This is topic Disable auto headlamps? in forum SSOA: "Back Porch" at www.chirpthird.com.


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Posted by SS 891 (Member # 1968) on :
 
Anyone know the proper way to disable auto headlamps? I want to keep the DRLS working, but disable the headlmaps coming on automatically.

Thanks!
 

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Posted by Sweden SS (Member # 1747) on :
 
http://www.xse.com/leres/ss/drl.html

Scroll down to "Disable automatic headlights only"
 

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Posted by SS 891 (Member # 1968) on :
 
Thanks! Worked like a charm and only took 5 min! Thanks again!
 

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Posted by Big A (Member # 1761) on :
 
Thanks, I just read an article today on MSN about DRL's and how GM, the insurance and oil companies are trying to have NHTSA pass a law making them manditory. It.s total BS!! They see dollar signs. http://slate.msn.com/id/2090493/

Join this org. to try to fight another garbage law aimed at OUR cars. http://www.lightsout.org/
 

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Posted by FireChicken (Member # 2067) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Big A:
Thanks, I just read an article today on MSN about DRL's and how GM, the insurance and oil companies are trying to have NHTSA pass a law making them manditory. It.s total BS!! They see dollar signs. http://slate.msn.com/id/2090493/

Join this org. to try to fight another garbage law aimed at OUR cars. http://www.lightsout.org/

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I disagree. While I have not seen any of the actual studies, I can see how theoretically it is possible for DRL to increase the margin of safety. I always drive with front-end white lights on, simply because I know they attract more attention that cars without running lights, and the fact that other drivers may pay more attention to me means that it may provide a slight to signifigant improvement on another driver's ability to see and avoid me.

This is also remarkably similar to the theory that is used to employ "brake lights". When you see a change in the lighting pattern that indicates the car in front of you is slowing down, it provides an additional set of sensor data that you the driver can incorporate in your reflexive actions while driving. When I see a car in front of me light up its brake lights, I reflexively move my foot from the accelerator and hover it over the brake, preparing to slow down if necessary.

Additionally, some people are forgetful, or careless when it comes to turning on their headlights in low light conditions like storms, sunset, tunnels, etc. If there are running lights that are on all the time while the car is driving, this can counteract the carelessness of the driver, and make the car more visible to other drivers. In ANY low light condition, increasing the visibility of your car to other drivers on the road vastly decreases your chances for an automobile accident, and increases your odds of survivability.

Now I for one, am very conscious of lighting on my car when I drive. The vinyl decals that I use as trim on my car are all made from the reflective 3M vinyl. This is done more for safety than for effect. It makes my NBM car much easier to see from the sides and rear than before, and the lights on the front ensure that drivers coming from the opposite direction will see me. So I for one dont see any major issues with mandatory daytime running lights, albeit a slight increase in cost (perhaps a dollar or two per car for the additional wiring), and at worst it will do nothing, but it is very likely that it will improve safety, even if only slightly.

JMHO


Also: lightbulbs arent very expensive, nor are they difficult to replace in most cases, and the consumption of fuel that goes into powering lights is negligible.

[ 31. October 2003, 01:53 PM: Message edited by: FireChicken ]
 

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Posted by JohnS (Member # 1073) on :
 
We've had DRL's legislated up here for years. It definitely increases a car's visibility. My Jeep's DRL's are integrated in the low beam headlight bulb, while the Camaro's DRL's are the corner parking lights. It now seems odd when we see a vehicle without them.

My vote is for DRL's.
 

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Posted by DanPazich (Member # 1352) on :
 
Hmm, thought it was already a law...maybe I just heard talks of that. I think it's a good idea. Makes the cars more visible, no matter what kind of lighting.

On a side note, I think our cars stand out the most with our 'orange' DRL during the day. Love the look! JMHO
 

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Posted by Harry P (Member # 533) on :
 
Jeesh! I had no idea this was such a controversy. Are we becoming a little too sensitive? I agree, maybe it should not be legislated in the US, but really, I've got bigger fish to fry when it comes to our lives being overwhelmed by the incredible number of laws and corresponding erosion of our freedoms. We should be more concerned about the loss of our freedoms in the name of security, IMHO.

My $0.02
 

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Posted by Mike Bonte (Member # 1892) on :
 
I think DRL's are crap and should not be mandated. They cause vehicles that rely on lights (such as motorcycles and emergency vehicles) to blend in to the crowd and not be seen. Also, stupid people that use them in lieu of headlights at dusk blind all other motorists on the road (in cars that use high beams as DRLs).

What needs to be mandated are people that don't know squat about driving a car. NJ has a "wipers on, lights on" law and signs all over the place... but I see people all the time in limited visibility conditions with no lights, or only drls, or only fog lights.

We need better enforcement of existing safety laws, and perhaps better or more testing for driving priveledges. With that we are all safer and drls are a non-issue.
 

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Posted by Hawkeye (Member # 88) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by JohnS:
We've had DRL's legislated up here for years. It definitely increases a car's visibility. My Jeep's DRL's are integrated in the low beam headlight bulb, while the Camaro's DRL's are the corner parking lights. It now seems odd when we see a vehicle without them.

My vote is for DRL's.

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DRL's have been law in Europe for many years
and in Canada since the 1986 / 87 model year. They
reduce accidents period. I can obtain the stats
if anyone really wants them, that's why they're
on M/C - they work!
 

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Posted by MMMM_ERT (Member # 1599) on :
 
I did Craig Leres' mod to get rid of the DRL's
and the automatic headlights as soon as I bought
my car.

I hate "idiot" features on cars. I want to
be able to turn my lights on and off when
"I" want to. How the hell are you supposed
to go driving through a neighborhood to enjoy
Christmas lights when you can't shut off the
headlights?

DRL's look like crap too.

Thanks GM for that nifty feature...now maybe
you can get the temp gauge and the remote
hatch release to work properly....
 

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Posted by sscamaro (Member # 1330) on :
 
I think automatic heah lights are a good thing. You always have the idiot who dosen't turn his lights on til its pitch black. When most people have their lights on and on e doesn't, you can't see the car without head lights. I think its great.
 

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Posted by blkragss02 (Member # 1801) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by sscamaro:
I think automatic heah lights are a good thing. You always have the idiot who dosen't turn his lights on til its pitch black. When most people have their lights on and on e doesn't, you can't see the car without head lights. I think its great.

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quote:

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Originally posted by SS_CarGuy:
I HATE DRL'S.....plain and simple. As a motorcyclist, I believe that headlights on are good for MC's. That way they stand out more. And if you can't see a car in the daytime without its headlights or running lights on, YOU SHOULDN'T BE DRIVING!

Governmentlegislation should only go so far as to tell manufacturers to make certain things available (as options) but not to mandate their use. Case in point is AIR BAGS......I detest air bags. My wife has to drive with her seat all the way up and until we got a car with "depowered" air bags, I disconnected them on her other car. Air bags may save lives, but a racing harness would do a better job. Air bags cause all kinds of injuries (and deaths) when they go off. But you never hear about the injuries....just the deaths.

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