Daytime running lights.

[HawkRod]

If I remember correctly, daytime running lights started in Scandinavia many years ago. In Sweden it has been required for like 30-40 years.

DRL are proven to reduce accidents becuase they help ensure a vehicle is seen, especially on darker, cloudy days and near dawn/ dusk. With so many cars being gray/ silver anymore, they blend into the background easily. I personally wouldn't ride a motorcycle without DRL.

Having said that, with my Limelight 70 Road Runner I am hoping it is visible enough without them. But yeah, in any conditions where it gets harder to see the lights come on...

 

[RemCharger]

How do you guys feel about having taillights and front marker lights always on with the ignition?

Just pull the headlight switch out one click while driving.
Stay tuned for more crazy solutions!

The one click was for Parking lights. Not driving lights.

Agreed.

 

[dadsbee]

At least it let's you be seen. Running park lights today is no different than my Wife's Challenger running DLR's with Orange front markers.

 

[RemCharger]

Our 4th gen 4 runner uses the front park/ turn lamp as the DRL. Factree

 

[ynst]

Using your vehicle lights to see and be seen​

From: Transport Canada

Vehicles driven in the dark without lights, or “phantom vehicles,” are a serious safety risk. Some drivers think a lit-up dashboard means their lights are on, which may not be true. It’s also important to use proper lighting in bad weather.
Transport Canada is introducing a new lighting standard to help vehicles and drivers see, and be seen.

New lighting standard​

As of September 2021 the Canadian Vehicle Lighting Regulation will require that all new vehicles sold in Canada have one of the following:

• tail lights that come on automatically with daytime running lights
• headlights, tail lights, and side marker lights that turn on automatically in the dark
• a dashboard that stays dark to alert the driver to turn on the lights

This standard will apply to all new vehicles (cars, trucks, SUVs, 3-wheeled vehicles, motorcycles and heavy trucks).

Tips for driving with proper vehicle lights​

Don’t put yourself and others at risk. Turn your headlights on when driving in the dark or in bad weather.
You need to know:

• Automatic headlights only work if you set them on automatic
• A bright dashboard doesn’t always mean that your headlights and tail lights are on
• Daytime running lights don’t give you enough light to drive safely in the dark or in bad weather

Understanding your vehicle’s light symbols​

Symbol	Function	Illustration	Information
Master light switch	Manually selects the different lighting options of your vehicle.
Daytime running lights	Makes vehicle more visible during the day.		Turn on when headlights are off Do not provide enough light on the road ahead when it's dark Note: marking lights are off.
Headlight lower beam	(low beam, passing beam, dipped beam) Lights up the road just in front of your vehicle.		Use: in urban areas with lit streets when following or approaching oncoming vehicles
Headlight upper beam	(high beam, driving beam, main beam) Lights up a longer distance, allowing you to see far down a dark road.		Use: in rural areas Switch off when: another car is coming towards or is driving in front of you driving in fog, rain or snow as your upper beams reflect off these, making it more difficult to see the road and obstacles
Automatic upper beam	Automatically switches off upper beam when there is oncoming traffic or when there is a vehicle ahead.		Ensures that your lights do not cause glare for other drivers.
Automatic headlights	Automatically switches lights on or off according to the amount of light outside the vehicle.		Ensures that your lights are on when you need them.
Front fog lights	Provides better view of the road in fog, as they have a wide beam pattern to light up the road directly in front of your vehicle.		Use if driving in fog or snow.
Rear fog lights	Makes your vehicle more visible to drivers behind you in fog, as they are brighter than tail lights.		Use only if driving in fog, rain or snow as these lights can be confused with stop lights, distracting other drivers.
Marking lights	Activates front position lights, rear position lights (tail lights), side marker lights and licence plate lights.		Make your vehicle more visible to others. Note: headlights are off.

See and be seen: driving with proper vehicle lights
[PDF, 3.7 MB]

Date modified:2018-12-12

 

[ynst]

Daytime running lights also operated at a lower intensity than direct-fed headlights.

DRT systems did NOT also turn on the tail lights at the same time so you'd see cars driving down the interstate with dim headlights and no tail lights because the driver forgot to turn on the headlights altogether.

 

[RemCharger]

Daytime running lights also operated at a lower intensity than direct-fed headlights.

DRT systems did NOT also turn on the tail lights at the same time so you'd see cars driving down the interstate with dim headlights and no tail lights because the driver forgot to turn on the headlights altogether.
View attachment 1872875

Yes, in most vehicles the DRL operate the high beams at half- power. ( most)

 

[Photon440]

Does anyone turn on their "parking lights" when about to park their car ? Why are "parking lights" in the front of the car ? View attachment 1869426

Depends on the jurisdiction. You don't turn the lights on because you're "about to park", you put them on after you're parked to make the car more visible. Obviously not for long term parking in your own yard or a shopping garage, but in certain instances on busy streets.

