DRLs, Yes or No?

"G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3" (gbodyman)
04/13/2015 at 11:49 • Filed to: None

Personally, they're a yes for me. Not only have they been proven to increase safety, but some also look really cool. (sidenote: it's hard to find a pic of DRLs that aren't LEDs).

DISCUSSION (46)

bob and john > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/13/2015 at 11:52

I like them .

Whats annoying is when you have DRL that are bright enough for some idiots to think they can drive at night with just the DRls on and no tails lights, and it drives me CRAZY

HammerheadFistpunch > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/13/2015 at 11:52

I...don't think I have an opinion. I have one car with them and one without. People have a have time not seeing the cruiser, but the sportwagen is a little more invisible...so I guess its good.

desertdog5051 > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/13/2015 at 11:53

Definitely a yes. Not just the safety factor but as LED technology gets better and better, the lights are now a design element.

duurtlang > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/13/2015 at 11:53

They've been mandatory for new vehicles for a while now (here). I'm not a fan of the implementation. The older LEDs look horrible, but more importantly these cars usually don't come with rear DRLs. Which is a problem. Lazy/inattentive drivers with a DRL equipped vehicle are more prone to fail to switch their real lights on when they need to.

E. Julius > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/13/2015 at 11:54

I'm pro DRL.

Firewrx234 > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/13/2015 at 11:54

I think yes when they are either parking lights or specialty lights. However, on my old Grand Prix it was just the headlights and I hated that so I had them disabled by pulling a fuse.

When done correctly, they can look great. When no thought is put in, they can look really lame.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > duurtlang
04/13/2015 at 11:54

Fair enough. They're mandatory in Canada, too.

and 100 more > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/13/2015 at 11:55

I'm firmly against them. I understand the improvement in traffic safety, but I find them distracting on other cars, especially in this age of swoopy strings of LEDs. As for regular ol' headlamp illumination as the method of DRL activity, it seems to me the bulb makers lately have a hard enough time keeping their bulbs from burning out with a few months; why put the extra wear-and-tear on the bulbs, when they will do you absolutely NO GOOD at night when they do burn out.

jariten1781 > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/13/2015 at 11:56

Don't care either way. Unless the bulbs are inaccessible. If you have do remove an airbox or the whole assembly or something to access them they should be banned.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Firewrx234
04/13/2015 at 11:56

Fair enough on the looks department. Although I don't see why people would disable them.

Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/13/2015 at 11:56

I only run them during dusk, dawn, fog, and in tunnels. I also feel that people with cars that have automatic DRLs more often neglect to turn on headlights during rain.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > jariten1781
04/13/2015 at 11:57

This might be entertaining for you.

Funktheduck > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/13/2015 at 11:59

Pro DRL. They're especially helpful in that in between time when people should have their headlights on but forget/aren't paying attention as it gets dark or starts to rain.

Brian, The Life of > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/13/2015 at 11:59

DRLs are terrible, terrible things the way they've been implememented. I'm not against them in theory but almost every single car I see with their lights off after dust are running DLRs that illuminate the road ahead just enough for the knuckleheads to think their lights are on. Meanwhile, total hazard from behind.

I wish NHTSA would mandate that the DLR feature could only be used in concert with automatic headlights. In other words, unless the headlight switch is set to "auto" mode, the DLRs will not come on. I think that would fix the issue nicely.

CalzoneGolem > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/13/2015 at 11:59

Why not just have the headlights be on if the car is on?

Milky > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/13/2015 at 12:00

DRLs that aren't LEDs!

Kinja'd!!!

I'm a fan obviously.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Brian, The Life of
04/13/2015 at 12:00

I hear you on that.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > CalzoneGolem
04/13/2015 at 12:01

Isn't that how most DRLs work?

Alfalfa Romeo > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/13/2015 at 12:04

I have no issues with them. They don't cause any problems that I'm aware of, and they are proven safer as you said. They're not a deal breaker either way for me when buying a car. If they have them cool, if not, whatever.

E. Julius > Brian, The Life of
04/13/2015 at 12:05

How often does this happen to you? I'm not saying I don't believe it happens, I just find it strange that a few people are bringing it up since I don't think I've ever experienced it myself.

KirkyV > duurtlang
04/13/2015 at 12:07

Indeed—I think the greatest issue is the always-on gauge lighting that tends to come along with them. My friend's new Fiesta ST never has unlit gauges, and I think a darkened gauge cluster has historically served as an excellent reminder to turn your damned lights on when it gets dark.

citizennick > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/13/2015 at 12:08

Here is my issue with DRL's:

Too many times at night I see people driving at night thinking they have their headlights on. Not long ago I came upon a woman in a new Mazda6 with no lights on at night. I flashed my brights at her while behind her. No response. Pull up next to her, try to motion her to roll down her window, but she was like a stone in there, I think she was scared for her life because I tried to get her to turn her headlights on...

duurtlang > KirkyV
04/13/2015 at 12:10

Exactly! One of the major problems with modern cars.

Brian, The Life of > E. Julius
04/13/2015 at 12:13

At least 2-3 times/week on my commute home.

