Dear Consumer Reports

Hi Bob,

My 2006 does not have the sensor installed, nor does it have the auto-daylight running light feature. The Canadian cars do, as its a legal requriement there.

 

Hi Bob,

US 2G do not have DRL.

 

For a while there I thought I was on drugs or ....

 

Who wants daytime running lights? Do you leave your outdoor lights on at home during daylight? Daytime running lights are energy hogs that use up battery power with an end result of added fuel consumption.

 

I like DRLs. I think it's easier to see cars with DRLs.

 

My house is extremely unlikely to suffer a collision caused by a driver failing to see it due to adverse lighting conditions.

My car's risk of such events is orders of magnitude higher.

Energy hog? That is why we need LEDs.

 

Bob ,
Not sure where you found those stats, but I'd be interested to know how the stats are for Europe. I think the scandinavian countries were one of the first to require daytime lights (everyone know those scandinavians usually do things for a good reason ). Of course, the roads are very different over there... they are narrow, twisty and windy farm paths that have been paved and turned into roads, with ancient oak trees near the roadways and drivers often encounter each other in blind swings as they navigate the roads that often aren't even painted with lines. That's not to say that they don't have long straight stretches of highways, but they often have grey weather as compared to some local climates here that enjoy long stretches of clear sunshine.

In any event, is the automatic/off feature of the Prius not considered DRL? I mean, I leave my lights on, but when I exit the vehicle, they turn on. Then when I fire up the vehicle again, the lights are automatically on. Does this not count as a DRL?

 

The 2010 Prius Product Information datasheet does not list DRL as a feature, so I hope it is OK to tell you that the 2010 vehicles that I saw yesterday do not have DRL.

No. DRL is not the same as the auto off feature. DRL implies that only the headlights (high beams at a reduced intensity for example) or the front turn lights (some GM vehicles are examples) are on. The auto feature implies that all exterior lights are on except high beams.

 

I know that California law is lights must be on if the windshield wipers are working, thats a new law I believe that most people have no clue about.

Also, when I am driving my work truck (F350 Ambulance) headlights MUST be on at all times regardless of time of day or brightness. Has to have some sort of safety link. Heck, even Pizza Hut has a sign in their store stating "Lights on For Safety" for its drivers.

I guess if you wanted DRL's on the Prius, you could leave them on and allow them to just go on and off as you start/stop the vehicle.

 

Unfortunatly DRL's are needed because a lot of people are idiots and don't know to turn their headlights on when it's foggy, rainy or other condintions causing bad visibility.

 

You're talking about central New York, right?

That's what I do, and I believe it is considered a little bit less effective than "real" DRLs. I have altered my decorative fog lamps to assist with DRLing too.

 

DRLs use less power than a crash repair shop.

 

I Agree!! Also in bad weather rain etc.

 

I think the Law in New York is the same... Lights on when wipers are on.