Topic: People Driving with DRLs at Night

[1TSX]

So, I have been noticing this quite a bit.

I see many people driving with their "headlights" on at night, but they are very yellow and dim. These are on newer cars. I think people think that their DRLs are their full low beam headlights??? Their parking lights are on though. Are people getting confused when they turn on their vehicle, and the lights are already on (DRLs), and think thats it?

Does anyone else notice this?

[wing]

I think if you are in the city you forget because it's so bright.  I've done it a few times.

[CyberNick]

Yes I've noticed it and I've done it too... I just forget to turn on the regular lights, not very often but it's happened.

The biggest danger from that IMO is that often there are no lights on the back of the vehicle when only DRLs are on and can make a vehicle harder to see from the back... especially if person behind is running only on DRLs too...

[Titanium48]

There's been several times where the thought of turning on my headlights just didn't occur to me because the streetlighting was so bright.  This usually happens in parking lots.  If I can see my instrument panel and I can see outside without difficulty there's no cue to turn on the lights until I try to leave the parking lot. 

Lighting up parking lots brighter than surrounding streets is just a bad idea.  Even if you do remember to turn on your lights it's still hard to see when you first enter the street because your eyes haven't been able to adapt to the dark yet.  Another solution would be to have the taillights come on with the DRLs.  With LED lights power consumption and bulb life are no longer issues.

[PJungnitsch]

I did that test driving the parents Versa. It turns on the instrument panel lights with the daytime running lights, not a great idea.

[UmroAyyar]

I leave the switch to Auto all the time, so far its been working fine. Instrument panel lighting intensity changes when the headlights are turned on automatically.

[safristi]

that Versa thingie sounds like an accident waiting to Happen.in this Day & Age....1820 in some issues 2300 in others ....How simple would it be to have a LIGHt sensor to switch the Damn things on when ya reach 16 Candellas......

[EV Dan]

It works just b-e-a-utiful on my GM. When it is bright out it turns the dim yellow lights. When it gets darker it turns on low beams and tail lights. And at any time I can override to low - high beams from "yellow" with a switch, and when the switch is on and I try to leave the car the beeper goes nuts and so the battery never gets low. On top of all if anything that draws power is left when the key is not in the whole circuit shuts off in like 15 mins, whether its a door, or trunk lid or a laptop. Even on my old camry I didnt have it work so smooth. 

[Brigitte]

My instrument panel lights are tied to the "night lights" on the Jetta.  Increasing darkness and decreasing ability to see my instrument panel is always my cue to turn everything on, and works very well.  I didn't realize that it works differently in other cars, which would explain the inordinate number of people I see driving with only DRLs on after nightfall.

[safristi]

INORDINATE is that not a Bridge too fair................EEDJITS...is a better term.....

[Giant Dwarf]

I've noticed this more and more lately too.  I think a lot of it has to do with the new "optitron"-style guages that light up automatically all the time.  In the city, the buttons and dials all look right, but there's not enough darkness to see the lack of headlights.

As another driver though, it's the missing rear lights that really freaks me out -- especially on the highways at speed. 

I think 'automatic' headlights should be the default setting on most cars with a less-convenient over-ride 'headlights off' button.  Too many people are forgetting these days it seems. 

[UmroAyyar]

It works just b-e-a-utiful on my GM. When it is bright out it turns the dim yellow lights. When it gets darker it turns on low beams and tail lights. And at any time I can override to low - high beams from "yellow" with a switch, and when the switch is on and I try to leave the car the beeper goes nuts and so the battery never gets low. On top of all if anything that draws power is left when the key is not in the whole circuit shuts off in like 15 mins, whether its a door, or trunk lid or a laptop. Even on my old camry I didnt have it work so smooth. 

It works almost the same on this new Camry. Auto..Headlights ON..DRLs only..OFF. Leave it in Auto, it turns off the lights after 1 minute if the engine isn't running. Leave the switch to ON, it beeps.

[EV Dan]

I think 'automatic' headlights should be the default setting on most cars with a less-convenient over-ride 'headlights off' button. 

Is that the button for suicidal minded folks? 

[dr_spock]

Lighting up the dash with the DRL is a rear-ender waiting to happen on a dark highway.   Convenience with a price I suppose. 

[The Fuzz]

It's funny how I notice it a lot more when the days are shorter. It's almost like people aren't in the habit of doing it on the way home from work so they don't. When it doesn't get dark until 10:00pm you can pretty much guarantee anyone driving with their DRLs is drunk whereas now it's just someone that doesn't notice.

[tpl]

TC made two mistakes with their DRL implementation IMHO.

The most serious was in not following the original Swedish example which is either:   All markers on with dipped headlights OR all markers with dedicated front white lights. 

The second was to allow main beam headlights as DRLs. Not too bad when its a car behind you but when it is a full size pickup with high mounted headlights it is quite dazzling.

[safristi]

  well that's  a LOW BLOW OSSIFER.........i watched a lady last night just pull out of the parking lot "SOBER as a Judge!!???" and off she drove in darkness....better it be built into the Car...The Mini Bar that is.....

[Wolfe]

I've noticed this a lot lately as well.

Most annoyingly my Dad forgets to turn the headlights on more often nowadays. When I point out that his headlights aren't on he usually responds that he can see just fine . If I point out that his taillights aren't on and other drivers can't see us as easily he mutters something under his breath and then refuses to turn the lights on "Just because."

[si]

living where I do, I see it all the time


however, more often I see farts driving around with their high beams on.  One old couple once came into Acura asking why people kept flashing their high beams at them when they had all their lights on...

[safristi]

..ALL the ABOVE ex Squeeze  Me's are all the more reason for a Lite Diode Beer wif a
 Turkey chaser.....wdf do U people read?? Old couple Olde Farts....Lookina Mirror BUB...is see Young eedjits doing the same thing it's a UNIVERSAL JOINT so FIXXIT with an auto Lights on sensor and shut yer Yaps...........