Several folks here have talked about disconnecting the DRLs on their cars. Why? Does the slight additional load on the electical system affect performance? Are they simply regarded as dorky by the cognoscenti?

Seems like a fairly harmless safety feature to me, but if I require enlightenment (no pun intended) please do so.

I think the main problem is that they are regarded as dorky.

When they first started, the statistics showed that they were a pretty good thing, ie: they kept people from running into you. As more and more cars have them, I think that you'll see a "dilution" of their effects, and that the bulk of the driving populace will go back to their brain-dead ways.

Motorcycling groups are REALLY against them for precisely this reason. The main killer of motorcyclists is car drivers who did not see the motorcyclist until the moment of impact. One of the biggest lines of defense for cyclists is burning their headlight to attempt to make themselves more visible. Motorcycling groups are worried that DRLs are going to make them disappear into a sea of headlights.

I totally agree w/ the whole Safty issue regaurding DRL's.
As a motorcycle rider, it's hard enough as it is to be seen, cars w/ DRL's just make us blend more.
AO

I don't know about anyone else, but sometimes it's helpful to see a pair of headlights coming down the road instead of squinting to see if it's safe to pass someone.

Useless on the interstate and in town, but when you're on two lane highway in the middle of nowhere, it can make a difference.

Just MHO

Brian

Some of us don't have perfect eyesight.

I like to be able to control everything about my car that I can. Having the vehicle burn the DRLs is annoying to me. Also, when you ride motor ferries, or go to drive-in movie places or whatever, you are supposed to turn off lights, but it's hard to do that with DRLs!

And every once in awhile I like to creep into my parking space with no lights so as to not disturb roommates/neighbors, etc with bright lights.

I disabled mine. that was my first 'mod'

How about how unsafe they are? Almost every night I see some moron driving with just his DRL's on and not realizing that his headlights aren't even on causing there to be no taillights unless they hit the brake.

Awe common guyz! In Canada, we've had DRL's for a LONG time. They do NOT make motorcyclists disappear in a 'sea of lights' -- they just make vehicles more noticable -- you can still see the car body and hence distinguish between a car and a motorcycle.

They do make it easier to judge speed and distance. You guyz don't want it cauz you think it makes your car look "geeky" :lol:

Personally, as you guyz can probably tell by my posting, I'm all for DRL's! They're great in the fog because they don't send out a bright light that gets reflected back into my eyes as I drive. Besides, I've got my fogs wired to my parking lights so whenever it fogs, I turn my parking lights and fogs on (with the DRL's)!

LaterZ!
Darren!!

ps -- I'm not starting a flame war -- just posting my opinion! :D

my 'OO doesn't have drls - so I just leave my headlights on 24/7. The ability to do that
(no key=no headlights) is what I missed most when I went from my '86 GL wagon to a '90 plymouth voyager. I really like being back in a subaru, where I don't have to keep a spare battery in the passenger footwell so I can jump myself every day when I leave my lights on.

Another reason - many of us put better replacement bulbs that may cost quite a bit. No reason to waste them in daylight.

BTW, I don't think it's been scientifically proven that DRL decreases collision in cars, nor do the the center stoplight.

-Ray

I used to be very much against DRLs, but I've softened.

Been living with my own DRLs for the last week with my new 2.5TS. They're not a bother.

If I had my way I would choose not to have DRLs, but behind the wheel I'm having too much fun to think about whether the headlights are on or not (during the day, thank you). I won't disable them.

Anybody that would give me crap about DRLs on my pimpin' new TS is nobody I want to associate with, anyway.

LB
www.trancelab.com

I agree with Darren...
DRLs have been around forever in Canada and with good reason. They simply make your vehicle more visible. Period. They don't make your car look 'geeky' -- gimme a break, it's a light. Personally, I get ticked off seeing the number of cars down south here that don't have DRLs.

More visible == bad if you are trying to keep below police radar right? That's the main reason I disconnected my DRL's. I have a red WRX so bringing even more attention to my car isn't something I'm very interested in.

