend

I have always drive with my dipped lights on.

Still doesn't stop eejits pulling out in front of me!

Alun

Christ, not another thread on this ... the last one (with the same old arguments rehashed for the umpteenth time) was only 4 days ago ...

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055825146

alias no.9

There are numerous documented cases of reductions in the numbers of collisions in a fleet where the drivers were instructed to use DRL's. One that I remember hearing about some years back was the ESB fleet in Donegal.

thebiglad

high heels wrote: »

A light is a light.... more people will see it.. how the hell does it mean more motorbikes will be hit???

Don't follow your question???

guil

i drive a truck, when its raining its very hard for a car to see by me or me to see them with the spray, the amount of ejits that still try to passs when they cant even see the front of the truck is unbelievable

no1beemerfan wrote: »

If you can't see other cars on the road during the day you shouldn't be driving!


I don't really see the need and as stated in previous posts it'll make motorbikes more invisible.

most bikers have their lights on all the time anyway

Slidey

Side lights are also known as parking lights for a reason.

I always drive with dips on, it si doing no harm and if it saves me from an accident it is all good.

I wish they would bring in mandatory driving lights / dip lights.

Was driving home from Dub 3 weeks ago in bad fog and the number of fools driving with either no lights or parking lights on was scary.

Padraig Mor

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

I don't see the point of headlights over sidelights TBH..

Because the sidelights/parking lamps on most cars are ****ing useless.

mullingar

Driving with dipped lights on does not improve your visibility during daylight.

Its to HIGHLIGHT your car to all other cars coming towards you.

Parking lights are useless when driving. All they are are parking lights.

IMO there should be a law that if its raining, lights on. "Wipers on, lights on"

grudgebringer

I have no choice, my Saab either has side lights or headlights on all the time .... not an issue though for me as I like to drive with my lights on anytime, I really do believe it helps other cars see you, even in broad daylight. Some cars are in colours hard to distinguish from background/horizon so lights on helps you do this. +1 from me too for mandatory lights on.

Atomic Pineapple

Padraig Mor wrote: »

Because the sidelights/parking lamps on most cars are ****ing useless.

It's also illegal to drive with them on as I stated earlier as they are meant to be only used when parked, hence the name parking lights, if only it was enforced :rolleyes:

Alanstrainor

Since the thread 4 days ago was more to do with DRLs rather than specifically headlights, i think i'll leave this where it is.
I have to say i would turn on my dipped head lamps everytime i sit into the car. It's just a habit at this stage. I always hate seeing people driving with parking lights, maybe not so much during the day, but it's people who drive with them at night/poor conditions that i can't understand.

no1beemerfan

guil wrote: »

most bikers have their lights on all the time anyway

Thats what I'm saying.....and cars having their lights on will make bikes more invisible if you know what I mean.

Forest Master

neilthefunkeone wrote: »

Personally i see no point..

Yet your sig has a car ( which I assume is yours) that has the fog lights on in daytime?


And why is the OP thanking every single reply?

Alanstrainor

Forest Master wrote: »

Yet your sig has a car ( which I assume is yours) that has the fog lights on in daytime?


And why is the OP thanking every single reply?

Don't even think about trying to turn this into a foglight thread.

vbunse

All new cars will come with daylights (reduced dim's) always on very soon......

Forest Master

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Don't even think about trying to turn this into a foglight thread.

Apologies - I have no intention of doing that. Just pointing out that neilthefunkeone sees no point in having dipped beams on during daytime - but he seems to like putting his foglights on during daytime.

Sorry.

**Timbuk2**

Thanks for the replies, everyone! Sorry about not seeing that thread about DRLs during the day, but I am not a regular to the forum and didn't realise it was created only 4 days ago (as it was on page 5 at the time of writing this post, I didn't realise it even existed)

Forest Master wrote: »

And why is the OP thanking every single reply?

Just a habit I guess. I like to thank people that take the time to reply/contribute to a thread that I created. Also it serves as a handy marker for me to see what was the last post I read when I come back to this thread!
If you want me to remove my thanks from your post, I have no problem in doing so!

Senna

my Volvo keeps the dips on at all times, very handy and should be on all cars.

Matt Simis

People still seem to be confused over the various lights:

Sidelights/Parking lights - usually 5w and therefore put out about as much light as a cig lighter. Use in daytime: Nearly useless, but better than not having anything on
Dips / Low beams - Normal nighttime "in traffic" and residential area lights - Use in daytime: Makes your car visible to others in all weather conditions, however are not ordinarily suitable as DRLs as they are too bright.
These lights annoy motorcyclists as they are approx the same wattage (50w+) as their headlights, making them harder to differentiate.

DRLs/ TFL - Daytime Running lights. These lights run at higher wattage in daytime (equivalent to 25w, so much lower than low beams) then drop to much lower output at nighttime when your dips are on (equiv. 10w). Higher end DRLs are LEDs with absolute minimal power draw and super long lifespan.
Dedicated DRLs also do not illuminate your rear lights in daytime, unlike say driving with parking lights or Dips on.
DRLs do not cause issue to motorcyclists (imo) as they are much, much dimmer than motorcyclists headlights IMO.

