Daytime Running Lights

On our recent Connemara Run I noticed some people running with some lights, some without.

I believe in the safety benefits in using "Daytime Running Lights". I believe the presence, position and speed are more easily judged on an on-coming car with lights on. There are some arguments against using DRL's but I think the advantages outweight the disadvantages.

In my native Denmark it is required by law and it is legal to use front foglights as an alternative to headlights (outside of hours of darkness, where only headlights must be used).

In many US States dipped headlights are required by law when it rains.

I choose to run front fogs in daytime hours and switch them off when I switch on my dipped headlights.

What do you do?

 

I only use them if it is very dark, ie. majory overcast or raining or if driving through a heavily shaded area eg. woodland etc. I find it annoying to see halogen bulbs on as they can be so cutting to the eye during the day. IIRC Volvo's have mandatory daytime lights as used certain fleets van eg. Eircom & ESB.

I use dipped when the daylight is poor i.e. overcast and raining, threatens to rain with dark clouds above, tree lined dark country roads, dusk/dawn conditions or non raining wet driving conditions with surface water.

[edit] an also tunnels  [/edit]

Edited by Rossi

Rear foglights are next to useless and a nuissance except when fog is so heavy that more than 10 kph is irresponsible.

I have never seen a US BMW equipped with rear fogs and I think they're right.

Overheard on morning radio (AA Roadwatch) "turn on your foglights in the fog but more importantly (my italics) remember to switch them off when the fog has cleared". Surely it is never more important to switch your lights off than it is switching them on!

Ive always used dipped headlights since the age of 17, the joys of having a father who was a Garda driving instructor...

In this day and age of the silver car on a grey road

That is perfect camoflage.

One of the reasons dims work so well in full daylight is

The person thinking of doing an iffy overtaking move will see the lights a lot sooner than a unlit car and back off

Hence my wife and I use dims all the time

I must say I am very impressed with the amount of people driving with lights on.

I remember in the '80's when I first arrived, half the cars coming against you would flash to politely remind you that you had forgotten to turn off your lights. Life for most Volvo/Saab drivers (wired for DRL's from factory) was so unbearable that most had the DRL's disabled.

UK drivers still seem afflicted with the unwillingness to turn on lights inside of daytime, regardless of conditions.

Returning from Connemara I had a little Japanese car following very closely with full-beam on; I tried to signal with my rear fog, to no avail, eventually pulled over and let him pass only to discover he had his two rear fogs on as well - AAAaarrrrghhh!

I use the side lights when the conditions are overcast an side lights and front fogs when its really bad.

 

Never really use the rear ones other than to get idiots of my tail. (not that that happens to often tho)

Fogs for fog. My rule of thumb for running lights is if you can notice the dash light up, regardless of the time of day, it's dark enough to leave them on.