DRLs - Boon or Bane? - READ ONLY

12 messages,  Last post on Jun 07, 2011 at 4:10 AM

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What is this discussion about? Safety Technology

#8 of 12 My instant take... by pf_flyer HOST

Jun 06, 2011 (10:26 am)

As soon as DRLs were promoted as a safety item, the question came to mind, "What about when all or most cars have DRLs on?" Suddenly those cars that stood out from the traffic and caught your attention so you didn't pull out in front of them are just another set of lights in the crowd.
 
Maybe flashing DRLs

#9 of 12 Re: My instant take... [pf_flyer] by steve_ HOST

Jun 06, 2011 (10:55 am)

Replying to: pf_flyer (Jun 06, 2011 10:26 am)
That's the motorcycle argument. I see lots of them with "variable" headlights on.
 
I like DRLs. Wish my cars had them. I usually turn my lights on if I'm driving out of town. The old Subaru is nice that way; I just leave the lights on and they go off when I turn the car off. Even if they all had 'em, lights still make cars stand out a bit (especially around here where there's not much traffic and a lot of two lane anyway).
 
I pulled out in front of a motorcycle a year or so ago. No lights, and I just didn't see him. Bugged me and he was really irritated.

#10 of 12 Re: My instant take... [steve_] by pf_flyer HOST

Jun 06, 2011 (2:41 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Jun 06, 2011 10:55 am)
My biggest beef with DRLs is that they are NOT headlights that come on when it's dark, which a fair number of people seem to think they are.
 
As soon as you make people think that something's being done for them, they think they don't have to worry about doing it. Personal case in point, when my Versa is running, the dash lights are on. At night, in a well-lit parking lot, I have started to drive off without turning on the headlights because from inside the car, it LOOKS like I've already turned them on.
 
It's why I cringe when I see the M-B commercial where people say, "I didn't know the car in front of me had stopped, but my car did."
 

#11 of 12 Re: My instant take... [pf_flyer] by steve_ HOST

Jun 06, 2011 (4:41 pm)

Replying to: pf_flyer (Jun 06, 2011 2:41 pm)
Around here the bar parking lots aren't very well lit.
 
Now that you mention it though, I wouldn't mind automatic headlights. Wouldn't have to worry about them at all, unless I started going to star-gazing parties.

#12 of 12 Re: My instant take... [pf_flyer] by ray80

Jun 07, 2011 (4:10 am)

Replying to: pf_flyer (Jun 06, 2011 2:41 pm)
My GM vehicles are automatic, never have to turn a switch for the lights day night or in-between. Not perfect though as in low light levels in winter the sensor can get confused and turn night-time lighting on during the day, this puts panel lighting and radio in low power mode and you can't see them unless you turn dimmer switch up ( I have seen quite a few questions about it at various forums).
One of my vehicles has parking lights as opposed to low power high beams for DRL's and this vehicle is black. Didn't take long for me to notice people were not seeing me and I had more instances of them pulling out in front of me.

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