Daytime running lights...what's the deal?

#31

Joe Morris <jcmorris (AT) mitre (DOT) org> writes:

Quote:

- Bob - <uctraing (AT) ultranet (DOT) com> writes:

Personally, I don't like DRL's. I turn my headlights on when I think
they are needed. That might be in the day, or as the sun sets, but
it's my decision. I also like to be able to turn on my parking lights
independently. I had the dealer reprogram my car so that the headlight
switch operates as they did in the past. off/parking lights/headlights
with no DRL's. I also had the fog lights reprogrammed so I could turn
them on and off as I wish with any combination.

I did the same with my '97 900. In addition to the other issues noted
about having the headlights on whenever the ignition is on, there are
two situations I frequently encounter when having headlights on at
night is considered extremely poor judgement:

* when driving near a group of amateur astronomers at a star party
* when approaching the guard station for a military facility

Astronomers don't like it because it takes only an instant for the
human eye to lose its dark adaptation (for examples, watch any
decent war movie scene on the bridge of a navy ship at night; that's
why red lamps are used). Recovering dark adaptation takes far, far
longer.

And military guards -- especially these days -- tend to get a bit
testy if a car approaches them at night with bright lights that make
it impossible to see what's going on in side the car. I was reminded
of this because shortly after I bought the car I had to drive onto
the grounds of the Naval Observatory -- where the Vice-President's
residence is located. Double whammy...and a prompt trip to the dealer.

What's done in Canada where the headlights with the
ignition are required and have been for 20 years or so?

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Daytime running lights...what's the deal?

Saab Saab Automobiles Discussions (alt.autos.saab)

Re: Daytime running lights...what's the deal? - 09-05-2006 , 12:35 PM