Safe Speed Forums

Yes, but what is being discussed is not using dedicated DRLs, but having dipped beam on all the time, which AIUI is the legal requirement in the Scandinavian countries.

If it was to be made compulsory to have vehicle lights all the time (which I something I strongly disagree with) then I would hope we could have low intensity DRLs rather than dipped beams. Catching an oblique glance from a modern Xenon dipped beam can be seriously dazzling.

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

Not being a creep here, but I was able to hear the whole thing on the JV show, makes a change for me, and Paul was the only person to talk sense, no surprises there then.
Daylight hours, if your wipers are on, so should your dipped beam, if your vision is impaired by the rain, then so is everybody elses.
As far as I am concerned, I do not have sidelights, except if I am stationary, it's either dipped beam or nothing.
The use of sidelights only when moving should be banned, especially on motorways and other fast moving roads, I can't count the times I have nearly pulled out into a car overtaking me in heavy rain, and the spray from my trailer was obscuring their sidelights. Usually some muppet that has been hiding behind me and only chancing an overtake when I start indicating.

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Semper in excreta, nur quantitat variat.

I know that on Volvos DRL are the same intensity as dipped beam, because DRLs are the dipped beam. The dipped headlights have merely been programmed to come on with the ignition

I disagree - I believe there is a range of lighting conditions where the use of sidelights may be useful and appropriate (and I know at least TripleS agrees with me on this). Also remember that sidelights provide 100% of rear illumination.

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

Yes I certainly do agree with you about this Peter, and I am sure we are not entirely alone in our view.

My feeling is that as the daylight is fading there is a period during which sidelights are helpful, but dipped headlights can make it more difficult to see certain things.

I have seen situations where it has been difficult to see past the dipped headlights on an oncoming vehicle, which has meant that pedestrians stepping out into the road from behind that vehicle can easily be overlooked.

Of course we need sufficient light to ensure that we can see what needs to be seen, and that others are able to see us, but please could we bear in mind that more light is not always better.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

There is a letter in the paper today about this subject. In summary, it says that the use of dipped headlights as DRLs fools other motorists that you have flashed them when you go over, say, a speed bump. During the day, the sharp cut off of the dip beam makes it substantially invisible until deflected upwards by the movement of the car. The other motorist then pull out into you as they think you are going to give way.

I know this is based on the fallacy that a flash of the headlamps means "go ahead" but it is potentially a problem.

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Malcolm W.
The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not represent the views of Safespeed.