Headlamps? what do people think of these?

[Teutonic_Tamer]

am I right in saying the Mk 6 Golf has DRL's as I've seen alot running around with their lights on!?

Yup.  There are actually loads of German cars with DRLs - Audis have had them (though as an option on their 'lesser' models) since around 2004.  Porsche and Opel (in the Insignia) now have them as standard fit.  BMW seem to be the only ones not to implement DRLs, maybe because it will have a negative effect on their angel eyes.

[RedRobin]

....

Thanks for your long reply, Sean but I'm afraid that I find much of it incredibly pedantic and nit-picking.

I didn't say that my Hella DRL's were the "same" as that beautiful Alfa's - I said they were "like" mine.

Of course I would expect Hella to only sell approved lighting - My point was that being thus marked, someone ignorant would not be able to claim they were fog lights.

When I wrote about Audi doing "whatever they want!" I should have perhaps expanded that to say "whatever they would prefer to do but all within the regulations" - In fact I did write: "At present Audi are doing whatever they are wanting to be doing within what they find is allowable / or what they can getaway with - Don't ask me exactly what the written detail is!" in the post with the Alfa pic (which obviously distracted you). I praise Audi for their design creativity and solutions.



^ Doubtless you will find something to challenge about this!

I really can't be arsed to spend my time trawling through the many documents/studies and consultations I have read about DRL's - Documents from all over Europe - in order to answer all your points.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Robin, the point I was trying to make with the Hellas, and the regulations in general - is simply down to 'pedantics'.  So just like if an owners manual said something like: in order for the engine to be running, the ignition must be on.  I think we'd all agree that that statement is fundamentally correct - but if you 'reversed' the sentance to something like when the ignition is on, the engine will always be running - and we all know that that second statement is incorrect.  And this is exactly the same with DRLs - yes, they must only work when the ignition is on - but just like you can have the ignition on and the engine off, you can also have the ignition on, but the DRLs can still also be off!

And that scan of your DRL instructions is just fitting instructions, and nothing more.  But what is more alarming, is that those dimensions they show are for FOG lamps, and have nothing to do with DRLs.  Finally, there is nothing in the regs about DRLs which MUST be turned off when normal headlamps are used - again, both Audi and Porsche have DRLs which are able to be used at the same time as the normal headlamps (be they Xenon or halogen).

As usual - even though you think I am 'nit-picking' - as the old saying goes, the devil is in the detail - and the detail comprehensively is at odds with some of your claims!

[RedRobin]

....

Hi Sean - I do accept that I may be proved wrong in some of my detail but all I can do is present information to the best of my knowledge.

I am convinced that amongst all my research reading before buying these Hella DRL's I read about the switching off when other lights were switched on because some countries were making this a ruling. But anyway..

I could have wired them so the switching was different but chose to follow what I believed to be the imminent rule.

[Hairy Porter]

As a motorcyclist I flash my GTI's headlights at cars running lights in broad daylight.

It's just not fair on the bikers.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

As a motorcyclist I flash my GTI's headlights at cars running lights in broad daylight.

Why? 

It's just not fair on the bikers.

I think you need to be more worried about the general standard of driving of some cage owners, rather than worry about weather they have lights on in the daylight or not!

[RedRobin]

As a motorcyclist I flash my GTI's headlights at cars running lights in broad daylight.

It's just not fair on the bikers.

....I've never been flashed by a motorcyclist but I am frequently given a thumbs up or acknowledgement for pulling over both ahead and behind. My DRL's at at low level (fog light position) - Do you flash your lights (in your car!? ) because some DRL's are at headlight level? You flash every Audi?

[rskardon]

As a motorcyclist I flash my GTI's headlights at cars running lights in broad daylight.

It's just not fair on the bikers.

Why would a motor cyclist be affected by running lights in the day? You must spend all day flashing cars, I read somewhere that cars with their lights on in the day are statistically less likely to involved in accidents, maybe its just because they are mostly slow Volvo drivers though  .

[RedRobin]

Why would a motor cyclist be affected by running lights in the day?

....Studies have shown [waits for T_T to ask which studies ] that an average size car using its headlights (whether dipped or not) as daytime running lights can mask the presence of a motorbike in front of it, helped by the lights being at a similar height.

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Why would a motor cyclist be affected by running lights in the day?

....Studies have shown [waits for T_T to ask which studies ] that an average size car using its headlights (whether dipped or not) as daytime running lights can mask the presence of a motorbike in front of it, helped by the lights being at a similar height.

I am aware of ONE study which tries to state that motorcyclists are somehow masked when a car uses headlamps during the daylight.  However, there are considerably greater studies which actually PROOVE that using headlamps during the daylightn makes a significant reduction in accidents - for ALL road users.  Which is why, in many European countries (and not just 'Scandanavian', they actually include southern Europe too), it is a LEGAL requirement to have headlamps on even in the daylight, when driving outside of built up areas.  Many US states, and virtually all Canadian states also have this law.

But regarding the specifics of motorcyclists - they, just like all other road users, MUST be responsible for their own 'conspicutancy' 'visibility.  Far too often, motorcylists wear black or dark coloured leathers, ride a dark coloured bike, and 'place' their motorbike in such a position on the road that they are often in other vehicles blind spots.  I use either a white or very light grey patterned helmet, I wear very high visibility clothing (my leathers are bright yellow, as are my waterproofs), and I ride a bright yellow bike - and I have NEVER (searches for some substancial chunks of wood to fondle) had any 'situations' where I havn't been visible to other road users.  Some motorcyclists are far too keen to blame 'other road users', but they really need to look at themselves first!