Leaving headlights on

OK, after doing a google search and compareing the for and against I've concluded that I do think daytime running lights help. The for group has better arguments and more analytical data and also seem to start from a less biased point. The against group has a lot of emotional arguments but not much data. So I'm back into believeing the benefits for DRL so will continue to use it. To make it clear I'm not using full head beams just the same half lights you have on by default at night.

The best article I found is this one

 

Note: The article cited is from The Netherlands where ambient light is a significant factor in their determinations.

 

I agree but there conclusion is that it would benefit all of EU even after factoring in different ambient light (they tried to take into account the effectivness would be reduced further south). Being from Sweden and learning to drive there I can say that I don't think it's easier/harder to pick-out cars in Boston or anywhere else I've been (maybe apart from CA).
Anyway, to each his own, I'm less convinced this has to be "the law" in US but will continue to use it myself. I am a saftey oriented person.

 

I do not use my lights during the day. I was worried that 1) it would affect my fuel efficiency and 2) makes the Nav display hard to see. The discussion threads answer these concerns so I am rethinking my position. Thanks.

 

If you turn the dash illumination to full (past the detent), the MFD and dash brightness will return to full.

I will turn on my lights if it is raining, and at the first sign of dusk. Many times the ambient light is still such that I need to fully brighten the MFD. I don'l like to leave my lights on in the daytime, but I like the idea of DRLs. I may need to rethink my position too! B)

 

In addition to what Ged said, if you're running HID lights, the energy draw is negligible at 70 watts for the pair and it's 110 watts for regular old bulbs. Given that the Prius's motor can put out 50 kilowatts, I don't think that that 0.14% or .22% is really going to affect anything in a measurable way.

Also, ambient light is not the only place where DRL help - dusk and dawn happen every day, and they can really help improve your visability then too.

Hope this helps

Dave

 

if other people's headlights turn on during the day annoys some people, i can't imagine how they feel at night.

 

This might help all of us come to a decision on this point. Anyone know what it cost for a new headlamp? Both the halogen and the ones on the '06. I assume them to be HID lamps, whatever they are.

In brief review of the manual I beleive we can replace them ourselves and not have to bring the car in.

Then again I'm a newbie

 

The standard halogen units cost about $10 each and the replacement is covered in the manual. It's just not as easy as it looks.