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One of my many bugbears these days is the poor design of daytime running lights, in that whilst they are a great idea, they also cause a danger. Before DRLs, when daylight started to fade you generally knew that your lights weren’t on as the instrument cluster was dark. With digital dashboards and DRL’s, this most obvious visual clue has gone and you have to rely on auto headlights (which sometimes react far too slowly, especially in conditions like fog) or noticing the state of the headlight symbol in the already illuminated instrument cluster.
As a result, I often see cars driving along in near darkness with DRLs on at the front, instrument cluster illuminated, but the rear of the car in total darkness. This included a young girl on a very busy M5 the other evening, in a small dark hatchback which was almost invisible.
I have always felt that DRLs should include rear lights as well and can’t understand why this wasn’t mandated, given all the other things that we have to have in cars these days. However, having spent a lot of time test driving cars over the past few weeks, I was very pleased to find an option in the infotainment system where you could opt for DRLs to include rear lights. I hope that this becomes more widespread, but I guess that the folk who are totally oblivious to the fact that the rear of their cars are in total darkness aren’t the types to go delving around in the vehicle settings, so mandating this is by far the preferable option!
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But 99% of new cars have auto lights…. It’s not something I have seen in years and I have done 35k miles in the last 25 months so it’s not like I am not on the road in the dark! Maybe it’s a location thing.
But 99% of new cars have auto lights…. It’s not something I have seen in years and I have done 35k miles in the last 25 months so it’s not like I am not on the road in the dark! Maybe it’s a location thing.
Strange, because I see it regularly. Perhaps it’s just that I notice it and you don’t! As I said, some auto lights (including mine) can react later than I would want them to.
To be clear, I’m not talking about pitch darkness, but when lighting conditions are poor (dawn, dusk, fog, heavy rain etc), when auto headlights don’t always react and rear DRLs would be brilliant. I see no negative to that idea.
But 99% of new cars have auto lights…. It’s not something I have seen in years and I have done 35k miles in the last 25 months so it’s not like I am not on the road in the dark! Maybe it’s a location thing.
To be clear, I’m not talking about pitch darkness, but when lighting conditions are poor (dawn, dusk, fog, heavy rain etc), when auto headlights don’t always react and rear DRLs would be brilliant. I see no negative to that idea.
My sister-in-law was convinced that her rear lights didn’t illuminate when DRL’s only were in use. She even got out of the car a few times (engine on and with handbrake applied) to confirm her thoughts.
However, when I was following her along the road in my car I could see her rear lights were illuminated.
It transpires that the rear lights are illuminated with the DRL’s, unless the handbrake is applied. In which case the rear lights automatically switch off.
I was trying to think of a logical reason for this set-up!
Doesn’t it work the opposite way, in that digital cockpit illumination dims when headlights come on and DRL’s dim.
Saab/Volvo drove on sidelights years before DRL’s became a thing
Then there are potential problems with auto headlights coming onin he middle of the day, as seen by some earlier VW owners for example.
The ambient light sensor (Photodiode) light particles hit the diodes surface, which produces an electrical current and the more light the stronger the electrical current. At dusk etc the light particles decrease and he electrical current decreases and turns on the headlights
Phototransistors are also used as an amient light sensor and are an amplified version of a photodiode and has the ability to act quicker.
EWnsuring the area around the windscreen is clean with no cleaning residue remaining will help stop light refracting from the sensor.
I see many people travelling at night without headlights on and can only assume they have messed with the switch and turned them off or don’t understand the principles of auto headlights. Of course the car could be a getaway vehicle!
On some cars, you can adjust the amount of light needed before the Auto lights come on. On some, you cannot. Some cars don’t have auto lights, or the drivers have turned them off on the stalk, without realising.