E. Julius > Brian, The Life of
04/13/2015 at 12:17

Yikes! I see the problem then.

Sam > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/13/2015 at 12:21

I usually just turn my headlights on any day that isn't super sunny and bright. But I don't see why they are a bad thing at all.

CalzoneGolem > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/13/2015 at 12:21

They are often a second light.

RobG-ADV > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/13/2015 at 12:23

I used to hate them. They affect your depth perception, so when attempting to pass on a two-lane road, it's harder to judge if you have room or not. But after I started riding motorcycles, I came to really appreciate them. Cars become much easier to see, even though cars with lights on all the time have actually drowned out motorcycles, with their single headlight. But that's changed too, with bikes now running multiple lights. All of my bikes have additional LED aux lights for added visibility.

And yeah, now-a-days, they're looking cooler and cooler. It used to be it was just the high beams on a lower intensity (hello, Saturn). Then GM went to the glowing amber lights, which was a nice change... except that you have to wonder how many cops would look specifically for certain cars due to their DRLs (Corvettes for example).

I wish they'd run the taillights in addition to the DRLs though, as somebody below pointed out, it's great for when people haven't yet turned on their lights, or it's raining. Many of these people (idiots) never realize that the point of lights is to be SEEN as much as to see, and without taillights glowing, they're harder to see in low-visility times.

Michael > Brian, The Life of
04/13/2015 at 12:26

Totally agree, if DRL included tail lights, I could see it being useful, but as-is, it is completely unsafe.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/13/2015 at 12:28

I'm pro DRLs, if the driver knows they're just DRLs and not full on headlights.

I shit you not when my girlfriend go her Taurus she drove around for TWO DAYS with just the DRLs on since hers are just the headlight bulbs slightly dimmed. Her Camry had automatic lights so she figured the Taurus did too. How the hell she didn't notice the fact that her gauge cluster was dark is beyond me.

It does bug my that my mom's Fusion doesn't have them though. It has lights that come on when you open the doors, but no DRLs. It's weird since every car we've owned that's post-2000 has them ('04 Silverado, '08 Vue), but the new 2014 doesn't.

BigBlock440 > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/13/2015 at 13:13

I don't like them. If I want my lights on, I'll turn them on. If I don't want my lights on, I'll leave the switch off and expect my car to respect that decision.

KyleA > Brian, The Life of
04/13/2015 at 13:23

Agreed. See this EVERY day. Mostly Honda's and Toyota's since the DRL's illuminate the dashboard which means the lazy, shiftless idiot driving thinks the lights are on cause they can see their gauges.

Brian, The Life of > KyleA
04/13/2015 at 13:46

Very good point in the culpability of illuminated gages in all this. I think that's a huge contributory factor.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > CalzoneGolem
04/13/2015 at 14:04

It must be an american thing. Japanese cars use a slightly dimmer low-beam as DRLs.

Forgetful > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/13/2015 at 14:24

DRLs are a half measure. What about the back of the car? DRLs don't illuminate your tail lights. This is why I always drive with my headlights in the full on position, always. Always.

Forgetful > Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed
04/13/2015 at 14:25

Everyone should always drive with their headlights on. This way rain, tunnels, etc won't catch you off guard.

Forgetful > Funktheduck
04/13/2015 at 14:26

People should be taught to drive with their headlights on at all times. This illuminates the tail lights as well, resulting in your car being more viable from the rear.

Forgetful > Sam
04/13/2015 at 14:28

Always. Always on. Never get surprised by low visibilty conditions. Even bright sun at the wrong angle can obscure visibilty, making your tail or headlights the only thing visible.

CalzoneGolem > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/13/2015 at 14:29

Well that Toyota in on the lead image has a different set of lights for drls

Forgetful > BigBlock440
04/13/2015 at 14:29

You should always have your headlights on when driving. This makes you more visible to others, thus safer. You never know when low visibilty situations might arise.

Forgetful > Brian, The Life of
04/13/2015 at 14:52

Why not jus mandate headlights on (which also illuminates the tail lights) when driving. It's the safest way.

Forgetful > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/13/2015 at 14:53

DRLs don't illuminate the tail lights. Headlights on all the time is how I roll

Funktheduck > Forgetful
04/13/2015 at 14:54

I did that with my last car that didn't have DRLs. It was black so I figured it helped.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > CalzoneGolem
04/13/2015 at 14:58

It's a weird exception to the rule. Echos, Siennas, older accords, and Tercels all use the low-beams.

boxrocket > Brian, The Life of
04/13/2015 at 15:02

We could fix it by requiring all cars to have universally-calibrated Automatic headlamps, with LED (or better) running/parking lamps that are bright enough to see but pointed slightly downwards so they're not a hazard. By universally-calibrated, if the sensor detects that the ambient outside light is X nits, the lights come on, regardless of vehicle. Three total settings for lights (except those weird Germans with the either-side parking light weirdness): Auto (only works while in gear), parking, on,

Firewrx234 > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
04/13/2015 at 22:16

My car was bright red and the DRLs just looked bad on my car. Everyone saw my car so I didn't think it was doing anything effective