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06xrs
Deinonychus
Joined: Nov 04, 2005
Posts: 361
Location: Alabama
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 Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 6:22 am Post subject: Daytime running lights |
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I was thinking about this on the way into work this morning. I don't understand why if you have daytime running lights, there is still a headlamp switch. The headlights are always on. If anything the switch would be a tail light switch, but if visibility is bad enough that you need headlights, you probably also need tail lights so why not leave them on all the time too? Why have a switch at all?
And while I'm ranting, could someone please explain the purpose of driving with the parking lights on? That's another vehicle feature I don't understand. If you're parked, you don't need lights. If you are driving and you need lights to be seen, then turn on the headlights.
OK, I'm done.
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rearden
Pileated woodpecker
Joined: May 10, 2005
Posts: 196
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| Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 7:42 am Post subject: |
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The idea behind daytime running lights isn't to help your visibility; it's to make your car more visible to other people in hopes of preventing accidents where someone pulls out right in front of you, etc.
But I bet they've caused quite a few accidents because of people forgetting to turn the headlights on at night (since they're already on!) and driving around without taillights. I think that's why most newer cars run the parklamps instead. |
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ZedSimon
Phoenix
Joined: Feb 11, 2005
Posts: 741
Location: Alone At The Lunch Table
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| Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 2:34 pm Post subject: |
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| As Rearden just said, lately the DRLs are not the headlights. They're the blinkers/parking lights. When DRLs came out in the US about 10 years ago, the high beams ran at 90% intensity. A lot of cars with that setup, including a '96 Pontiac Grand Am I had, had automatic lights operated by a light sensor. Early sensors were freaky, but over time the manufacturers refined the technology and now they seem fine. My Cobalt has automatic lights (which you can override) and parking-lamp DRLs. |
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06xrs
Deinonychus
Joined: Nov 04, 2005
Posts: 361
Location: Alabama
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| Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 5:23 pm Post subject: |
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Parking lamp DRL's. Makes more sense than the high beams. I love those early Saturns. Not only can you see them, you can't see anything BUT them.
My Matrix has DRL's with the low beams and an automatic sensor which effectively only turns on the taillights, because the headlights are always on. The sensor is overly sesitive and switches from drl's to night-mode whenever you go under a bridge. This hasn't decreased the tendency of people to pull out in front of me. They look me square in the eye and do it anyway, as if daring me to hit them. I wonder if thats how people get hit by trains. They get so used to the world coming to a stop for them that they expect the train will too.
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When you're sitting with a beatiful girl an hour seems like a second. When you're sitting on a hot coal a second seems like an hour. That's relativity.- Einstein
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Asperger's: Vive la difference! |
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Trigger11
Shikamaru Nara
Joined: May 19, 2007
Posts: 7176
Location: Hidden Leaf Village
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| Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 4:29 pm Post subject: |
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I hate daytime running lights as they are too bright for my light sensitivity and make it difficult for me to see during the day when I am driving.
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Redrocket
Phoenix
Joined: May 20, 2007
Age: 32
Posts: 574
Location: New York City
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| Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 6:47 pm Post subject: |
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Our 1996 Chevy Cavalier had DRL's. I remember when they first came out it seem like most cars were equipped with them. We could not turn off our DRL's either. For our car the DRL's automatically went on as soon as one would shift into drive. They never went off until someone shifted out of drive, turned off the car or turned on the actual headlights. For our car the DRL's were the high beams on a low intensity.
It's a funny thing I remember when we first got this car everyone outside would say "you're lights are on!" when we use to pass them during the day.
Nowadays it seems like DRL's as not as common. Our 2006 Ford Focus does not have them and it's not even a option for that car. |
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digger1
I am the frontman of evil, Bobby!
Joined: Sep 13, 2007
Age: 35
Posts: 2231
Location: Augusta, Maine
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| Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 7:40 pm Post subject: |
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I drive with my lights on all the time. Doesn't hurt the car and if I can be seen better by other drivers to keep me and my family safe...
I also wear my seat belt.
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hakemon
Pileated woodpecker
Joined: Aug 28, 2007
Posts: 180
Location: Oviedo, Florida
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| Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 8:35 pm Post subject: |
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i don't know if my car has DRL.
I know though that if I drive with my headlights on during the day, seeing the speedometer is hard, because it "dims".
(i got a digital dash)
94 Chevy Caprice
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SabbraCadabra
Seagull! Seagull!
Joined: Apr 22, 2008
Posts: 1412
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 5:22 pm Post subject: Re: Daytime running lights |
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| 06xrs wrote: | | And while I'm ranting, could someone please explain the purpose of driving with the parking lights on? |
We used them to pull into peoples' houses at night so we don't bother anyone trying to sleep.
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silkboy
Butterfly
Joined: May 03, 2008
Age: 34
Posts: 12
Location: Minneapolis, MN
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| Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Daytime running lights are one of my biggest frustrations ever! I laughed when I saw this thread as I have often wanted to rant about them. I constantly see people in cars with daytime running lights on in the rain. They refuse to turn their lights on because they think they are already on. But of course in the rain it can be as important (if not more important when on a freeway) to have tail lights on. I hate them! Few things really get to me but this is a subject that does. |
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skahthic
Phoenix
Joined: May 11, 2007
Posts: 846
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 7:56 am Post subject: |
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| I don't think they make me more visible at all, since almost everyone has them now. We all blend in. And people are still constantly trying to drive into my car with theirs--- it's terrible, how badly people drive! |
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