Daytime running lights.

Pigeon · 15 Nov 2006 at 13:27

I have my sides on in the day when it is dull, it's all part of being seen like the police checker or pedestrians in their vests. I feel I need it as my car is grey/black and tends to merge into the background.

There is no need on bright days but today when it is very grey and damp underfoot it helps. Definitly no need for headlamps though!

pinkaardvark · 15 Nov 2006 at 15:09

My bike has AHO as do all new bikes from 2004 onwards. In fact on such a vehicle you can't turn the lights off unless you turn off the ignition.

With regards to the original post about who runs the country. Well i'm sure you were offered a vote in the european elections just as every other registered voter was.

Luke · 15 Nov 2006 at 15:13

It turned the DRLs off on my Volvo. Had I not got xenons, I'd probably not have, but at £50 a bulb, I only want to use them at night!

[DOD]Asprilla · 15 Nov 2006 at 15:22

emailiscrap said:
It turned the DRLs off on my Volvo. Had I not got xenons, I'd probably not have, but at £50 a bulb, I only want to use them at night!

Can I ask how much this cost?

I'm considering having it done so I can drive in France and I understand it has to be programmed by a dealer.

Tax Evader · 15 Nov 2006 at 15:23

No one has said "I turn them off to save petrol" yet, so I guess that means there's no old gits on the forum!

dirtydog · 15 Nov 2006 at 15:25

jonarob said:
Fair enough to these people who drive with their sidelights on in the day, but for the love of god, nothing angers me more than the people who have their driving lights on in broad daylight because the "look cool".

I'm talking about lights in the bumpers, like on the 205GTI and many other cars. They're for really bad lighting conditions, not driving up my arse and blinding me at 3 o clock on a Wednesday.

What if it's dark at 3 o'clock on a Wednesday, due to dark clouds and rain.

I wish when visibility was reduced people would put their HEADLIGHTS on, not their sidelights which is so stupid to me. Every time I drive at dawn or dusk, when it is semi-dark half the fools on the road either have no lights or just sidelights on. Stupid, stupid people.

edit - rereading your post you seem to have an issue with people using foglights during the day, rather than headlights? If so then I agree with that - they are for extremely low visibility conditions only, like dense fog, not simply dark or raining.

Daniel · 15 Nov 2006 at 15:27

Not very good for people with older cars with no lights left on warning. I expect there to be a lot of flat batteries until people get used to it.

Dan

merlin · 15 Nov 2006 at 15:29

Mine are set to Auto.

/runs

[DOD]Asprilla · 15 Nov 2006 at 15:33

jonarob said:
I'm talking about lights in the bumpers, like on the 205GTI and many other cars. They're for really bad lighting conditions, not driving up my arse and blinding me at 3 o clock on a Wednesday.

Front fog lights?

/gumpy old man rant

I don't understand why people have them on when it's not foggy. It makes me want to follow them home and smash the bulbs with a hammer.

I was waiting for my wife at the station the other night and about every fifth car (yes, I was sad and bored enough to count) had their from fogs on. Dumb, pointless and stupid.

It's not just boy racer little cars either, but Ranger Rovers, Jags, Mondeos, VWs, BMWs, Mercs, the whole spectrum of cars and drivers. What's wrong with these people?

/rant off.

TerryWogan · 15 Nov 2006 at 15:35

Yep. They think they look cool.

Mr Joshua · 15 Nov 2006 at 15:41

SB118 said:
Useful (think Canada have it) that any car with the ignition on has its running lighs on, gives you more warning if there is a chance a car could pull out from the side of the road at random.

That's a good point, especially where there's parked cars bumper to bumper, some people don't bother looking before pulling out.

Luke · 15 Nov 2006 at 15:45

[DOD]Asprilla said:
Can I ask how much this cost?

I'm considering having it done so I can drive in France and I understand it has to be programmed by a dealer.

I did it myself. Under the light dial there should be a very small slotted plastic screw head. I just had to turn this. This was on a '96 850.

dirtydog · 15 Nov 2006 at 15:49

Pigeon said:
I have my sides on in the day when it is dull, it's all part of being seen like the police checker or pedestrians in their vests. I feel I need it as my car is grey/black and tends to merge into the background.

There is no need on bright days but today when it is very grey and damp underfoot it helps. Definitly no need for headlamps though!

Can you please explain the logic of having your SIDElights on - which aren't bright enough for you to be seen? If you want people to see you then put your headlights on. Otherwise turn your lights off. There is no reason, ever, to drive with sidelights on.

[DOD]Asprilla · 15 Nov 2006 at 15:54

emailiscrap said:
I did it myself. Under the light dial there should be a very small slotted plastic screw head. I just had to turn this. This was on a '96 850.

Unfortunately this isn't the case any more, pity.

Cheers for the info though.

[TW]Fox · 15 Nov 2006 at 15:55

dirtydog said:
There is no reason, ever, to drive with sidelights on.

What about when you want to pose with your angel eyes at OcUK meets :confused:

dirtydog · 15 Nov 2006 at 15:57

[TW]Fox said:
What about when you want to pose with your angel eyes at OcUK meets

Seriously, they should wire cars up so that sidelights turn into headlights once the engine is on or something. They are only supposed to be for parking purposes, not for driving with.

I despair at people's lack of basic common sense.

Conscript · 15 Nov 2006 at 16:05

I usually drive with sidelights when visibility is low during the day.

So, if it starts raining or is overcast during the day, I use sidelights. If visibility drops dramatically or it starts to get dark, I put the headlights on.

Bri · 15 Nov 2006 at 16:06

dirtydog said:
Can you please explain the logic of having your SIDElights on - which aren't bright enough for you to be seen?

The lights on the rear of your vehicle however, are bright enough to be seen. Ideal for when it's not quite dull enough for your headlights to make any difference to what you can see, but you want others to be more likely to see you from behind

dirtydog · 15 Nov 2006 at 16:06

Conscript said:
I usually drive with sidelights when visibility is low during the day.

So, if it starts raining or is overcast during the day, I use sidelights. If visibility drops dramatically or it starts to get dark, I put the headlights on.

So you are one of the sidelight users. What is your rationale for using sidelights? Have you not noticed other cars on the road using sidelights and seen how ineffectual they are compared to cars with headlights on?

dirtydog · 15 Nov 2006 at 16:08

Bri said:
The lights on the rear of your vehicle however, are bright enough to be seen. Ideal for when it's not quite dull enough for your headlights to make any difference to what you can see, but you want others to be more likely to see you from behind

Yet the sidelights on the front of your vehicle are not bright enough for you to be seen, especially if another car has partially frosted or misted windows which at this time of the year is common. He cannot see you if you only have sidelights on - you are invisible to him. Put your headlights on - and then you can be seen.

Is this rocket science? :confused: