Driving with lights on all the time

[Barclaybasher]

Volvo started decades ago with their vehicles driving with side lights on in the daytime.

For years I have done the same on my cars and motorhomes.

I know modern cars have daytime running lights but so many vehicles drive in poor visibility with no lights, and so many are black or silver.

My point is at least I can be seen

Anyone else

 

[rosalan]

Hungary and Canada have done this for years before we thought of it.

 

[Reallyretired]

We get a lot of daylight mist/fog over the downs. Loads of vehicles with no lights, or pathetic sidelights only. Silver cars like mine are the hardest to see.
Put your headlights on, I say. It's not as if you have to put shillings in the meter for them.

 

[funflair]

Always come on when I start the van as they are always on, the car is on auto so DRL and then headlights when it thinks fit, took the van for some service work and they turned the lights off , the trouble is that the dashboard still lights up so I didn't realise till somebody pulled up beside and told me I had no lights on, I had front DRL but nothing rear.

 

[Barclaybasher]

Always come on when I start the van as they are always on, the car is on auto so DRL and then headlights when it thinks fit, took the van for some service work and they turned the lights off , the trouble is that the dashboard still lights up so I didn't realise till somebody pulled up beside and told me I had no lights on, I had front DRL but nothing rear.

That's a problem with many vehicles - bright dash lights make you think your lights are on and you can be seen

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[dunnah01]

Usually on all vehicles, especially the tiny Smart Roadster where I feel invisible without lights on.

 

[Revolvor]

In the late 80s I went to Norway in the winter on an extended business trip. I hired a Volvo, and apart from the traction with studded tyres was impressed with the visibility of everyone driving with lights on in the daytime.

Since then I always drove with dipped beam, until I had cars with DRLs. I often flash oncoming cars with just sidelights (parking lights) in foggy conditions.

 

[St3v3]

Side lights on I think is good.

As light starts to fade though, DRL look like they flash when the vehicle goes over a bump, which is pretty dangerous. Our Tourneo is particularly bad for it, I had people pulling out from side roads all the time until I realised and now always switch it to side lights. I don't think it's as bad with headlights as they are brighter/higher and a different beam pattern.

 

[Reallyretired]

Automatic headlights don't help either as they rarely come on in daylight fog, when visibility can be least.

 

[OutTheOffice]

That's a problem with many vehicles - bright dash lights make you think your lights are on and you can be seen

Totally agree and alot or people rely on automated lights coming on when it gets dark, all fine and dandy but no use when its foggy in the daytime

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[solaris]

Took a holiday in France in a Volvo estate just after they introduced running lights. Seemed like thousands of helpful french were desperate to tell me I’d left the lights on

 

[Puddleduck]

Took a holiday in France in a Volvo estate just after they introduced running lights. Seemed like thousands of helpful french were desperate to tell me I’d left the lights on

Yes, that happened to us in the UK and I used to get looks of disbelief when I said "They are supposed to be".

 

[RoverOne]

On my VW Crafter the dashboard lights dim when it’s cloudy so you can barely see the dials , I thought it was a fault but it’s a safety thing to get you to put your headlights on then the dials light up . In bright sunshine they are lit as normal . Took a bit of getting used to .

 

[Sandancers]

Chausson, in their infinite wisdom make all the lights, side markers low and high level, dipped headlights, indicators and rear light (at reduced brightness) come on as soon as the ignition is on !! I keep thinking I'll an auto electrician to reduce this to legal limits of daylight running, but have never got round to it. Mind I could drive it down Blackpool prom when the illuminations are on and fit in really well !

 

[nicholsong]

Here in Poland it is a legal requirement to have dipped headlights on all the time, so ours are always on, and we keep them on in other countries.

They go off automatically when ignition is off, so no need to remember to turn them off/on, unlike our Honda car, which I only drive occasionally, so often forget to turn the lights on.

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[The Wino]

Totally agree and alot or people rely on automated lights coming on when it gets dark, all fine and dandy but no use when its foggy in the daytime

True although you do have to remember to drive the car yourself it's not really difficult to turn the lights on. I think one of the biggest problems is people who then forget to turn the fog lights off when it's no longer foggy especially at night.

