Are we OK with how bright headlights are getting?

[lman]

I noticed something about DRLs a few years back when I was driving in the (CA) South Bay on a freeway - it was dark - definitely night - and there were a number of cars quite obviously driving "lights out" but with DRLs, and I've seen this a number of times since - though only on well-lit highways.

I suspect that the driver sees that some light is coming from their car, and there are enough street lights that they see well enough, though people coming up behind them don't see them so well... this is my suspicion based on the fact that of all the cars I saw driving without lights turned on (ie, no taillights at all) all had DRLs (which in older cars means low beams on lower than normal setting).

That's probably why most new cars have auto headlights that turn on automatically when it gets dark.

 

[sd455dan]

This is an area my car actually improved two years after purchase. Tesla finally got approval to turn on the adaptive matrix lights and now really V (dark) out the area where oncoming traffic approaches also drop the beam level down while following another vehicle.
Have not been beamed, Previously headlights always drew a real clear line as to where the light stops and now once past an oncoming vehicle they fill in and light up much more of off the road sides which made some deer approaching the road much more obvious. I really like the adaptive headlight feature so far, and this is much more useful than the headlights just being able to spell words on a wall.

 

[MossRoad]

Can I suggest considering the use of a relay with a momentary pushbutton control, so that the DRL will automatically revert to "normal" function when you turn the vehicle off?

All the best,

Peter

Yes you may.

 

[MossRoad]

I noticed something about DRLs a few years back when I was driving in the (CA) South Bay on a freeway - it was dark - definitely night - and there were a number of cars quite obviously driving "lights out" but with DRLs, and I've seen this a number of times since - though only on well-lit highways.

I suspect that the driver sees that some light is coming from their car, and there are enough street lights that they see well enough, though people coming up behind them don't see them so well... this is my suspicion based on the fact that of all the cars I saw driving without lights turned on (ie, no taillights at all) all had DRLs (which in older cars means low beams on lower than normal setting).

I've done that myself on occasion. The headlights were in the off position for some reason. The parking lot is well lit. The dash is illuminated. So you don't notice you have no headlights on. Then you take off down the road with only your daytime lights on.

 

[Jstpssng]

I feel that separate DRLs like what's on my Tundra are essentially a gimmick to increase vehicle costs. You may as well just run your parking lights. In rainy or foggy weather I turn the headlights on because I want to be seen. It also turns the taillights on, as others have mentioned.

 

[ruffdog]

There was a time when headlights were meant to light in front of the car. Now, many cars are throwing light in all directions. I see them coming down our country road lighting up the trees lining the road. They throw the light up and to the side....all over. I don't get it...............

 

[ning]

A lot of people don't seem to care if you can't see them. I'vd even heard claims tjat turning on your headlights uses more gas.
That may even be true but I know the biggest variable to my economy is my right foot.

I remember reading back in the 80s when Mazda was bringing out the second generation RX7 that it was so aerodynamic (ok for the time it was pretty good) that it only took 12hp to run 55mph (hahahah sports car 55 mph *strains to catch breath*) and I figured that 55w headlights, there's two of them, so that's 110w, after other losses figure that's almost 1/4hp, or 2% of that 12hp. 2% isn't entirely insignificant! But yeah, not a good reason to drive with lights off. Also, 55mph pfffff (especially 21-year-old me buys the turbo version, proceeds to pay almost as much for insurance as for the car payment whattf was I even thinking)

 

[ning]

I've done that myself on occasion. The headlights were in the off position for some reason. The parking lot is well lit. The dash is illuminated. So you don't notice you have no headlights on. Then you take off down the road with only your daytime lights on.

Why is the dash illuminated? Is it because it's a modern screen panel? I think that for all of our cars (only one of which has a central screen for cameras & "infotainment") the dash - all analog dials other than the center driver info on the newest car - are dark unless the lights are on.

I try to get my wife to leave the newest car's headlights in the "auto" mode but it bugs her that the lights stay on for so long when we get home, I'll have to dig into the settings and try to reduce the timeout. IMO it's a great feature, get home in nearly complete darkness and have your way lit to the front door with the headlights...

 

[dodge man]

There was a time when headlights were meant to light in front of the car. Now, many cars are throwing light in all directions. I see them coming down our country road lighting up the trees lining the road. They throw the light up and to the side....all over. I don't get it...............

We have to cars with hid headlights and a truck with regular headlights. The hid are brighter and whiter lights and they also have a much wider and higher pattern but only on brights. My truck with regular headlights has a much narrower pattern even on brights. I think the truck shines down the road far enough but not wide enough. In town it doesn’t matter much but out in the country it does, mainly for deer.

One thing I especially notice with the better headlights is going down a steep hill you notice instead of the headlights being buried into the bottom of the hill they shine up the other side some. My wife’s car actually moves the lights some such as hills and around corners.