I thought they were a mad idea at first. Until I spent some time, and still do, in Denmark, where headlights or daytime running lights have to be used.
No more peering when overtaking in rain/mist/fog for to the numpties who have sidelights (should have been called parking lights) nothing at all or headlights on. Felt safer in a dark car going under trees. The LED type lights use hardly any power (alternator load = more fuel) compared to headlights.
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I know. My new Golf MK 6 will have these nuisances when I get it in June but thankfully they can be disabled according to those knowledeable folk on www.uk-mkivs.net.
What would your insurance companys position be if you had a bump and the other driver said the classic "I didnt see you" and it became noted that you did not have lights on which should default on? Insurance companies are good wrigglers. Can you see your DRL nuisances from inside the car? You had better get used to them we will all have them eventually.
Edited by Old Navy on 01/04/2009 at 18:26
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Missed the edit by miles:
My other half was involved in a very minor coming togther in a car park recently, When I reported the bump to the insurance company they specificly asked "Has your car been modified in any way". The repair company (A big national one) inspected the entire car in detail even down to all the tyre tread depths. I expect that report to end up with the insurer.
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It depends what you call a modification. As the Golf VI DRLs are turned off by using the cars standard controls with a procedure documented in the owner's manual (I've checked, it's there), I don't see how that could be seen as a modification, any more than winding the windows down or folding a seat flat!
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My S60 has them, and if you want them disabled, it has to be done in software at a Volvo dealer. There is an unofficial method involving butchery of the wiring around the headlight switch, but that doesn't appeal.
As a motorcyclist, it concerns me that DRLs make motorcyclists "blend in" more. I always ride on dipped beam, and during daylight hours, it makes me a little more visible. If my dipped beam blends in to a thousand others, I lose that visibility.
Cheers
DP
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I've seen quite a few bikes with twin xenon lights. You can certainly see them!
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It depends what you call a modification. As the Golf VI DRLs are turned off........etc.
At last, common sense prevails here. When I referred to the means of switching off these DRL's perhaps I should have mentioned that it was 'official' as it is mentioned, apparently, in the car's manual - and I'll certainly do just that.
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and I'll certainly do just that.
Dont complain if one day someone says to you "Sorry, I didnt see you".
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That happened to me once with my Volvo, which is not only equipped with all round DRLs and marker lights, but also burn your eyes out bright Xenons.
After that I decided to get them deactivated. After all, if I've not been seen with all that lot, it's just a waste of fuel and bulbs...
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with my workhorse the v40 year 2000 xi.
we can turn the drls off tells you how to do it in the owners manual.
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we had them on for 6months or so, but having standard fitment twin headlights and 4 tail-lights.
so thats 2 bulbs and the front and 4 at the back on top of the 4 lights on the bumpers and the 2 number plate bulbs i was outside once every few weeks changing bulbs..
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with the dlrs off the 4x orange side/corner lights are still on, just the 4 back and 2 front bulbs are off
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with leds, no problems, apart from dodgy solder joints when they get really really old they should outlast the car
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paul.
i thought some owners of german cars used there fog lights as drls hahaha
watching the apprentice last night on BBC1 there black people carriers all had the fog lights on....hmm must be the smog in London....hmmmm
Edited by Paul G1pdc on 02/04/2009 at 17:06
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One of my reasons for believing that DRLs (or dips) can be lifesavers is that for 5 years I used to drive between Glasgow and Skye on an almost weekly basis. Poor visibility in winter, foreign tourists on the wrong side of the road in summer, and suicidal overtakes towards you all year round convinced me of the need to be seen. A colleague was killed by a driver on the wrong side of the road, and I have had to take avoiding action. OK most people dont venture out of the concrete jungle, but in the real jungle lights save lives.
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Surely it is as easy as turning on your lights when visibility dims? OK - not everyone does this, but that would be an argument for fairly sensitive auto lights to be made standard, not DRLs.
Still, I have no particular objection to LED based systems, providing the power draw and lifespan of these is as good as people claim. If so, then why not...apart from the bike concerns...
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Do all the people concerned about the power consumption of DRLs turn everything in their house off standby when it is not in use? One good acceleration would burn off months of DRL use.
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Yes, sadly I do exactly that! :)
It's also a matter of replacement cost, as said above I have Xenons. When they go (as they do through overuse, despite the myth of them lasting forever) then it will hurt the old wallet no end.
It's also a pain when blubs keep going once every 3-4 weeks as they did in my previous Volvo with Halogen bulbs, never mind the cost.
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I've also calculated the total power consumption on my DRLs is around 140W, that's almost 1.5% of the power the engine generates...enough to break away by a good foot or so on the traffic light grand prix... ;)
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>> and I'll certainly do just that. >> Dont complain if one day someone says to you "Sorry I didnt see you".
You really are being very precious, aren't you. Suddenly after over 50 years of driving safely and with consideration for everyone around me, I'm suddenly going become a dangerous missile hitting people just because, for the first time in car ownership, my car is fitted with DRLs.
Some people, really!!
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Some people really!!
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I wont ask your opinion of other "modern technology" like high level brake lights. :)
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>> Some people really!! >> I wont ask your opinion of other "modern technology" like high level brake lights. :)
Well, for starters, they dazzle people behind.
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Is it my imagination or do the Audi LED DRL's only show on the front? One passed me yesterday as I was out and about being a pedestrian and I was sure that no back lights were showing.
The jolly shape of the front LED's could lead to all sorts of possibilities, with LED's in different shapes accoridng to the make of car. Perhaps even subtle colour variations, just wait and see!
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Questions:
1. Will DRLs lead to people forgetting to switch on their "normal" lights when it gets really dark? (As so many do now with the brightly permanently lit dashboards, leading drivers to think their lights are on when they're not.)
2. Will rear lighting be included in the package? (It isn't in North America, and leads to the problems in 1.)
3. Any objection to motorcyclists being allowed to show yellow lights to the front (if they wish/in town/during daylight hours) to distinguish their bikes better against the sea of white LEDs? Just occurred to me that yellow is often more noticeable than white and so motorbikes could regain their "conspicuosness" this way. Clip on lenses or self adhesive yellow covers maybe? Just a thought...
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To answer the first two questions:
1) naturally, I think the style of DRL currently being used should also go hand-in-hand with auto headlights, for that exact reason.
2) the new EU regs for DRLs only specify front lights. Therefore rear collisions never happen, well according to the EU anyway.
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DRL... soon to be compulsory for all cars being produced ( from 2011) I believe. Just another set of rules and regulations to grind the motorist further in to the ground in the hope they give up and get the bus.
Wonder what the fine will be for the popped bulb on your DRL's... £30, £60, plus points ?
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Calm down Mr X, the penalty will be the same as for any other light out - nil - not enough traffic police, and they have better things to do anyway.
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"Just another set of rules and regulations to grind the motorist further in to the ground in the hope they give up and get the bus.
Wonder what the fine will be..."
It's difficult to know which he enjoys more: wallowing in his misery or being a prophet of doom.
But the most satisfying thing for him would be that, in the unlikely event of all this gloom and doom coming to pass, he could say, "I told you so."
Edited by ChrisPeugeot on 03/04/2009 at 00:10
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You'd be amazed just how many times I am proved right.
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Is that a fact? How impressive! I admire your self-confidence. No, really!
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