Are DRL's really a safety feature?

[John LE]

I was coming home tonight following a Renault Megane and the idiot driver had no tail lights on (this was at about 8pm). I decided to flash my lights at her a couple of times but she didn't take any notice. So when she pulled into the side I say to her "do you use the force when your driving as I can't say I saw your tail lights on"

She replied with "The headlights were on".

I said "sorry you must have a fault with your car then, put your headlights on and i'll check again" She said "the headlights are automatic"

"Erm no they aren't those are your DRL lights, that control there switches your headlights on."

"Oh I thought they were automatic as they are always on"

WTF am I missing something here or have most people in this country genuinly forgotten how to drive/use their cars?

This just adds to my grumpy old man (i'm 24) list of annoying snow driving problems

1.Folk who forget how wide their car is and come heading towards you in the middle of the road.
2. those who park half way accross the road because there is snow at the side, FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO PARK!
3. Lorries that have "12 wheel drive" and go shooting past you on crap roads
4. tail gaters (normally in 4x4s) that forget a punto could probably stop faster than a range rover in snow
5. pedestrians that forget cars are normally on the road.

Rant over

[GazVXLINE170]

Interesting you put up a post regarding headlight use. There are two other types:

6. Berks who cannot switch off their Full Beam
7. Berks who cannot switch off their fog lights when visibility is fine.

Gazza4

[john_k_sri]

An IQ test should be part of the Driving Test. LOL

NO more school runs then - hooray LOL

[Deztroyer]

and a very merry Christmas to you John





seriously though - your right

DRL's will be the law on all new cars from January - lets hope the understand that there DAYTIME running lights .... not nightime running lamps

[John LE]

and a very merry Christmas to you John





seriously though - your right

DRL's will be the law on all new cars from January - lets hope the understand that there DAYTIME running lights .... not nightime running lamps

Yeah thats what I was thinking, should have been made that all cars with DRL's should have auto headlights, either that or some LED's in the tail lights that come on with the DRL's

[john_k_sri]

Interesting you put up a post regarding headlight use. There are two other types:

6. Berks who cannot switch off their Full Beam
7. Berks who cannot switch off their fog lights when visibility is fine.

Gazza4

Add to that people who drive with misaligned headlights, one pointing down to the road, the other one to Mars, and drivers especially those of 4x4's who can't be ar$ed to clear the snow off their roofs.
Drivers who tailgate in icy conditions, especially those in people carriers, flashing their lights at you.

[ChrisBilly]

Something that will contribute to that kind of idiocy is dash lights being on with ignition on. But then I suppose there are even people that dont look at their dash at all while driving.

[john_k_sri]

Yeah thats what I was thinking, should have been made that all cars with DRL's should have auto headlights, either that or some LED's in the tail lights that come on with the DRL's

I agree. Problem is that manufacturers are still only fitting auto lights on higher trims.....just like ABS and ESP/TC in the past.

Safety should never be a privilege just for those who opt for higher-specced models.

Anything that aids visibility should be standard on all models. Economies of scale would make the extra cost irrelevant.

Far far more important than fandango body kits and big wheels.

[Hideous]

Are DRL's really a safety feature?

No. Those silly xmas tree lights serve no purpose on a car imo.
Once again, EU legislation is dictating that we must have these on new cars. Load of tosh

Also, what's the difference between these and improper use of front fog lights? They look just as bright and might dazzle the sensitive eyes of some.

[john_k_sri]

No. Those silly xmas tree lights serve no purpose on a car imo.
Once again, EU legislation is dictating that we must have these on new cars. Load of tosh

Also, what's the difference between these and improper use of front fog lights? They look just as bright and might dazzle the sensitive eyes of some.

I find LED DRL's quite distracting, although if every car had them you'd get used to them.