If you're lucky you'll be an old git yourself one day.
Clk Sec
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If you're lucky you'll be an old git yourself one day. Clk Sec
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Lordy,
As long as you apply the see and be seen practice. It sounds as if you are a "no lights in poor visibility" merchant. I assure you I am aware of whats going on all around me. A good method of obsevation practice is to get a passenger to occaisionally ask you what the last road sign was just after you have passed it. I survived the roads long enough to become an "old git". :)
Edited by Old Navy on 24/04/2009 at 18:40
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Yes, this was part of the IAM test which I passed in 1960
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I saw a mk6 Golf today (my first!) and was quite surprised by the DRLs, they're smaller but bright lights towards the centre of the car (i.e. not on the outer edge). I'm not sure what I think about them, but the car looked nice, albeit very similar to the previous model.
Anything that improves road safety is a good thing, but as far as I'm aware, there's no concensus about DRLs.
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I'm 74
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When I did my HGV / IAM stuff it was a 20p fine to the coffee fund if you got it wrong.
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Hi Old Navy,
I didn't do the HGV version but when I did the IAM it would have been 4 shillings!
Edited by rtj70 on 24/04/2009 at 20:38
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I only did the car IAM test, I cheated, passed the test with no training immediately after my HGV1 training and test.
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Hi Colinh
Yes they are 'proper' lights i.e. they use the headlights which, of course, means you burn more fuel to make the electricity unlike the Audi leds which use only a fraction ot the juice.
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I overtook an 09 plate Golf Mk6 on the M6 in my lorry this afternoon When I checked my nearside mirror before pulling back in, I assumed the car was flashing its headlights to signal that I was clear to move over. It was only after a few seconds that I realised they were actually DRLs, as on the Golf they are in the position normally occupied by the main beam spotlights. I wasn't expecting a car driver to signal (most don't) so I was already far enough ahead to pull in.
The sun was low in the sky directly behind me and my mirrors had a thin veneer of grime on them (they are heated so any rain etc dries quickly but with a slightly dusty residue) so my view of the car was not as clear as it could have been, but certainly typical of most motorway drivers especially by Friday afternoon.
How long before someone without my interest and understanding of cars and motoring misreads a similar situation with potentially serious consequences?
I've read the thread on here about being able to switch Golf DRLs on and off, this was the first one I've seen with them switched on though. FWIW most Insignias seem to have theirs switched on, but theirs are in a "slash" shape above the headlight and the light is more diffused so the meaning isn't ambiguous.
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Hi Dave,
That's a very interesting view which I had not considered and adds to my arguement against the DRLs.
I have argued constantly with my Volkswagen dealer who initially said they could remove the problem and the instruction book tells you how to do it but it does not work (confirmed by the dealer). Now they tell me that Volkswagen have instructed them that under no circumstances are they allowed to deactivate them.
Could I return the car claiming it is not as described as per the handbook?>>
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Handbooks are always subject to revision. A typical Milton Keynes response to a threat of rejection would be simply that the manual is being updated.
Why don't you just take the bulbs out - and replace them with resistors if the VAG nanny dashboard beeps? VAG and their products need a dose of (fast diminishing) UK common sense at times - otherwise it's M-K inspired credit card attack time.
I speak as a VAG customer - product OK, representation as near to highway robbery as the law will allow.
659.
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I bought a May 09 reg Golf VI GTi from my local VW dealer. It replaced my 58 reg BMW 320D convertible. That also had daytime running lights but in the BMW's case they were switchable on and off as desired by the driver. I chose to turn them off as not wishing to draw undue attention to myself. Most of the other BMW's I see around and about seem to have followed my selection and turned them off too.
I was sad to discover that although the handbook stated that the Golf's lights could be turned off by the dealer, the dealer (when trying to source the codes from VW UK) told me that they couldn't because VW had refused to issue the necessary codes which would allow them to deactivate the lights. They had the codes but sinply wouldn't release them to the dealer.
