DRL's

[joey]

just been reading more on this, and there's nothing to say that they have to be on, also the owners manual tells you how to activate and deactivate ( page 104 ).
so until it's law, choice is ours. 

[dubcruiser]

They don't have to be on by law, but all new cars sold in the EU after 7th Feb 2011 have to have DRL lights fitted to the car. So in turn any car from the VAG group will have them as they are sold through out Europe. Trucks and Buses are required next Aug 2012.

The UK law is very loose to say the least on DRL's but more and more cars have them now...

[Radek]

They don't have to be on by law, but all new cars sold in the EU after 7th Feb 2011 have to have DRL lights fitted to the car. So in turn any car from the VAG group will have them as they are sold through out Europe. Trucks and Buses are required next Aug 2012.

Again, not true.
New types of car approved after 7th Feb, not new cars.

More and more cars have them that is true but not because of the law - it's simply marketing or fear of falling behind the competition. Some of the DRL LED are not even compliant with DRL legislation!

[dubcruiser]

Again, not true.
New types of car approved after 7th Feb, not new cars.

More and more cars have them that is true but not because of the law - it's simply marketing or fear of falling behind the competition. Some of the DRL LED are not even compliant with DRL legislation!

The EU Regulation is worded as follows:
European Union Directive 2008/89/EC requires all passenger cars and small delivery vans first sold on or after 7 February 2011 in the EU to come equipped with daytime running lights

UK law is different mind....

The whole "drl" thing is more of a design thing than a safety thing which makes a mockery of it anyway...

[Radek]

Nope...

With effect from 7 February 2011 for vehicles of categories M1 and N1 and from 7 August 2012 for vehicles of other categories,
if the requirements laid down in Directive 76/756/EEC, as amended by this Directive, are not complied with, Member States, on grounds related to the installation of lighting and light-signalling devices, shall refuse to grant EC type approval or national type approval for new types of vehicles.

Commission Directive 2008/89/EC of 24 September 2008, Art. 2

Trust me, I work in Legislation and Compliance for an automotive company. You 'grant a type approval' only to a new type. Otherwise the text would say - refuse to register vehicles. This was done on purpose - to slowly replace the current cars with those fitted with DRL as it's very costly to change lamps on existing vehicles.

The first vehicle to fall into 'new type' category for VW will be the Beetle.

DRL are not a bad idea if you consider them an alternative to driving with lights on all the time - as required in Scandinavia for example. It's not such a good idea otherwise however DRL will require autoswitch and that is more useful when you consider how many drivers in the UK drive without lights on just after dusk.

[RickS]

Cheers but what deems a new model?

I suppose a MK6 is a bad example to use as it already has DRLS but say the MK6 never had DRLS and then VW introduced the MK7 next year. Is that a new model or still simply a Golf? Same "model" but just revised!

Most mk6 don't have DRL. What is has is the ability to drive with light on. DRL in the meaning of ECE 48 are SEPARATE DRL. Think Audi and Golf R and the latest GTI with LED lights. That's DRL. Also when the dipped beam is on the DRL must not be on. Any car that drives with both (or fogs on top on that) doesn't have DRL legally.
As for the new model - It's the manufacurer's decision but it it verified by certification and test facilities. Generally new model is a lot of hassle so that decision is not taken lightly. A new model needs to be substantially different than the previous model in regards to safety and environmental items.

My understanding of a DRL is a light that is automatically turned on during daytime driving whether it be a separate LED (Golf R etc), adapted existing lights (Standard Golf) or dip beam and tail lights on (Polo)

As for new models, I would guess that it means completely new models, not cars resistered after a certain date. I have seen countless 11 plate cars from all manufactures with no DRL's. They can't all have been turned off by their owners. Subsequently they must have been type approved without them, or they would not be legal.

The above is correct and Radek is wrong, the fact that the lights on the GTI are on automatically in daylight in effect makes them separate and therefore qualifies them as DRL's

[Radek]

How can it be separate if the same bulb is used?

Following your logic all cars in Sweden since 1970 have been equipped with DRL. The lights are hardwired by the dealer to be always on.

[mac7]

Following your logic all cars in Sweden since 1970 have been equipped with DRL. The lights are hardwired by the dealer to be always on.

That's right, all cars in Sweden have run DRL's since the 70's. Having seen more than a few Audis on UK motorways running DRL's only in poor visibility conditions, I think that we should have the front DRL and rear lights active, as they do in Sweden.

[dubcruiser]

How can it be separate if the same bulb is used?

Following your logic all cars in Sweden since 1970 have been equipped with DRL. The lights are hardwired by the dealer to be always on.

On the MK6 the same bulb isn't used... The DRL bulb doubles as the Main Beam bulb... The headlights are a separate light and bulb and when the headlights are on, the drl goes off and is replaced by a sidelight in the same light housing.

This thread is giving me a headache lol! 

[Radek]

OK, I'll try again. For the last time and I'm giving up Promise!

DRL in the meaning of EU law (from 07.02.2011) means separate, dedicated lamps which cannot be used for anything else then making the car visible, unlike normal front lamps used to illuminate the road ahead. Fog lamps will not do, dipped beam will not do. This requirement applies only to new types of vehicles, meaning vehicles never registered before.

There is also something what a lot of people call DRL which is a national legal requirement to drive with the lights on 24/7 using anything that's bright to make cars visible: main at low power, dipped, fog or DRL (in the meaning of the above). Mandatory in Nordic countries since 1970s and some others recently. To avoid confusion with the 'proper' DRL above I prefer avoiding calling them DRL. This applies to all cars on the road and it's done usually by setting the lights to be always on when the ignition is turned - usually done by the dealer.

One can say all cars in Sweden have had DRL since 1970s and I would say they have been driving with lights on. The same thing - different name.

As for UK - there is no requirement to drive with the lights on 24/7 but as part of EU, UK must refuse to approve new types of vehicles without separate, dedicated DRL. So, when Lotus wants to release a new model and wants it approved - VCA (Vehicle Certification Agency) will want to see the lights