albion1971: she said they come on with the ignition, I think I can turn them off but I don’t bother!
It seems a lot of cars are like that now. They are called day running lights. My wife has them on her Mini Cooper.
They are situated in the headlights rather than down below. Apparently some can be switched off.
It’s a bit like motorcycles having headlights on when you switch on the ignition but they cannot be switched off.
All seems a bit crazy to me. You see buses going about with their headlamps on. I once asked a driver why? He replied so I am more visible. Something wrong if you cannot see a bus in broad daylight.
The main problem that drivers do not see other vehicles is because they do not look properly!
Day Time Running lights DRLs became a mandatory item on all new vehicle since early 2011 (a little later for trucks). Some are incorporated into the headlights but some are not, the ones fitted low down do look like fogs, some like “Audi” use them as some sort of bling jewellery for their cars.
They should switch off or dim when the main lights are on, and the ones that just dim can be confused with fog lights. Boy racer types often retrofit them but fail to have them dim or switch off after dark, the high intensity of these is strong enough to temporarily remove your night vision - also you will see plenty of clowns driving at dusk without tail lights, their DRLs make them think their lights are on, these are particularly blinding to other road users.
My wifes Yeti has them and it is possible to switch them off permanently from the cars settings, but I do worry that doing so could affect an insurance claim or suggest culpability in an accident.
I hate the things, they are dangerous for more vulnerable road users such as cyclists as cyclists will never be able to compete on the visibility stakes.
I agree BC. it really needs to be one way or another. No lights during the day or all with lights during the day. I prefer the former myself.
Having ridden motorcycles all my life I always preferred to keep my headlight switched off although latterly had no choice.
Going over a bump could give the impression of a flash which may encourage drivers to pull out.
Lights during the day are certainly annoying and drivers that misuse any lights need to be dealt with but with very few police about they get away with it like most other offences.
I’d like to see brake lights automatically switch off after the vehicle has come to a stop in traffic. Might stop my eyeballs getting burned by these super bright led brake lights which seem to be the norm these days. This annoys me more than people using their front fog lamps.
Our old Austin 1800 from 1971 had a relay in the boot which put the brake light feed through a resistor to dim them when you switched the lights on. Not difficult or expensive to do even with led’s.
peterm:
Our old Austin 1800 from 1971 had a relay in the boot which put the brake light feed through a resistor to dim them when you switched the lights on. Not difficult or expensive to do even with led’s.
What an interesting and clever idea. Sadly retina burners are all the rage - marketing a car with other road users in mind is not much of a selling point.
because whilst the fog light offender may be able to see the verge better , everyone going other way cant see pedestrian/cyclist/object in road .
ive also noticed some cretins on mway who have fog lights on front , but no other lights showing including any rear lights . clearly they can turn foggies on without switching main lights on . this is wrong .
… just buy a new car and the front fog lamp illuminates on the side your turning - when you make a turn left or right
Go round in circles and you can have them lit all day long
trux:
… just buy a new car and the front fog lamp illuminates on the side your turning - when you make a turn left or right
Go round in circles and you can have them lit all day long
Don’t need a new car Merc’s have had them a long time and bloody expensive if they go wrong.
This has been done to death, its bad enough to have to endure it from car drivers from fellow alleged professionals its totally un acceptable, even more idiotic than half drawn curtains.
The highway code says they should only be used when visibility is below 100 metres, there is a small clue in the name.