Anyone know what the code is?
It seems VW has decided that THEY unilaterally wish them to remain on permenantly even though their handbook says otherwise.
When I complained to my local dealer, Pentraeth in Anglesey, they telephoned VW's Customer Service who stated that it was the Dealers fault for not informing me at the time of my purchase, apparently VW had issued a direction to all dealers in March.
That gave VW two months before my car was delivered to update their handbooks, issue an addendum or even put a sticker over the contradictory information in my handbook. Of course they didn't, choosing to blame everyone else instead and alienating an unsuspecting customer in the process.
I understand it is supposed to be a safetly feature and it may well become law for all new cars built after 2011, however, as I pointed out to VW, if they wished to take a stand on this issue they should have planned its introduction so that new cars were not being delivered with handbooks informing innocent customers that daytime running lights could be deactivated.
Safety is of course vital when driving but I object in this case and think VW should allow those vehicles with contradictory handbooks to choose whether they want daytime driving lights or not.
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Have you all tried the method outlined in the manual?
Turn the Auto headlight switch from 'Auto' to 'Off'. Pull the indicator lever towards you and fully downwards and then turn on the ignition for at least 3 seconds. Turn off, and the DRL's, according to those on the VW forums, should be disabled.
I may well be trying this after tomorrow afternoon, when I pick up my new Golf MK 6.
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My new A6 has user-switchable DRLs. Oddly, they are not the LED fairy lights which most Audis now seem to have, but instead use the main beam lights, obviously considerably dimmed on a much reduced voltage. Same as the Golf VI? Time will tell whether this shortens the life of the bulbs.....maybe it won't as they are running on much reduced power.
I can easily choose to have them on or off, using the car/set-up options in the MMI. Surely they are not a bad thing? Other road users seem to be getting used to DRLs of one sort or another - I've only been flashed once or twice in the last 6 months, and only once told "your lights are on!".
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I think daytime running lights are good idea - when Volvo introduced them, I think a lot of the opposition to them was because they shouted 'Volvo' rather than the fact they were daytime running lights. Volvo and Saab introduced them because it had been made compulsory to drive with dipped headlights in daytime in Sweden, or parts of Sweden, because of the long stretches of roads through forests.
Wow - 3 consecutive lines starting with 'because' purely by chance. Do I get a place in the HJ Hall of Fame?
Edited by Sofa Spud on 27/07/2009 at 14:27
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I've just had the daylight running lamps activated on my new Octavia. I was the first to request this and hope I do not live to regret it. SIL just waved my down 5 minutes ago asking if I knew my side lights were on. There are many misty, murky days on my commute to the High Peak and if it prevents someone pulling out in front.......
Edited by Glaikit Wee Scunner {P} on 27/07/2009 at 17:38
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Im with you GWS, I cant understand the "anti DRL brigade". Are they the ones who drive with no lights in poor visibility, mabe their eysight is so bad they cant see the differing degrees of visibility.
Edited by Old Navy on 27/07/2009 at 17:53
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I recall reading an article a few months ago that all motor vehicles manufactured after 7th February 2011 and used on the UK public highway must have DRLs fitted...anyone confirm that to be correct?
Edited by Geordie1 on 28/07/2009 at 00:58
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You are correct Geordie:
tiny.cc/AjiDg
It's coming so stop whinging everyone - resistance is futlile!
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must have DRLs fitted...anyone confirm that to be correct?
Yes, but they don't have to be turned on, just fitted when the car is new. That is my understanding.
Most of these systems can either be turned off via user controls or disabled by the dealer's computer.
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Im with you GWS I cant understand the "anti DRL brigade".
I am part of that 'brigade'
When I ride a motorcycle, I make a decision to turn on the headlamp, so I stand out...
as more and more cars are seen (sic) with DRL then motorcycles will stand out less and less, and the 'I didnt see him' motorcycle accidents will increase.
when I was born, I was fitted with a control unit called 'my brain'
I find that 'my brain' is pretty good at making decisions, as to when I need to turn on lights, slow down, use wipers, walk, run, breath, use eyes, use my sense of smell, and many other things.
