Quote: I'm hoping she realizes that the DRLs are only up front...

When DRLs first appeared in the '90s, I remember seeing lots of cars with dim-looking headlights and no taillights at night. You'd think they'd notice the pitch-black instrument panel in front of them...

I'd certainly believe that running the headlights imposes an extremely marginal loss of horsepower. However, a car that's totaled because someone didn't see it turning left makes 0 horsepower.

- P.J.

I hate daytime running lamps


#1 because when I drive home from the city I have 3 pitch black intersections that I come to... when I approach these crossroads I turn my headlights off for a second to see if I see any lights coming thus affecting my next move.

#2 because I don't like to advertise myself.

#3 I am a good driver... I know when my headlights need to be on for safety

#4 I am annoyed by vehicles with DRL on a nice sunny day therefore I choose not to annoy others who feel the same as I.

#5 headlight wear is impacted if DRL are incorporated into normal driving lights (hi/lo beams).

#6 some manufactures have DRL who come on always so that in a parking lot while their vehicle is running I am being blinded.

#7 some morons drive with only DRL after dark

#8 I like to drive up my driveway with my LIGHTS OUT!!!

#9 When riding at the local lights festival or in a parade, DRL take away from the effect. DRL certainly don't affect my insurance rates (yet)

#10 This country (USA) is supposed to be a free country but DRL are just another item to add to our growing list of freedoms taken away (and the sad part about this is that the government has nothing to do with it. (yet)


DRL are good for one thing and one thing only!

since drivers licences are so easy to get, there are many many bad drivers on the road today many of these drivers are too dumb to realize that headlights are not just so that you can see to drive but that lights are also necessary to be seen in inclement driving conditions and yet I see people driving a dark gray car in the driving rain with no lights.... these are the people who need DRL.

That is a chance I have been taking for about 20 years now and never had any close calls, negative incidents, or seen any new signs..... Thats a chance I'm willing to take because my "check" system works for me and on many occasions this has alerted me to the presence of an approaching vehicle...

OK here is another issue - MOTORCYCLES.... do you remember when motorcycle companies started putting always on lighting on their bikes that was way before the DRL era on vehicles... motorcycles were much easier to see because they stood out due to their lights now they just blend in.

Not that I want to bore anyone BUT- Just yesterday it was 60° & sunny I was sitting in line at a 3 way stop sign... there were about 10 cars ahead of me...as I watched the cars on my left turn right the DRL equipped vehicles were blinding me when they made their turn- especially the cars that incorporate DRL into the high beam.... it was only 3 cars but for an old-schooler like me it was three too many... OK you can tell me not to look at the lights or something... Great suggestion but that is not realistic.... and truthfully I have no problem with someone who turns their lights on every time they start their car... even DRL for someone who really wants that feature because THAT IS WHAT THEY WANT... but I think it's becoming an annoyance epidemic that the feature cannot be overridden by switch then again the first thing I do when I get a new car is disconnect all chimes, beeps, dings, etc... because I am annoyed quite easily:o)

I know of no vehicle manufacturers that use the high-beam headlights as DRLs. The people you see with "glaring" headlights have more likely tripped the turn-signal stalk by accident and activated their brights (which, on some models, happens whether the DRLs are on or not).

- P.J.

i just bought a car with them and dont understand them, like why can;t i leave them off, during the day with no lights on. the dealer tells me they will be on as long as the car is running. is this true? does it hurt your vehicle? i have never had a car with them. thanks for any info you can g ive me.

If your car has daytime running lights (DRL), you can not turn them off. They will be on whenever your car is running. (In some cases, the lights come on when you release the emergency brake or when you shift out of "park.") DRL is intended to make your car more visible and will not otherwise hurt your car. You may burn out the lights a little more often and you will use a tiny bit more gasoline, but those are the only negative effects.

--Bob

The best data is on the Transport Canada websites, where stats compiled in the 80's/90's indicated-as I recall-about a 30% decrease in accidents in two lane marked but physically undivided hwy. head ons..i.e, Trans.Canada Hwy.
For some reason, it concluded, the brain tends to view approaching objects on a long flat sloping road as relatively equal, and searches for peaks or changes diffrerently, i.e less effectively the longer the potential viewing area is in miles/km., so despite wider spaces of the West in particular, these kinds of areas are where we tire, or or brains don't pick out long range objects, even though you'd think a barren landscape would make for easy pickens!!
I can't stand the fact DOT didn't mandate them for US cars, and think, FWIW, that xenon driving lights should be standard, hell be cost, so that I can show I'm coming around corners with an adjustable driving light beam (Lexus and others are incorporating this update on Citroen turning headlights, but the current designs use HID for the DRIVER's benefit, NOT to warn the traffic coming the other way that doesn't see you and then suddenly gets blinded by your massive hot spots of lumens!!
Waiting for LED lights for my forehead to be surgically sub-implanted for easier swimming and oggling!
John

Look at this site for DRL facts:

www.BestDRLs.com

The daytime running lights run your battery down to the point where a five year battery here in the south is probably good for two years.

Most daytime running lights use too much electricity. Most use 100 watts. How many homes leave 100 watt light bulb on during the day or even all night. Try touching a 100 watt bulb and you will get scorched.

They are profitable for manufacturers. I was forced to get DRLs when I upgraded to Leather seating. The DRLs cannot be switched off unless you rewire some circuit board.

Some nights I forget to turn on my headlights my dashboard stay lit up all day with DRLs.

The manufacturer should give you a disable switch and the ability to switch to 10 watt LEDs. LEDs are cool especially on the new AUDIs. I don't mind paying extra for cool LEDs.