Daytime Running Lights - New legislation

matt_fsr · 9 Mar 2011 at 15:12

OK, so hands up who's heard of the 'Daytime Running Lights', mandatory to all cars after February 2011?

... from early 2011, all new types of passenger cars and light vans will have to be fitted with dedicated daytime running lamps in accordance with the relevant European directive.

http://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/2008/2/14/daytime-running-lights-to-become-law/27031/

I initially only heard of this through flicking open a free motoring magazine that came with our Roadside assist paperwork.

Nanny state-ism to the Nth degree? A danger to less visible road users?

Personally I think its way over the top, legislating purely for the sake of doing so - and there's far better things could be done to reduce accidents than making my rear-view mirror unusable!

Shimmy · 9 Mar 2011 at 15:17

Yeah I'd heard about it, don't particularly mind it either. Think they'll be similar to sidelights if slightly more powerful.

All Swedish cars have them and 90% of Merc/Audi drivers seem to use their lights 24/7, so won't be a big change imo.

mufc802 · 9 Mar 2011 at 15:21

Shouldn't they be working on getting people to indicate rather than be seen better in the daytime? Maybe put a zapper in the car and if they don't indicate give them a nice big zap.

NathWraith · 9 Mar 2011 at 15:23

I have "daytime" running lights on my Polo. Highly annoying, people just look at you strangly as if you don't realise its day time with them on. There is no "lights off" switch, the closest you get is by putting the side lights on!

Although LED daytime lights look a lot nicer but still arguably just as useless.

Participant · 9 Mar 2011 at 15:27

NathWraith said:
I have "daytime" running lights on my Polo. Highly annoying, people just look at you strangly as if you don't realise its day time with them on.

Anyone that still looks surprised by DRLs has obviously been living underground. They're almost more common than not now.

What is annoying is when they double as turning lights and people keep telling you you have a fog light out.

Kutter · 9 Mar 2011 at 15:28

my chevy has got these, but its actually the indicators which are on, so in the day im driving round with yellow lights on. i can turn them off though, theres an auto switch on the light switch.

Most cars over here have them on.

stoofa · 9 Mar 2011 at 15:35

The new Octy vRS I've ordered will come with Daytime Running Lights.
They are a row of LED lights situated under the front fog-lights and are on all the time, obviously.

Thankfully they don't look too bad.
Seems some use possibly a different bulb in the front fog light lamp?
Always looks like the car is driving around with just front fogs on.

matt_fsr · 9 Mar 2011 at 15:41

stoofa said:
Always looks like the car is driving around with just front fogs on.

So it'll end up as a distraction to other motorists seeing such cars and thinking "why has he got front fogs on?"

instead of watching the road / pedestrians / cyclists.

Brilliant. Well done Europe. :rolleyes:

Firestar_3x · 9 Mar 2011 at 15:46

Would someone please think of the extra C02 production........

deko · 9 Mar 2011 at 15:46

matt_fsr said:
So it'll end up as a distraction to other motorists seeing such cars and thinking "why has he got front fogs on?"

instead of watching the road / pedestrians / cyclists.

Brilliant. Well done Europe.

If someone gets so distracted by thinking someone has fogs on and hits something, they shouldn't have a driving license.

InvaderGIR · 9 Mar 2011 at 15:47

matt_fsr said:
So it'll end up as a distraction to other motorists seeing such cars and thinking "why has he got front fogs on?"

instead of watching the road / pedestrians / cyclists.

Brilliant. Well done Europe.

Have you seen a Mini, Volvos, Audis, BMWs?

Who cares, I usually drive with my lights on (never the fogs) during the day simply because I prefer to be extra visible. About the only time I don't bother is when it's brilliantly sunny with blue skies.
My car is pre-DRLs as well.

Step in the right direction this one, as so many cars don't put the lights on when they should.

Firestar_3x said:
Would someone please think of the extra C02 production........

And the affect/effect (useless with them two

) on MPGZzzzzzzzz

DRZ · 9 Mar 2011 at 15:47

matt_fsr said:
So it'll end up as a distraction to other motorists seeing such cars and thinking "why has he got front fogs on?"

instead of watching the road / pedestrians / cyclists.

Brilliant. Well done Europe.

If these lights distract you to the point where you are going to miss "the road", pedestrians or cyclists then quite frankly you are more of a danger than anything.

What do you do when it is dark? Have a panic attack?

rG-tom · 9 Mar 2011 at 15:50

NathWraith said:
I have "daytime" running lights on my Polo. Highly annoying, people just look at you strangly as if you don't realise its day time with them on. There is no "lights off" switch, the closest you get is by putting the side lights on!

Although LED daytime lights look a lot nicer but still arguably just as useless.

really? I have my ACTUAL lights on whenever im driving, and I've never had anyone warn me about it and they're bright xenons. Had it once in my mondeo 4 years ago.....

They're probably looking at you strangely as a man driving a polo isn't far from him carrying a manbag and wearing skin tight leather

Overlag · 9 Mar 2011 at 15:54

i generally leave my lights on during the day anyway, but people still dont see me... :/

matt_fsr · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:00

DRZ said:
If these lights distract you to the point where you are going to miss "the road", pedestrians or cyclists then quite frankly you are more of a danger than anything.

What do you do when it is dark? Have a panic attack?

Well personally when its dark I put my lights on.

However, I can see a lot of people forgetting to do so in the dark as their DRL lights will be on.

Heck, half of the cars on the roads that I see either have 1 headlight out or a 1 brake light out! Brake light I can understand not spotting straight away... but front light? :eek:

rG-tom · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:09

if they forget because their DRLs are on then they'll forget anyway, considering you can't see them from inside the car.....

stoofa · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:11

The DRL lights are there for other people to see you.
They don't significantly "light up" the road in front of you - you shouldn't be able to "forget" to put your lights on when it's dark.

Although there are plenty of complete idiots who do "forget" right now and in those cases they would at least have DRL's so you'd be able to see them.

NathWraith · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:14

rG-tom said:
really? I have my ACTUAL lights on whenever im driving, and I've never had anyone warn me about it and they're bright xenons. Had it once in my mondeo 4 years ago.....

They're probably looking at you strangely as a man driving a polo isn't far from him carrying a manbag and wearing skin tight leather

Ok captain sarcasm.

S'ok i'll go chop in my Polo and get a Corsa or Saxo, you know something really "young" and "masculine" or possibly a clapped out beemer?

stockhausen · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:16

matt_fsr said:
... there's far better things could be done to reduce accidents ...

What practical ideas had you in mind :confused:

rG-tom · 9 Mar 2011 at 16:17

NathWraith said:
Ok captain sarcasm.

S'ok i'll go chop in my Polo and get a Corsa or Saxo, you know something really "young" and "masculine" or possibly a clapped out beemer?

have facelift e46 330i Sports really fallen into the clapped out category now? (assuming the addition of them to the end of that list was a way to relate it to me

)

Daytime Running Lights - New legislation

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