Whats the purpose of the DRL's?

[audijohn]

Audijohn, I'm quite impressed by the S5. It's a really nice car to be in. The interior is stunning and quality and fit wise on a par with the RS4. The car is high spec, with B&O, Keyless entry, Sat Nav+, Parking Advanced with camera etc and so technology wise is far superior to the RS4. In performance terms the RS4 is in a different league though, as you'd expect, but nevertheless the S5 goes about it's business without any fuss or drama. In a straight line is only marginally slower and the engine is slightly torquier, but it's cornering were the differences ultimately show.

Overall though I'm v impressed. The B8 S4 and RS4's will certainly be eagerly anticipated.

Thanks for your feed back Nipper, I will give it my full attention tomorrow and see.

[SR71]

Mine are on all the time.

Must be the biker in me....

[t_urbo]

I use mine as well, more from a safety point of view so as people can see me, especially at this tme of year and dark mornings / evenings

They also appear to move over more willingly too......

IIRC they will be a legal requirement soon

I read an article a few years back that stated you were over 25% less likely to be in an accident with them on.

I use them all the time as they do catch your eye.

[audijohn]

I use mine as well, more from a safety point of view so as people can see me, especially at this tme of year and dark mornings / evenings

They also appear to move over more willingly too......

IIRC they will be a legal requirement soon

I read an article a few years back that stated you were over 25% less likely to be in an accident with them on.

I use them all the time as they do catch your eye.

I am puting mine on today.

[Jezzer]

Now I know what that DRL button is for. Just kooked at it and thought if it doesn't make the car go faster why touch it.

[Love_iTT]

I've never touched my light switch since picking the car up, it just does everything - the lights come on when needed and go off when not needed, DRL is on so people have no excuse for not seeing me. The only thing I have to do is switch from dip to main beam which I think is criminal - a short, sharp note to Audi I think is required for not thinking of this.

Graham

[audijohn]

I've never touched my light switch since picking the car up, it just does everything - the lights come on when needed and go off when not needed, DRL is on so people have no excuse for not seeing me. The only thing I have to do is switch from dip to main beam which I think is criminal - a short, sharp note to Audi I think is required for not thinking of this.

Graham

Getting old graham.................. or just lazy.

[Love_iTT]

I've never touched my light switch since picking the car up, it just does everything - the lights come on when needed and go off when not needed, DRL is on so people have no excuse for not seeing me. The only thing I have to do is switch from dip to main beam which I think is criminal - a short, sharp note to Audi I think is required for not thinking of this.

Graham

Getting old graham.................. or just lazy.

Both - and grumpy too come to think of it!

Graham

[Iain_S4]

There's a lot of information regarding DRls on this website http://www.dadrl.org.uk/

I have only looked through a limited amount of it and it was a while back. IIRC, they do make the point that LED type DRLs or other low energy DRLs are acceptable but not those that are based on using dipped headlights

Experience from other countries generally shows that overall accident rates have not decreased and that pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists are at greater risk.

I have not been using the DRLs on my car but that was because I'd wrongly assumed that it used dipped headlights. I may reconsider but I don't think I'll change my mind.

[Dom81]

Interesting link Iain - I'll give it a good read over the weekend...

[audijohn]

I used mine today, glad I did it was dark all day.

[DoctorD]

There's a lot of information regarding DRls on this website http://www.dadrl.org.uk/

Amazing. I have never read anything so daft. Without pre-warning I would have assumed this website was an April 1st hoax.

To describe DRLs as a hazard because they mask smaller objects (children/cyclists/bikes etc) and therefore effectively conclude that using 'any lighting' on cars predjudices the ability of these smaller objects to be seen, may be true, but is only one variable in a far more complex scenario. To effectively support bigger objects (Trucks/Vans/Cars) to be less illuminated than smaller objects is quite frankly daft.

I use DRLs, side-lights or dipped lights 'most' of the time in whichever car I drive, except on certain rare ocassions. Having lived in Denmark and Sweden for many years I observed no downsides and considerable upsides in being seen at all times. I also use my lights in very sunny conditions, particularly in alpine regions where sunlight can severely reduce the contrast of a moving object such as a car.

My DRLs are set to on with my RS4, and I've occasionally had people flash me, which makes me laugh (well at least they saw me). If you think those are distracting then my AMG ML63 uses its foglights to illuminate the direction of steering at speeds below 30 mph, so that means when turning left then the left-hand fog-light comes on and vive-versa for turning right. Now THAT's distracting, as I found out when my wife recently followed me home.

[Mori]

Using lights, especially when travelling on B roads makes it much easier for oncoming traffic because they can see you from far away, especially in direct sunlight etc. Makes for safer driving.