The headlight Symbol on the display or HUD is universal. So one should know. I got specific Varifocals for driving, as my issue is that I can see the road and read number plates, but sometimes not the symbols on the car’s display or HUD. Like the new speed limit or read warnings that pop up. Which is worse on My ex30 as it has only the display. I guess there’s a multitude of reasons why. I had to put my fog lights on the other day, and that’s via the display. Two clicks to bring up the option to turn them on. Not really the issue many make out it is. You need to click twice to play the radio.
EX30 SMER Ultra
DRLs we’re first adopted by Sweden which is why Volvos had them for years.
The EU then mandated front DRLs, but not rear ones. But Sweeen after their experiences did Mandate rears as well.
Came across this earlier in Drichcronology
“The Chronology of Daytime Running Lights”
To assess the validity of DRL, it is necessary to review the origins of daytime lights:
In 1976, on the basis principally of the findings of Andersson et al 1976’s Finnish study, the Nordic Road Safety Council (NTR) recommended that Denmark, Norway and Sweden mandate daytime running lights for motorcars.
In 1977 Sweden did so. But Denmark decided, also in 1977, to mandate daytime running lights, by way of a ‘pilot’, for motorcycles first. Lund 1979 then conducted a monitoring study of the effect of the Danish motorcycle law. But embarrassingly, Lund found as a result of the law a slight increase, not the expected decrease, of motorcycle accidents. [No academic study has ever since mentioned Lund 1979’s finding, or included Lund 1979 in its list of references. Eventually in 1990 the Danish Government ignored Lund 1979’s finding, and mandated daytime running lights for motorcars.]
DRL’s in the form of bright “18 watt” parking lights were adopted by the Swedish nation when they changed from driving on the left hand side of the road to the right in 1967. This was a sensible measure, but accidents continued to occur so in 1977 they found it necessary to use full power dipped (or passing beam) headlights to remind people to drive on the right hand side of the road.
As “safety sells” DRL were used as a good marketing gimmick to enhance Sweden’s reputation as making safe cars. But they neglected to consider the negative effects on vulnerable road users and the environment, despite employing several academics to write favourable reports.
In 1995 Theeuwes & Riemersma 1995 published the first major academic adverse criticism of the conclusions in favour of motorcar daytime running lights of a leading international study (Andersson & Nilsson 1981’s study of Sweden’s 1977 law mandating that all vehicles use daytime running lights)
In 1997 the USA’s Highway Loss Data Institute analysed pre and post DRL accidents which indicated a 3.7% increase. This confidential report has been suppressed.
During 2000, the State of Victoria Australia reported on motorcycle daytime lights and concluded they were dangerous.
In 2004, on the basis of the findings of Koornstra et al 1997, Elvik et al 2003, Brouwer et al 2004, etc Commandeur 2004 recommended to the EU that it mandate daytime running lights for motorcars. The decision of the European Commission on the recommendation is pending.
At the end of 2004, NHTSA may have been moved by the findings of Tessmer 2004 to consider initiating the process whereby the USA may mandate daytime running lights for motorcars. The decision of NHTSA how to respond to the findings is pending.
In 2004, in the interest of motorcycle safety, the Japanese Government publicly broke ranks with other Governments who might support the mandatory use of motorcar daytime running lights, and rejected the implementation of such a law in Japan.
The Japanese Government also broke ranks with academic authors in Sweden and the USA who support a Global Technical Regulation that permits the fitting of daytime running lights of 1500 candlepower to motorcars.
The conclusion is that the EU Commission is trying to impose DRL on the world simply because Sweden changed from driving on the left hand side to the right hand side of the road and is neglecting to consider the environmental damage and dangers to vulnerable road users.
The European Union introduced Daytime DRL for all new types of motor vehicles starting from February 2011.
DRLs were first mandated in Sweden, as 18 watt parking lights in 1967 during Dagen H, and their adoption was influenced by various factors, including the need for improved vehicle visibility and safety in the Nordic countries, which often experience long, dark winters compared to the rest of europe. From 1967 21 watt DRL were mandated (NTR)
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