Personally I drive with modified parking lights on (21w vs 5w originals) as my car has pop up headlights and not really all that suitable for permanant operation.

**Timbuk2**

^ Thanks for clearing that up myself, I was confused about that.

My car doesn't have any DRLs, so I assume that driving with dips would be better than driving with no lights in the daytime, despite their over-brightness?

Matt Simis

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

My car doesn't have any DRLs, so I assume that driving with dips would be better than driving with no lights in the daytime, despite their over-brightness?

Yep, I would agree with that too, though not all will. You can get after market LED DRLs with reduced output switching (at night) wiring harness's, but they are very very expensive.
http://www.passatplus.de/umbauteile/audi-s6-tfl/index.htm


I have a set but kinda broke one of the Audi S6 OEM DRLs I purchased, an expensive and annoying mistake!

peasant

check this link
http://www.daytime-running-light.com
close the first screen and go to retro-fit

200motels

I always use my dipped headlights, and it is easier to see a vehicle with dipped headlights in a split second situation, the sooner it's made law the better.

rccaulfield

YES BECAUSE-
1.- in the early evenings when twilight approaches idiots forget to put them on
2. helps van drivers etc with peripheral vision.
3. whos the genius with the beemer with foglights on in his sig?

-Chris-

rccaulfield wrote: »

3. whos the genius with the beemer with foglights on in his sig?

1. No Fog Light threads please (don't even start...)
2. You're bordering on insulting other members, again don't

colm_mcm

I use the dipped beam during the day and use the height adjuster switch to lower the beam for during the day.

Berty

How about me and my Volvo?

I have no choice to have some sort of lights turned on but I CHOOSE to drive with my dipped beam on instead of the simple sidelight because frankly it's not enough.

I don't trust anybody on the roads so the more they can see me the better.

cabrwab

Ill be honest when i first started driving id rarely have lights on,
It was when i started driving more and more commercial vehicles i noticed the importance of driving with lights on.

Silver cars can seem invisible without a light on IMO, when the only thing you have to see behind you is a mirror either side the drivers with lights on is much appreciated.

The audi DRL are the best they stand out brilliantly.
TBH i also don't mind the front fogs on sometimes on the car. Once again making a car stand out in bright low winter sun is better!

But as colm said ill use dips and dip the light to the lowest setting during the day.

I don't think motorbikes will disappear but sometimes discipline would help this rather then the "jumping" and "Diving" you can see lights or no lights sometimes that can be so hard to see as they are smaller and fit into blind spots perfectly

Tiriel

If you are in the habit of turning on your dipped headlights when you get into your car, there is less chance that you will forget to turn on your lights when you actually need them in built up areas/poor conditions etc.

I notice that people who park in underground/multi storey car parks hop into their cars and drive off, not realising that once they leave the car park it is dark and they have no lights on. Dangerous!!!

GreeBo

Matt Simis wrote: »

These lights annoy motorcyclists as they are approx the same wattage (50w+) as their headlights, making them harder to differentiate.

I dont understand this point? If you see a light you know there is something there, if you need to know whats there then you know where to look?

Also, putting on my dipped beams is as automatic to me as putting on my seatbelt.

KamiKazi

GreeBo wrote: »

I dont understand this point? If you see a light you know there is something there, if you need to know whats there then you know where to look?

Read the DRL thread, it should answer that question.

GTE

It has to be obvious that having your lights on all the time is beneficial to everyone. You will be seen easier by other motorists and pedestrians.

I dont accept the argument I read in the DRL section where some people thought that having lights on all the time would make motorcyclists less visible. At least I think thats what the jist was.

Although it will be less obvious there is a vehicle with one light behind me I will know there is a vehicle of some kind behind me. Personally, rather egotistically (which Im sure it well be seen as) I always drive as if there could be a motorcycle behind me. I actually only found out recently that all motorcycles always have their headlights on, similar to DRL's so I dont rely on the assumption "no headlight no motorbike"


If there is going to be a real problem with DRLS and driving with lights on all the time its going to be with the down right pathetic common road sense that say at least 40 percent of the people I have seen driving have.

Just coming home today, it was bright enough but then a very black cloud made things surprisingly dark for about a half hour. So many cars passed me with no headlights on, not even parking lights. I found these cars really difficult to see in some instances. Then when I flashed my lights (not the full beam, switching off and on the dipped lights) in hope they put their lights on I get flashed with full beams :S

Im sure everyone has many many stories about things like this but I dont think there is any good reason not to introduce DRL's or suggest to keep lights on all the time. The main culprit is the idiocy on the roads.

Minstrel27

I have them on all the time. Because I can see a car coming it doesn't mean that the old dear in the car 1/4 of a mile down the road can see me.