cdn_xj
January 4th, 2008, 13:42
My biggest pet peeve when driving in weather/conditions where visibility is compromised, be it rain, snow, or just low light, are people that drive with ONLY their Daytime Running Lights (DRLs).
Very early DRL designs would illuminate only the high-beam filament at about 50% power. At the time no other lights were illuminated, which is probably a good thing because when it got dark out most people would realize that their dash lights are off and then turn on their lights.
Recently more and more auto manufacturers are illuminating the dash and instrument lights along with the DRLs but none of the exterior marking or running lights. This is where things become highly hazardous as little grey hatchbacks driving down hwy1 in torrential rains tend to disappear into the mist and spray that always accompany such weather. As if that weren't enough, the number of cars that are driving down the road in the pitch black of night with nought more than their DRLs on is increasing noticably.
So far there is only one manufacturer, that I know of for a fact, whose DRL module illuminates ALL lights at FULL power: Mercedes-Benz. Their DRLs have been set up that way since at LEAST 1993. There may be other manufacturers that have followed suit, but at the moment they appear to be few and far between.
Every now and then, if I happen to get the opportunity, I try to politely remind offending drivers that their marker lights are not illuminated by their DRLs and that they had been driving without their marker lights on. Usually people are accepting of this information, but the other day I had one girl very rudely insist that her lights were on. (Well, if they were, why would I tell her they weren't? http://bb.bc4x4.com/images/smilies/confused.gif )
In any case, the point of all of this is to remind everyone out there to make sure you turn your lights on when visibility is compromised. It's just as important (if not moreso) to be seen by other drivers and pedestrians as it is for you to be able to see.
Thank you for your support, and we now return you to your regularly scheduled programming. :)
Very early DRL designs would illuminate only the high-beam filament at about 50% power. At the time no other lights were illuminated, which is probably a good thing because when it got dark out most people would realize that their dash lights are off and then turn on their lights.
Recently more and more auto manufacturers are illuminating the dash and instrument lights along with the DRLs but none of the exterior marking or running lights. This is where things become highly hazardous as little grey hatchbacks driving down hwy1 in torrential rains tend to disappear into the mist and spray that always accompany such weather. As if that weren't enough, the number of cars that are driving down the road in the pitch black of night with nought more than their DRLs on is increasing noticably.
So far there is only one manufacturer, that I know of for a fact, whose DRL module illuminates ALL lights at FULL power: Mercedes-Benz. Their DRLs have been set up that way since at LEAST 1993. There may be other manufacturers that have followed suit, but at the moment they appear to be few and far between.
Every now and then, if I happen to get the opportunity, I try to politely remind offending drivers that their marker lights are not illuminated by their DRLs and that they had been driving without their marker lights on. Usually people are accepting of this information, but the other day I had one girl very rudely insist that her lights were on. (Well, if they were, why would I tell her they weren't? http://bb.bc4x4.com/images/smilies/confused.gif )
In any case, the point of all of this is to remind everyone out there to make sure you turn your lights on when visibility is compromised. It's just as important (if not moreso) to be seen by other drivers and pedestrians as it is for you to be able to see.
Thank you for your support, and we now return you to your regularly scheduled programming. :)