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Car Forum / Saab Cars / September 2006Daytime 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 > 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. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daytime_running_lamp. DRL is the intended position during the day. The high-beam switch does nothing in this position because they don't want cars to use high-intensity lights during the day. "Headlights ON" is the normal night-time position, and allows you to use the high beams. You have to wonder why high-intensity lights are a safety problem during the day (when the ambient light is orders of magnitude higher than at night, your pupils are contracted, etc.) but they "aren't" at night (when the headlights are vastly brighter than any other light source around). But we're talking laws here, not logic. Gary 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 > 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 [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > 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... DRL mode: lights always on, always low-beam. High-beams are blocked to prevent excess glare during the daytime. ON mode: lights on, high-beams work. So "ON mode low-beams" is basically the same as "DRL mode". Same amount of light. You just can't hit the high-beams in DRL mode. Gary What a useless...um..."feature". But many thanks are in order. At least I understand the way that works now. The switch has been moved from DRL to ON and will stay that way. I do think it's strange that the high-beams are unable to be permanently turned on, yet the switch will still allow them to work as long as it's pulled back and held in position. So technically you could "blind" someone during the day... It would make much more sense if the DLR mode of the switch bypassed the high-beam circuit altogether. ~jp > DRL mode: lights always on, always low-beam. High-beams are blocked to > prevent excess glare during the daytime. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Gary > What a useless...um..."feature". > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > if the DLR mode of the switch bypassed the high-beam circuit > altogether. 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.  SignatureDoug Schwarz dmschwarz&ieee,org Make obvious changes to get real email address. > > What a useless...um..."feature". > > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > 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. 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 > > 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 [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > used for prompting someone out from a junction, but again this is not > official and hence dangerous to rely on. > 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. Just turn your side lights on as you accelerate away, and watch them stand on their nose thinking it's the brakes going on! SignatureRichard Sutherland-Smith 19 Webb Road, Wanganui 4500 New Zealand Ha! That reminds of something that happened to a friend of mine... He was working at the time with the local police and was riding along in an unmarked car one night, doing about 80mph down the interstate. In the rear view mirror, they saw a tall, 4x4 Toyota pickup *quickly* gaining on them. They estimated his speed to be well in excess of 100mph. Right at the moment when the truck began to pass them, they blipped on the blue lights for 2 seconds. The driver of the truck slammed his brakes so hard, that my friend thought the truck was going to do a forward-flip. By the way, just touching the brake pedal in my truck will engage the brake lights without actually braking. It simultaneously unlocks the torque converter in the tranny, raising the RPMs slightly. Someone got up on my bumper one night, and I touched the pedal to "brake". They backed off, and at the same time I floored it. When they caught up, they made sure to wait their turn to pass in the other lane ;-) ~jp > Just turn your side lights on as you accelerate away, and watch them > stand on their nose thinking it's the brakes going on! [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > 19 Webb Road, Wanganui 4500 > New Zealand > 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. I don't get you. It's OK for you to go 10mph over the speed limit but someone that wants to go 15mph over is a fool? > 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. Passing on the right is illegal in some jurisdictions, and bad manners in all others. So because someone wants to pass you and they signal their intent by flashing their headlights, you would then intentionally block their way, thereby forcing them to make a (possibly illegal) less preferable right-side pass. Why are you so miffed by someone flashing their lights? It is a polite way to request that you to allow them to pass. I certainly prefer that to the ones that run up your tail. Or would you prefer they used their horn? > 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 [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > (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. There is no excuse for tailgating, IMO. Period. But jamming on your brakes and possibly causing someone (even a tailgating idiot) to lose control of their car is an irresponsible action. The best thing to do when someone tailgates you is to slow down gradually. This does two things: 1) It makes it safer for you should you have to hiot your brakes they will be more likely to be able to stop without rear-ending