DRLs staying on when Headlights on

BuzzFish

All,

I have noticed many of the new cars with DRLs fitted seem to leave the DRLs on when the dips are turned on. I find them very blinding, especially when on the bike and it makes it harder to judge the speed of cars approaching from behind, when changing lane for example.

In would have thought that with the requirement to have DRLs fitted, they would have required that they turn off, then the headlights are in use.

Come to think of it, they should be activated by light sensor also so people can't drive using DRLs alone at night, thus having no rear lights on at all.

Who came up with the requirement to fit DRLs, was it the Irish or European law?

Toyotafanboi

i think drl's are designed to be bright so you notice them but not to blind you. i mean when an average (pre drl's) car turns its dipped beams on, its sidelights don't go out.

i find drl's work well, even on a mid summers sunny day they make the car stand out more. that said i can look straight into a drl for several seconds and look away and not be left with a flash in my eyes.

sounds to me like drl's are doing their job and making you notice them tbh, nothing more.

mickdw

Well mine do exactly as you suggest. They are on automatically in day time. Headlights are automatic so once it gets dark, proper front and rear lights come on and when they do, the drls dull down significantly.
It's European law.

visual

We don't have a motor industry here so this would be something eu would impose.

I find it makes cars more visible especially if your viewing car outside the beam of the dip headlamps. So pedestrians in particular whose eye level is 6 foot from ground notice these cars sooner giving a greater margin for error

MuppetCheck

Mine dim with the headlights on, I would have thought that they would go off.

I think the worst car for drls at the moment is the i40 - they are without fail blinding.

rovoagho

I can honestly say I've never, ever seen DRLs that would even approach "blinding". I'm guessing you're another one of the Foglights Kills types, can I suggest an eye test?

Paddy@CIRL

Without sounding like a smart arse OP, I would recommend an eye test if you're struggling with bright light sources. My eye sight is pretty much bang on 50/50 but I sometimes need glasses to cope with glare and bright light sources. It's made a huge difference for me driving day and night. Well worth the price of a consult with your optician.

Chimaera

DRLs became compulsory across Europe on 07/02/2011 for cars and light vans, and 07/08/2012 for other vehicles. DRLs must be manufactured according to ECE R87 (which specifies light output levels among other things) and if they are being used as dual function DRL/position markers, they must be capable of dimming when the headlights are switched on and they have to meet ECE R7 when operating in the position marker mode.

MuppetCheck

rovoagho wrote: »

I can honestly say I've never, ever seen DRLs that would even approach "blinding". I'm guessing you're another one of the Foglights Kills types, can I suggest an eye test?

The comment was made specific to the i40 - the drls can be extremely off putting depending on road angle. It's something I've noticed many times with them over the last number of years. And many of the owners seem to think they are headlight replacements too due to the size of them.

From the foglight comment I bet you're the kind of person that drives with them on all the time. Foglights dont bother me in the least but everytime I see them on when not needed I always think in my head that drives a little special.

BuzzFish

Paddy@CIRL wrote: »

Without sounding like a smart arse OP, I would recommend an eye test if you're struggling with bright light sources. My eye sight is pretty much bang on 50/50 but I sometimes need glasses to cope with glare and bright light sources. It's made a huge difference for me driving day and night. Well worth the price of a consult with your optician.

Not a smart arse at all. I had a sight test when getting the bike license and was perfect vision with no issues. I'm not in the Fog lights dazzle brigade either but I do find that (especially on the bike) DRL's at full belt when the headlights are on does make is more difficult to judge distance and speed of vehicles behind.
The fact that the EU directive states they should dim when the headlight is on would suggest that some manufacturers seem to have ignored this dimming bit of the rule.

slimjimmc

BuzzFish wrote: »

Not a smart arse at all. I had a sight test when getting the bike license and was perfect vision with no issues. I'm not in the Fog lights dazzle brigade either but I do find that (especially on the bike) DRL's at full belt when the headlights are on does make is more difficult to judge distance and speed of vehicles behind.
The fact that the EU directive states they should dim when the headlight is on would suggest that some manufacturers seem to have ignored this dimming bit of the rule.

I think you misread what Chimaera stated which is that dimming is required only if they are being used as dual function DRL/position markers. So if they're used as DRLs there is no requirement to dim, but if they function as position markers they will have to dim to the equivalent of a 5W side/parking lamp.

CiniO

slimjimmc wrote: »

I think you misread what Chimaera stated which is that dimming is required only if they are being used as dual function DRL/position markers. So if they're used as DRLs there is no requirement to dim, but if they function as position markers they will have to dim to the equivalent of a 5W side/parking lamp.

Yes. You are right that if they are used as equivalent of position lights, then they must dim.

But AFAIK if they are not used as positions lights and dimmed, they must come off completely when dipped or full beam headlights are on. That's at least what appropriate EU directive states.

Chimaera

Yes, the regulations require that they turn off completely when the headlights are switched on if they're functioning as DRLs only.

Matt Simis

I like DRLs and fitted them to several cars as aftermarket addons, usually even those are wired to Dim when headlights are on. However I do think its possible for a crappy DRL using LEDs to be blinding, LEDs have a very narrow focus of light, at which point it doesnt take much output to be blinding. The typical DRL assembly of course is designed in a manner that uses reflected light to create that "light bar" look, but its entirely possible for badly made DRLs (or damaged) to be beaming light out directly and not reflecting it internally, which would be blinding.

Mc Love

I have the DRL's (aftermarket MS Design) and when I turn on my lights they go out!

vectra

My drl's work front and back during the day.
Fronts dim when the dims come on.
Also the corresponding drl will dim when I indicate to turn.