For example, in the UK:
According to section 249 of the Highway Code, all vehicles must display parking lights when parked on a road or a lay-by on a road with a speed limit greater than 30 mph.

On roads under 30mph or under, you don’t need to use parking lights on a car if:

• You’ve parked at least 10 metres (32 feet) away from any junction, close to the kerb and facing in the direction of the traffic flow
• You’re in a recognised parking place or lay-by.

However, if it’s foggy, you should leave your parking lights on regardless.

Here in Canada, for example in Ontario:

...according to the Highway Traffic Act, if you’re parking on a street or the side of a road/shoulder in urban areas between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise, your vehicle’s parking lights must be turned on. This helps other drivers see your car and avoid hitting or bumping into it.

Daytime running lights also operated at a lower intensity than direct-fed headlights.

DRT systems did NOT also turn on the tail lights at the same time so you'd see cars driving down the interstate with dim headlights and no tail lights because the driver forgot to turn on the headlights altogether.
View attachment 1872875

Some DRT systems did turn on the tail lights. For example, my wife's 1991 Plymouth Laser did that.

 

[flyingfeathers]

enough already with the running lights.....................

 

[440 4 speed]

Depends on the jurisdiction. You don't turn the lights on because you're "about to park", you put them on after you're parked to make the car more visible. Obviously not for long term parking in your own yard or a shopping garage, but in certain instances on busy streets.

For example, in the UK:
According to section 249 of the Highway Code, all vehicles must display parking lights when parked on a road or a lay-by on a road with a speed limit greater than 30 mph.

On roads under 30mph or under, you don’t need to use parking lights on a car if:

• You’ve parked at least 10 metres (32 feet) away from any junction, close to the kerb and facing in the direction of the traffic flow
• You’re in a recognised parking place or lay-by.

However, if it’s foggy, you should leave your parking lights on regardless.

Here in Canada, for example in Ontario:

...according to the Highway Traffic Act, if you’re parking on a street or the side of a road/shoulder in urban areas between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise, your vehicle’s parking lights must be turned on. This helps other drivers see your car and avoid hitting or bumping into it.


Some DRT systems did turn on the tail lights. For example, my wife's 1991 Plymouth Laser did that.

According to Ontario laws. If someone parks next to the curb in a legal parking spot goes in to visit overnight they must leave their parking lights on. Good business for battery sellers.
Glad see that we can park on the curb and not worry about someone hitting us in the parking lane.

 

[Unkle Krusty]

Shirley’s newish Honda does most things automatically. I think my 007 truck turns on the lights. The switch has three settings, which I do not understand. I set it on auto.
One bike has a switch that turns on a dash light, to tell me the head light has failed. It also has a switch that shuts off the engine if we are wheels up. My 007 bike turns on the lights when the key is turned. With head lights on, I do not get cut off as often. My oldest bike, I turn the key one moe spot. Some kind of magneto provides the power for the lights, and the ignition. On my 77 camper van I pull the switch, one notch for the running lights, another notch for the head lights. A separate switch turns on the driving lights. The head lights are not very bright, but I have not used the van in the dark.

 

[gkent]

I installed new headlights with amber halos in my 69 RR. I kicked around the idea of having one pair of halos come on with the key in the run position but decided against it - for no particular reason. Instead, I did away with the stock front parking/turn signal lamps and made one pair of halos the turn signals and the other pair switched in the "park" position - which I'll use as daytime running lights. Since they're amber, they need to turn off when the headlights are on so they are wired through a 5-pin relay that is triggered by the headlights and turns those two halos off.

As a side note, daytime running lights generally operate at a lower brightness level than either low or high beams - probably through a resistor. They will hit full brightness when the headlights are turned on.

 

[chrger1967]

According to Ontario laws. If someone parks next to the curb in a legal parking spot goes in to visit overnight they must leave their parking lights on. Good business for battery sellers.
Glad see that we can park on the curb and not worry about someone hitting us in the parking lane.

Having to leave you parking lights on all night is insane.

 

[gkent]

Having to leave you parking lights on all night is insane.

Yeah, like that would ever get enforced !! About as likely as being nailed for tinted windows !!

 

[RemCharger]

Yeah, like that would ever get enforced !! About as likely as being nailed for tinted windows !!

You should try and drive your tinted window stuff around here. That's a big 10- no.