you, and 2) it pisses off the tail-gater tremendously as they get the exact opposite of what they want. Then you should pull aside when you have the first opportunity and let them pass on by. They are much less danger to you when they are somewhere ahead and you can avoid them. They are likely to signal to you as they speed on by how they think you are "number one"!! It's best to wave back and smile without indicating any numbers, although the OK sign is acceptable. > 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. People with good road manners would just pull aside and allow faster cars to pass no matter what signaling methods they use. By the way, before you accuse me of being a "rude" driver, I very seldom flash drivers to pass. I'm just not in that much of a rush... Signature-Fred W >> 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. > > I don't get you. It's OK for you to go 10mph over the speed limit but > someone that wants to go 15mph over is a fool? Sure Fred, it's called selectivivity. Anyone else doing it is a fool but it's OK when he does it. >> 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. > Passing on the right is illegal in some jurisdictions, and bad manners > in all others. So because someone wants to pass you and they signal > their intent by flashing their headlights, you would then intentionally > block their way, thereby forcing them to make a (possibly illegal) less > preferable right-side pass. I think the technical term here is "a.shole". > Why are you so miffed by someone flashing their lights? It is a polite > way to request that you to allow them to pass. I certainly prefer that > to the ones that run up your tail. Or would you prefer they used their > horn? Yup. See previous. >> 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. > People with good road manners would just pull aside and allow faster > cars to pass no matter what signaling methods they use. Yeah, it's pretty funny that after his litany of bad road manners, he laments the loss of good road manners here, isn't it? > By the way, before you accuse me of being a "rude" driver, I very seldom > flash drivers to pass. I'm just not in that much of a rush... I do from time to time, but only when I'm driving an emergency vehicle. Then there's plenty of flashing and audio going on, and sometimes the idiots _still_ don't pull over. (shrug) that's what the Motorola is for. Tends to get expensive and maybe they learn from it. [...] > I do from time to time, but only when I'm driving an emergency vehicle. > Then there's plenty of flashing and audio going on, and sometimes the > idiots _still_ don't pull over. (shrug) that's what the Motorola is > for. Tends to get expensive and maybe they learn from it. I certainly always get well out of the way at the slightest sound of an emergency vehicle. Police drives killed 44 in the UK last year in road accidents. http://www.guardian.co.uk/celldeaths/article/0,,1646336,00.html On one occasion I was halfway forced off the road, luckily there were firm verges. Replies inline... > >> 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 [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Sure Fred, it's called selectivivity. Anyone else doing it is a fool > but it's OK when he does it. Who said they were going 5mph more than me?? Certainly not me. Stop assuming. I didn't say they were a fool for speeding... I'm as guilty as anyone of doing it. The problem I have is with the rudeness of flashing lights in my face from behind--ALWAYS accompanied by extreme tailgating. I have yet to experience someone calmly pulling up behind me, maintaining a safe distance, and giving me a quick couple of flashes to let me know they're behind me and wish to pass. That would certainly be acceptable. Instead, they come up from behind, not going 5mph faster than me, but often (in my estimation) 15mph or so faster. My going 80mph in a 70mph zone may warrant a ticket, but the speeds at which these folks are going (95mph+) is considered reckless in most places I know. Then at the very last second they slam on their brakes to avoid hitting me, and maintain a very unsafe 4ft distance. I especially like it when they pull a little to the left to make sure and align their headlight with my side mirror. > >> 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 [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > I think the technical term here is "a.shole". See above... I'm not the a.shole... I'm just becoming slightly a.shole-ish in response to the real a.sholes. ;-) > > Why are you so miffed by someone flashing their lights? It is a polite > > way to request that you to allow them to pass. I certainly prefer that > > to the ones that run up your tail. Or would you prefer they used their > > horn? > > Yup. See previous. I don't need to be "told" to move. Tailgating, flashing lights, and blowing the horn are all what I (and most people) would consider to be aggressive driving behavior. Maybe I should've clarified that the light-flashing is accompanied by tailgating. If I see someone gaining speed behind me, and I'm in the left lane, I'll politely move over. If someone comes right up on my a.s, and flashes their lights to *tell me to move*, then f.ck 'em. Sorry, they can *ask*, but I won't tolerate what I consider harrassment. > >> 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. