PistonHeads.com: Daytime Running Lights To Be Mandatory

[MSC Robotnik]

All cars to have DRL by 2012

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News article from PistonHeads.com

 

[Courior]

this is already manadatory on bikes. and i always drive/ride with lights on anyway

 

[Arnold]

I think the advantage of it being on bikes, is people see them a bit easier! If everyone's driving around with lights on, they'll blend in and be harder to spot. I don't see the point of cars driving around with lights on unless the conditions require it.

 

[sonic]

I agree with you Arnold, this will cause more accidents involving Bikers, ah well, another excuse for me having straight through pipes on my bike, if they can't see me they can't say they didn't hear me.

 

[Pete]

having lights on makes it easier to distinguish between a moving vehicle and a static one. We have a low sun for a lot of the year and it just helps. I have lights on, always have, probably always will. Ever since my first CBT when I was 16 and the bloke said "no matter what your driving, turn your lights on"

Pete

 

[Arnold]

this will cause more accidents involving Bikers,

Yeah I think that's what will happen too.

Pete - the UK doesn't have that much sunlight, compared to a country like Scandinavia where dipped lights would be more necessary.

 

[Alienfish360]

cars and bikes without automatic headlight adjustment, will suffer going over bumps, flickering the lights into peoples eyes, if they're waiting at a junction they may mistake it for you flashing them to go.

 

[Arnold]

Good point. Some of the comments in the PH article also say that DRL lights on some cars are orange, which causes confusion on motorways when at first glance, you assume someone's changing lane. I must admit I thought this as a passenger in Ems's car going down the motorway recently.

 

[Pete]

Yeah I think that's what will happen too.

Pete - the UK doesn't have that much sunlight, compared to a country like Scandinavia where dipped lights would be more necessary.

We do have lots of winter sun, for the past three months the sun has been really low. Out today it would've been much easier if people had DRL's.

Bikes have lights on to improve contrast between the bike and the surroundings making it easier to spot the bike, the same thing goes for a car it increases the contrast. Complaining about cars dazzling you must mean that the other persons lights are incorrectly set for the load they are carrying.

When driving briskly in the Police it is MUCH easier to tell what someone is doing if their lights are on. If their lights are on the contrast is greater and you can react quicker. Much the same as if someone has their fogs on, your less likely to spot their brake lights because there isn't as much contrast. It can be almost impossible to spot a grey/silver car in daylight with a bit of glare or low sun.

Flashing should only ever be an indication of your presence, nothing more.

Amber DRL look odd because your not used to them and I must admit I had a chuckle at an imported beetle the other day.

 

[joesouthgate]

oh well, i doubt i'll have a brand new car in 2012 and it wound be difficult to fit a switch if u want to anyway!

 

[Craig]

How are you going to be dazzled by headlights in broad daylight?