 

[Oldrat]

Running lights can be dangerous - or rather the drivers with them can be.

Mostly running lights are front lights only often not too bright, and not rear lights.

Couple this with the fact that the dash illuminates when running lights are on and hey bingo…

We end up with lots of drivers driving around in conditions of poor visibility thinking that they have sufficient lighting whereas the “ obligatory” lights are off.

Just check out next time how many have rear lights off and fronts on.

So, do you know what yours do?

 

[Silver-Fox]

Usually on all vehicles, especially the tiny Smart Roadster where I feel invisible without lights on.

Yep that’s how you feel on a motorbike.

I always rode my bike on dipped beam which I’m sure helped some of the parts driving cars.

Then the Government decides it’s a good idea for cars to drive on DRL.

Motorbikes then become invisible again

 

[Silver-Fox]

True although you do have to remember to drive the car yourself it's not really difficult to turn the lights on. I think one of the biggest problems is people who then forget to turn the fog lights off when it's no longer foggy especially at night.

Or they have the front dogs on because they think it looks “trendy”

 

[Silver-Fox]

Couple this with the fact that the dash illuminates when running lights are on and hey bingo…

My dash lights don’t come on with the DRL, only come on when you switch the lights on

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[dunnah01]

Yep that’s how you feel on a motorbike.

I always rode my bike on dipped beam which I’m sure helped some of the parts driving cars.

Then the Government decides it’s a good idea for cars to drive on DRL.

Motorbikes then become invisible again

Push bikes with those flashing lights are very visible so maybe the next step for motorbikes?

 

[Silver-Fox]

Push bikes with those flashing lights are very visible so maybe the next step for motorbikes?

Those push bike ones are too bright for motorbikes and would conform to traffic regs.

In theory you could get prosecuted for trying to keep safe

 

[The Wino]

Yep that’s how you feel on a motorbike.

I always rode my bike on dipped beam which I’m sure helped some of the parts driving cars.

Then the Government decides it’s a good idea for cars to drive on DRL.

Motorbikes then become invisible again

Or people on bikes spot cars better as well!

 

[The Wino]

Or they have the front dogs on because they think it looks “trendy”

I think that fashion has gone now hopefully

 

[Silver-Fox]

Or people on bikes spot cars better as well!

Trust me if you ride a motorbike you don’t need car DRL on to spot them.

You never relax when riding there’s always some nob trying to knock you off.

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[Barclaybasher]

I don't understand the DRL thing with just front lights on.

Having lights on tells everyone that the vehicle is being driven

And do we really need the government to tell us when to switch lights on?

Volvo showed the way - just switch your side lights on when you start your vehicle - if you think it's safer

I will keep doing it.............

 

[Shrimp]

Why do we have DRL on the front then nothing on the rear, surely if it’s been done as a safety thing the rear lights should be connected to come on with the fronts!

 

[gus-lopez]

My dash lights don’t come on with the DRL, only come on when you switch the lights on

that is how they should all be.

 

[Chrisvh]

Running lights can be dangerous - or rather the drivers with them can be.

Mostly running lights are front lights only often not too bright, and not rear lights.

Couple this with the fact that the dash illuminates when running lights are on and hey bingo…

We end up with lots of drivers driving around in conditions of poor visibility thinking that they have sufficient lighting whereas the “ obligatory” lights are off.

Just check out next time how many have rear lights off and fronts on.

So, do you know what yours do?

Exactly as above. Don’t forget that in reduced visibility such as fog, heavy rain etc dipped headlights are obligatory. In those conditions running are legally classed as no lights.

 

[emjaiuk]

Why do we have DRL on the front then nothing on the rear, surely if it’s been done as a safety thing the rear lights should be connected to come on with the fronts!

My German import, Transit based Hymer has the side lights, front and rear, come on with the DRl. IMHO the biggest danger is having a mix of DLR equipped and non DLR cars on the road. In poor visibility the non DLR cars disappear

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