LordBass- Disabling your DRL's would take about 2 minutes if you're interested. Just check the mods section at Scoobymods.com

-Gerlando.
http://www.clubSTi.com

Been living with my own DRLs for the last week with my new 2.5TS. They're not a bother.
...
Anybody that would give me crap about DRLs on my pimpin' new TS is nobody I want to associate with, anyway.


What's a 2.5TS?

It's the non WRX, non Outback, MY 2002 Impreza Wagon.

Right?

-Gerlando.
http://www.clubSTi.com

I don't like them. Takes away too much of the safety factor for motorcycles.

If you want the roads safer, make a better driver.

I don't think having all cars use DRLs will diminish their planned effectiveness. IMHO, the DRLs help distinguish cars from no cars/parked cars, not cars from motorcycles or other cars. That being said, it doesn't seem like less people are cutting me off with my DRLs. It may have saved me from an accident, but I'll never know that.

I'd like to have side marker lights though. I think they could help with visibility during night lane changes.

And maybe a kind Canadian could help me with this one. I think it's funny that the WRX still has the rocker switch in the top center of the steering column. Why is that still there? AFAIK, it only turns on the parking lights. I remember reading somewhere that it was for driving in Canada. But, with the DRLs on as well, you might as well just drive around with the headlight switch turned on. Is there some other use/reason for that switch?

"What's a 2.5TS?"

That's exactly why I love this car. Nobody knows what the hell I bought, they just like the looks of it. (I'm sure many WRX people have experienced the same).

The TS is the lowest price 2002 Impreza -- a 2.5L wagon, no Outback junk.

And to keep this on topic, it has DRLs. ;)

LB
www.trancelab.com

Three reasons for me...

They bother my eyes when the sun is already in them

They look stupid

I don't like not being able to conrol anything on my car

Ken
Did I mention they look stupid?

All these people worrying about DRLs. Once your in the car and driving you don't even think about them. Out of sight out of mind. On the wet coast here in Vancouver they are a god send in the rain. Especially for spotting the silver and grey cars on the road.

As for niftybee's question about the switch for the parking lights. I am not aware of any Canada specific reason for it, however in some European countries it is required that when you park your car that you leave your parking lights on. Or so I have been told.

:) Mike

I like having lights on w/o having to have the taillights on too. I find that at times they do help w/ being seen.
however...

I don't like the DRLs non-switchable. I don't want them on *all* the time. W/o a mod, or driving w/ the handbrake on, you look like an ass when you're leaving a drive-in theater early. Nothing like having people scream at you as you leave. :( ...and its harder to sneak in and out of the driveway too.

I want a switch. ...I want as many switches as I can have. Hand holding and simple solutions are for whimps.

This (http://www.lightsout.org/story.html) (http://www.lightsout.org/story.html) pretty much sums up my opinion on DRLs.

Stop listening to what the government tells you is right and start finding out the facts for yourself.

:rolleyes:

I think it'll burn out the bulbs in the lamps and wear out my battery faster. It also does look dumb, given that the headlights are oversized to begin with, and this draws more attention to that.

Another reason to disable DRL - when driving in Canada, the locals will recognize mine as an American car and they will hurry to get out of my way! :)

-Ray

I think the DRL's are a good thing.
I was pulling out onto a road the other day and a dark car was coming towards me and he actually dissapeared into the heat waves coming of the road, I almost didn't see him except for the shadow he made in the DRL's of the car behind him, The VW with DRL's reflected off the road and was very visable at noon on a sunny day then I would have expected.
DRL's are a nice safety feature, I do however agree with the point about having the capability to turn it off for drive-ins and such, but the drive-in is dying, so won't have to worry about that in a few years. I always drove my '97 Outback Sport with the lights on.
PS. Three years ago Portland had 2 drive-ins left, east and west sides, now there are ZERO, unless you drive to Newberg or Dallas OR. this is pathetic! I want my Drive-ins back!!

Originally posted by Jeremy
This (http://www.lightsout.org/story.html) (http://www.lightsout.org/story.html) pretty much sums up my opinion on DRLs.

