EU to mandate DRL

AzNMpower32 · #1 09-25-2008, 11:43 AM

Wow, never thought this would happen........

http://www.canadiandriver.com/thenew...ing-lights.htm

Quote:

The European Commission (EC) has decided to introduce mandatory dedicated Daytime Running Light (DRL) on all new types of motor vehicles from 2011 on. The mandatory introduction of dedicated DRL was discussed in the EC’s CARS 21 (Competitive Automotive Regulatory System for the 21st Century), which has been adopted and which will require passenger cars and small delivery vans to be fitted from February 7, 2011 on, with trucks and buses following in August 2012.

Ok, uh..........why are DRLs important again? This is about as useful as the CA texting ban. Perhaps even less useful.

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blondboinsd · #2 09-25-2008, 11:53 AM

DRL's have been a law in Canada since 1990. They have been shown time and again to increase safety and create more awareness of an approaching vehicle especially on a 2-lane road.

Many vehicles already include DRL's in the USA (GM fought for the lifting of the DRL ban in the mid 90's)

My 'Dub has Bi-xenons DRL's and they can't be turned off, furthermore all my BMW's have had them. I think it's a great feature!

It wouldn't be hard to implement because many countries already require it, ex: Canada

Toyota, Lexus, Honda, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Porsche, GM, Ford, Chrysler etc all have them already either programable or standard

statdoc · #3 09-25-2008, 12:02 PM

I like the DRL's. Especially nice when overcast or twilight situations.

Boston X5 4.4 · #4 09-25-2008, 12:46 PM

Not a fan of DRL's - as a former rider I think that it makes motorcycles even less conspicuous, also harder to see turn signals during the day when DRL's are on.

B-Line · #5 09-25-2008, 02:21 PM

I'm all for it:

I just don't understand how it increases safety?

peacemf · #6 09-25-2008, 02:41 PM

lol thats a great photo

anyway yeah i think in certain situations those lights hurt my eyes!
also really dont see how you are made more aware of cars with lights, since they are all simply dim lights....

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haigha · #7 09-25-2008, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peacemf

also really dont see how you are made more aware of cars with lights, since they are all simply dim lights....

Here are two situations where it creates more safety:

1. when it's raining and you have silver / gray vehicle approaching... almost hit a silver car in this situation in my first car (325e), making a left during heavy rain... I couldn't see the silver car approaching until about 20 ft and was lucky to not hit it

2. idiots who don't turn on their lights at dusk or dawn

You can legislate both of these (and, in fact, you are required to have your headlights on in these situations in many jurisdictions). However, there will always be idiots out there who don't.

I sympathize with the motorcycle riders who object to the loss of visibility they get but I think, on the whole, it creates more safety.

motordavid · #8 09-25-2008, 05:02 PM

I hear the fans on the viz thing, esp in the GWN/high latitude countries
and low light situs...otoh, as an M'cycle rider, my lil' headlamp and
turn signals are lost in the sea of DRLs, imo. I find myself working to
get isolated and out of traffic or, swarms of cars on the highways, so
the texting, latte sipping, vid watching, back seat kid swatting, "driver"
might see me.

I realize I am railing at the moon here, but I don't have them turned on,
in our cars. When I get into a low light situ, I turn on the fogs or the
head lights...when I get into a temp. low light situ, ditto or, a few
flashes with my headlights.

I am looking forward to the mandatory lane drift detection and correction
software to be fitted to my next Aveo...

...

With the more rules & regs are good for you spirit, I'm surprised it took
this long for the EU gang to make this mandatory.

Meiac09 · #9 09-25-2008, 05:40 PM

I like the concept of DRL's
I don't like the burnt-out halogen look.

Therefore, I generally just leave my headlights on, but even in the summer, the sensor turns them on pretty early by itself...

AzNMpower32 · #10 09-25-2008, 07:57 PM

DRLs should be a choice, not a gov't required sort of thing. It does have its benefits, especially for y'all that live in more northern places like Maine, where the sun's angle is fairly low during the daylight hours and driving under forests can yield the benefits of DRLs. I see many people drive with DRLs at night because they think their headlamps are on

But for the rest of us, they're unnecessary, make motorcyclists less easily recognisable, and well, look kinda ugly in some cars. I pulled the DRL fuse when we had our '07 Honda Civic just to get rid of it. I like the idea of "decide if you want them" much better. The folks on the German forum are pretty much split 50/50 as well.

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