Comments on: Europe to mandate Daytime Running Lights

By: Joe Berkley

Joe Berkley — Thu, 29 Dec 2005 19:35:42 +0000

I think this is a great idea, (DRL’s should be amber or depowered though) I know that during the day in flat light a car with some illumination is much easier to see as it catches your eye. I’ve often experienced this on overcast days where sometimes the oncoming car just blends in with its surroundings. I always argue about this with my Dad, he thinks DRL’s run down the battery and wants to disconnect them. I can never persuade him of their safety benefit.

By: MCT

MCT — Wed, 28 Dec 2005 16:29:31 +0000

DRL’s have been standard in Canada since 1990. Now, 16 years later, almost every car on the road has them. For skeptics, it makes a big difference in visibility, even in broad daylight, and since DRL’s only come on at 50% power, opposing traffic is not blinded by the light.
I’m honestly suprised it has taken this long for other countries to adopt. Drive around many areas in the US and one can see “Lights on for safety” signs. Also, many automakers have already started to include them without government mandate.
Eventually, everyone will ’see the light’.

By: JSP

JSP — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 20:15:35 +0000

I think DRL’s are ok, but ONLY IF they’re dim enough that drivers won’t mistaken them for headlights-substitutes. I particularly like cars that use the front amber parking lights as DRL’s. They make the vehicle more visible without light up the road.

By: Willed

Willed — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 17:46:35 +0000

What a pointless idea. I can’t see this saving any accidents – as the article says, it’s just as likely to cause some if nearly all cars have perma-lights but some don’t. Can’t someone find something useful for all the EU bureaucrats to do with their time instead of dreaming up stupid requirements like this?

By: Gandhi

Gandhi — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 15:30:13 +0000

DRLs are a nice safety feature, but only as long as the cars also come equipped with a day light sensor. Too often, drivers accustomed to DRLs forget to turn on the regular night lights. A daylight sensor takes care of that. I know I have often made the mistake when driving home from work in the evening, especially in the winter months. The sun may still be out, but by the time you get home, the sun has set, and I often forget to turn on the night lights. The daylight sensor automatically turns on the night lights for me.