DRL Dangers

gibo_ie wrote: »

Hi all,
More and more recently I am seeing major problems with all newer cars having DRLs. Specifically that they are front only and seemingly once the dash board is lit up in front of the driver that some seem oblivious that no matter how dark, how heavy the rain or fog is that they dont need to switch on lights as it looks to them internally that they already have.

Indeed, but that's not danger originating from DRL's but from idiots who fail to turn normal dipped light when conditions warrant it.

Should the manufacturers not simply enable both front and rear DRLs at the same time.

No

I cant see a reason why this shouldnt be the case???
thanks,

Because there is no point in rear lights during good visibility at daytime.
And that's the only conditions when DRL's should be used.
When it's raining, or fog, or gets darker, everyone should turn on normal dipped lights.
And that's what should be enforced. Not changing design of vehicels.

Automated dipped DRLs should be the standard, not some uggo LED strips on the front.
I suppose you could have a setting that after 5pm or sumsuch the car will turn on lights automatically in case the driver doesn't.

gibo_ie wrote: »

This is a good idea aso, there are plenty of cars which have automatic lights coming on sensing darkness.

Problem with them, is while they sense darkness and turn on the lights, they usually don't sense rain, and never sense a fog.
And full dipped lights are needed in rain and fog, same as in darkness.

joujoujou wrote: »

The problem is (and I'm pretty sure you're aware of that too) that redesigning vehicles would be far more easy than changing average Joe habits.

But how would you see them redesigned?
To turn on rear tail lights together with front DRLs?

gibo_ie wrote: »

Quite simply, yes!
I agree that it shouldn't be required but it really is. If we can make driving safer, simply by automating this simple safety feature then why not!

It still doesn't really solve the whole problem.
It only solve the problem of lack of rear lights.

But people would still drive only on DRLs in rain and fog during daytime, which are not suitable for it.
Also they would probably be even pushed further to drive on DRLs at night, considering they'd have rear tail lights with them.

The problem is when the dash lights inside the car along with the DRL's. If the dash remained unlit and it became dark, it would encourage the Joe to at least switch the side lights on.

colm_mcm wrote: »

Didn't we have this thread last week

Merge them so.

Oh wait...:p

MuppetCheck wrote: »

Merge them so.

Oh wait...:p

I already tried to....
Superpowers aren't what they used to be

Anyway, original thread is here
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057520003

In short - Poland had quite the same problem in the 80 and early 90's.
Lots of people driving without lights when conditions required them.
Introduction of law requiring everyone to use dipped lights at all times, together with adequate policing and fines issed to people who didn't comply, solved the problem nearly instantly.
Since then, there was no wondering if pi$$ing rain, fog or darkness warrants only side lights, or dipped lights or fog lights or nothng. Just always use dipped lights - simple as.

All worked well until 2012, and since lots of cars started coming with front DRL, it has become legal to use front DRLs only instead of dipped lights.
Some problems came back, as again there are people who started driving with DRLs during rain, fog or darkness, but adequate policing on the roads, keep this problem to minimum.

Mariah Low Slump wrote: »

I don't know why manufactures just didn't program it so dims come on all the time rather than having separate DRLs it would solve all this issue (the law even could have said dims on all the time rather than DRLs).

The first thing I do when I get into the car is turn on the dims anyway day or night would be handy if they just came on by themselves

LED lighting is more visible during daytime than standard halogen bulbs especially in strong sunlight. Also LED uses less energy and tends to last longer than halogen.

Where I agree that something should be done to ensure people don't rely on DRLs when they should be using dipped, I do not like the idea of auto lights as being the solution as all it does is accept peoples ignorance about driving and cover it up.

I'd much rather people are educated and cop on to what they are doing wrong.

The reality however, auto lights may just become the default answer.

Two I saw yesterday evening just after 5pm!

Mariah Low Slump wrote: »

I see the point there alright as LEDs are much better, manufacturers should be moving over to LED light for all light though anyway. You could have the DRLs and dims come on together in the case of a car with LED DRLs and halogen main lights as a work around also I suppose.

My parents new car has LEDs on all the lights not just the DRLs and the lighting is so sharp on it compared to normal halogen lights should really be rolled out on all new cars. They look way better too.

All LED lighting is a fairly new concept as tech develops and will in time be rolled out in most places.

That work around doesn't make sense as all it is doing is wasting energy, doubling up lighting with a halogen beam which isn't as effective as a good DRL. Auto lights make more sense but again, this is just a cover up for ignorance which wont teach anyone anything.