The 'software' used by 'my brain' has been developed over many thousands of years, and although not by any means is it perfect, I trust it enough to keep control of (most!) of my bodily functions.... deciding when visibility is poor is fairly easy using a small part of 'my brains' computing power, the problems start when I dont use 'my brain' enough - it seems to work better the more I use it...........
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Your choice to drive a difficult to see motorcycle, you are obviously happy with the risk.
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I wonder if after 2011 it will be "cool" to reverse the current permanant front foglight use by some, and disable your DRLs?
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I try to 'think bike', I really do. Hardly a day goes by that I'm not amazed by the risks that bikers seem happy to take in heavy traffic. Personally, I've never fancied it, but each to their own.
Back to topic, it's an interesting point to wonder whether the effectiveness of DRLs will decrease when everyone has them. I suppose vehicles will still stand out from the background gloom, though not so much from one another.
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I have to say I detected a soupcon of "Is it me, or ..." in the OP.
Just saying.
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Mk6 Golf - DRL's. I turned mine off as per the manual. Easy peasy. I have lived this long without them before.
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Mk6 Golf - DRL's. I turned mine off as per the manual. Easy peasy. I have lived this long without them before.
Have you tried turning them on again? I find that my manual say yes and no in adjacent paragraphs and even the 'knowledgeable' saleman said that once turned off they can't be turned on again. And yet again, the VW forums say that the MK6's DRLs can be turned off and on by following the outlined procedure.
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I'll give it a go and report back!
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When I had one a couple of months back, it was very easy to turn off and on. Push one way on full beam with ignition on to turn off, push the other to turn them on.
As usual, confusion reigns supreme with the so-called experts at the dealerships!
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Your choice to drive a difficult to see motorcycle you are obviously happy with the risk.
You seem to have missed my point.. (just hope you dont miss seeing motorcyclists....)
I am happy with the risk - as it is NOW.
wearing Hi-Vis tops, AND riding with my dip beam on, I feel I am as visible as I can be.
BUT the more cars with DLR means that motorcycles lose that added visibility.... and thus puts motorcycles at MORE risk.
Anyway, some car drivers cant even see speed cameras, or even fully kitted out police cars... spend more time with your eyes on the road, you may then see motorcycles!
Motorcycles used properly are better for the environment than cars, as they use less fuel, less energy to build, they use less road space, so why do I sense an anti-motorcycle angle?
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The current generation of DRLs are much less bright than dipped headlights, so MCs should still stand out. In daylight, that is. After dark, everyone's using dipped headlights.....
About 10 years ago, I did a one-day company car driver's safety course with BSM (paid for by the company - maybe they got cheaper insurance as a result). I remember being advised to use dipped headlights "most of the time".
Apart from Swiss Tony's point, why do others want to disable their DRLs? I can't think of a good reason for wanting to be less visible to other road users! Seems like a no-brainer.....
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I have found a site referring to VAG-COM which seems to be a workshop diagnostic and configuration tool. My friendly engineer is familiar with this product and is investigating whether it is possible to deactivate daytime running lights, certainly a lot of the chatter on other forums suggests it is.
I will report further when my enginner has investigated the situation properly but it looks promising.
Something else I learned was that VW has a "transport mode" setting. Transport mode deactivates DRL's. If VW can deactivate DRL's while transporting and delivering cars, why cant I have the same choice when driving MY car?
So VW Germany's apparent arrogance and dictatorial stance will hopefully be reversible in the field.
Edited by Nocibe on 29/07/2009 at 10:14
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Motorcycles used properly are better for the environment than cars as they use less fuel less energy to build they use less road space so why do I sense an anti-motorcycle angle?
Ah the environment, of course the world is getting warmer, it is still coming out of the last ice age, and given a chance man will use all the resources. Im not anti bike, or any other road user who uses the roads correctly.
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