Stop listening to what the government tells you is right and start finding out the facts for yourself.


That is the biggest load of crap I have ever read. No reflection on you :)
Simple test
have a friend drive down a road at noon right at you with his lights on and then have him do it with his lights off.
Can you see the headlights?
Then it worked.
Its about visibility to see other cars not help you see in the daylight.
The only valid point they had may have been if you are the last guy without his lights on someguy might not see you because they are expecting to see lights, but once again its the visibility thing, if they can't see you without them then isn't that a good reason to get your lights on so you arent dark?
People have a problem with authority and will rebel at anything that is mandated. Just relax , they work and disable them if you want to.

I disconnected mine, then after two incidents where some cell phone chatting, SUV driving, soccer mom tried to cut into my car, I decided that having them on might not be such a bad idea. And since then I've not noticed as many other cars (or their drivers) who seem to not see me. BUT, I still sort of resent them.

However, they are easily defeatable, and the built in defeat switch even lights a little red warning light on the dash. Of course, it says "Brake" and refers to the parking brake being on one notch. Which is a perfectly fine way to turn them off. Or I could very easily put a switch in one of the blank spots that does the same thing - parallel to the parking brake switch. What's fascinating is that the parking brake/DRL function is NOT shown or explained in WRX wiring diagram!! And believe me, I've looked at the Headlight and Cluster wiring several times to try and see how it interacts.

Bikers should turn off their lights during the day so that cars can be more easily distinguished.

Oooooh, I forgot.... 'cycles get priority because there are so many more of them. Riiiight.

Maybe the cycle owners will leave their jobs at McD's and be able to afford two more wheels and DRLs.

:p

In the state of NY, where DRL's are required, during rain/snow, or other inclement weather, it's a good thing that they are there!

It's things like those "soccer mom's chatting on the phone" and other's who plain old don't pay attention to the road that cause accidents. It's the people that are careless, INCLUDING bikers, that cause responsible drivers to get hurt. It's the people that drink and drive, that also defeat the purpose of responsible drivers.

Nonetheless, I think DRL's are somewhat useful, especially since people don't really care to turn 'em on themselves, when driving thu inclement weather...and sometime, DRL's are not useful. It's a toss-up...such as the voting ballots. Republican or Democrat? I say, third party...make DRL's turn on automatically, when they are required. That may help the longevity of bulbs/gas consumption, and also help the CARELESS driver's out there.

Oh, and the point of my message, DRL's also allow for discounts on one's insurance, at least here in NY!:cool: That always helps, especially when one has such a high performance vehicle.:D

Those are just my opinions, but I definately do NOT think that they look stupid. People want people to look at their cars, and sometimes, it helps to be noticed!!!

Later,
phatride01;)

By the way, I think that the smilies are the BOMB!!!:lol:

In Scandinavia and parts of Europe DRLs have been mandatory for several years now and statistics show that they do lower the accident rates. I hate making a statement like that without proof, but I could not find the surveys I have seen posted on the web. The fact that cars are more visible with ligths on should be enough to prove that they make the roads safer for all.

Now, what I noticed with my WRX that I didn't like is that there is no way of turning off the DRLs without pulling up the parking brake. This is not the way cars in Scandinavia work.

Fortunately for us all those that want to disable the DRLs can do this very easily, so it just up to you to chose what setup you want.

-Anders

I got rid of my DRL's because i want to do my part in conserving energy and natural resources. We are in an energy crisis people! Well, that is the reason my work tells me when i ask why i am sitting in the dark!

Some DRL's are too bright on some cars and become annoying. They should be switchable, because they aren't always necessary to be on. Some cars do become invisible during certain times of the day (dawn & dusk), and the lights being on come in handy on shaded roads to be more visable. You should however have a choice via a switch, and not have to go under the hood to disconnect the things so it's permanent.

So do cars like Miata/NSX/RX7 which have pop-up lights never ever retracts its ligths when driven in DLR world? Looks wierd to me (living in CA).