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

Hi... My 2000 9-3 convertible has DRL and "headlights ON" options on
the switch. What's the difference?

I just figured out today that the high-beam switch does nothing while
the light switch is set to DRL, and the fog light switch works the
same.

I was actually shopping for new switches until I figured this out.

It seems that in either position, the lights come on when the car does,
and go off when it's not running.

What's the difference other than that my high-beams and fog lights
won't work with the switch in DRL mode?

Thanks,

~jp

Oh BTW I don't know about your 9-3, but my 9-5 has an option to disable the
DRL. Pull a certain fuse and DRL becomes "OFF". I figured this was a good
idea, since it will greatly reduce the on-off cycles on my xenon headlamps.
That's supposed to be the major lifetime-shortener on those very ex$pensive
bulbs.

Check your manual and see if you can disable DRL on your car. Assuming
you're in the US, it's not at all clear DRL adds any safety factor here
anyway. It's more intended for high-latitude countries where the average
light levels are much lower, especially in winter.

Gary

Well, mainly, I was wondering what difference there was between the
two. I understand what DRL are, but in terms of how much light comes
off the front of the car, I can't see a difference--other than that I
thought my fog lamp and high-beam switches were bad...

But thanks for the info...

~jp

Gary Fritz wrote:
> Oh BTW I don't know about your 9-3, but my 9-5 has an option to disable the
> DRL. Pull a certain fuse and DRL becomes "OFF". I figured this was a good
> idea, since it will greatly reduce the on-off cycles on my xenon headlamps.
> That's supposed to be the major lifetime-shortener on those very ex$pensive
> bulbs.
>
> Check your manual and see if you can disable DRL on your car. Assuming
> you're in the US, it's not at all clear DRL adds any safety factor here
> anyway. It's more intended for high-latitude countries where the average
> light levels are much lower, especially in winter.
>
> Gary

I have been "flashed" a few times... Usually by someone who feels that
my travelling 10mph over the posted speed limit isn't quite fast
enough. If I see someone coming up faster than me, I'll usually move
over. But if someone comes up and flashes...well they can just wait
for a break in traffic in the next lane, and go around that way.

I unfortunately don't have a "gentle" response for that sort of rude
behavior... Perhaps I might feel better about it if the folks that do
that sort of thing didn't feel the need to come within 3 feet of my
rear bumper at 80mph.

I've found that the brakes in my tank...er...I mean 1986 Chevy Blazer
(full-size) work *quite* well at those speeds, and in that vehicle I
often use the above mentioned situation as a good time to test them.

Sounds like the folks in the UK still have road manners...something
people here in the US, particularly my town, lost a long time ago.

~jp

Johannes wrote:
> Doug Schwarz wrote:
> > The purpose of that is so you can flash someone in front of you --
> > usually as a gentle reminder that you'd like to pass. Here in the US
> > I'm not sure everyone knows what it means, but I have used it
> > occasionally.
>
> But flashing the headlights at a car in front is not part of the UK
> Highway Code, it's usually seen as aggressive. Flashing is sometimes
> used for prompting someone out from a junction, but again this is not
> official and hence dangerous to rely on.

- Bob - <uctraing@ultranet.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.

Joe Morris

Joe Morris <jcmorris@mitre.org> writes:
> - Bob - <uctraing@ultranet.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?