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Yeah, it's pretty funny that after his litany of bad road manners, he > laments the loss of good road manners here, isn't it? Well, like I said above, the only time I get rude is in response to someone else. I don't initiate it. To the contrary, I consider myself a very safe driver and have only had one wreck since I began driving on my 16th birthday. That was a few weeks after getting my first car--a Chevy Caprice Classic, which was much bigger and heavier than the cars I'd learned to drive on. I didn't realize what it's stopping and handling characteristics were until the day I had to slam on the brakes on wet roads. Lesson learned, no more wrecks. > > By the way, before you accuse me of being a "rude" driver, I very seldom > > flash drivers to pass. I'm just not in that much of a rush... [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > idiots _still_ don't pull over. (shrug) that's what the Motorola is > for. Tends to get expensive and maybe they learn from it. Being behind the wheel of an emergency vehicle is a different situation altogether. Such behavior comes with the territory, and should be expected and respected by other drivers in case of an emergency. I've seen a few situations in my life where emergency vehicles couldn't get through because people simply wouldn't move out of the way. Recently I witnessed a driver take advantage of the situation. When traffic started to clear to allow the ambulance through, a driver pulled out before the ambulance and used the newly open road to escape the traffic jam. Now *that* is an a.shole. Again, sorry if I didn't clarify properly before, but I'm not an aggressive driver. I simply react to those drivers in a less than friendly way. Hope this clears it up. ~jp > Replies inline... > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > Who said they were going 5mph more than me?? Certainly not me. Stop > assuming. Fred made the numeric deduction. I just identified the phenomenon. > I didn't say they were a fool for speeding... I'm as guilty as anyone > of doing it. The problem I have is with the rudeness of flashing > lights in my face from behind--ALWAYS accompanied by extreme > tailgating. Then get the hell out of the way. Or don't be in the way in the first place. Had you been paying better attention to your surroundings it wouldn't have got to that. >> > Passing on the right is illegal in some jurisdictions, and bad manners >> > in all others. So because someone wants to pass you and they signal [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > See above... I'm not the a.shole... I'm just becoming slightly > a.shole-ish in response to the real a.sholes. ;-) "he started it". Gotcha. (snip more of the same) >> Yeah, it's pretty funny that after his litany of bad road manners, he >> laments the loss of good road manners here, isn't it? > > Well, like I said above, the only time I get rude is in response to > someone else. I don't initiate it. >> I do from time to time, but only when I'm driving an emergency vehicle. >> Then there's plenty of flashing and audio going on, and sometimes the >> idiots _still_ don't pull over. (shrug) that's what the Motorola is >> for. Tends to get expensive and maybe they learn from it. > Being behind the wheel of an emergency vehicle is a different situation > altogether. How so? Situational awareness. Know what the fark is going on around you. If you ignore the other guy, you're probably one of those ignoring the ambo or firetruck too. > Again, sorry if I didn't clarify properly before, but I'm not an > aggressive driver. I simply react to those drivers in a less than > friendly way. Hope this clears it up. Yeah, "but mooooom, he started it". I got that earlier already but thanks for confirming. > Then get the hell out of the way. Or don't be in the way in the first > place. Had you been paying better attention to your surroundings it > wouldn't have got to that. I would hardly call driving down the road, minding my own business as being "in the way". Look, I already said that maybe I should've clarified what kind of situations I've been subjected to while driving. The light-flashing is bad enough, but I've yet to experience someone simply flashing their lights from a safe distance. It's always accompanied by tailgating and just generally aggressive driving. I simply will not condone that type of behavior, and whoever decides to act like that behind me can expect some level of retaliation. Besides, what if I'm passing a bunch of cars in the right lane?? If I can't get over, I'm not going to speed up to 90mph, just so I can accommodate somebody behind me. I usually stay in the right lane anyway, so I'm bound to get back over as soon as I can. If someone is so impatient that they feel the need to harass me into "getting out of the way" then they can just wait. Not my problem... > "he started it". Gotcha. I take it you're the type to get up on someone's rear bumper and lay on the high-beams when their speed is inconvenient to you... > > Being behind the wheel of an emergency vehicle is a different situation > > altogether. > How so? Situational awareness. Know what the fark is going on around > you. If you ignore the other guy, you're probably one of those ignoring > the ambo or firetruck too. Just because I can see someone coming up behind me at what I consider an unsafe speed doesn't mean I necessarily have the time or ability to react. See above about the right-hand lane being blocked by other motorists. Sometimes you just can't get over, and if I'm already speeding to get past those motorists, I'm not going to speed up even more to please the dickhead behind me flashing his lights and riding my a.s like a maniac. Like I said, I'm guilty of occasionally speeding as much as anyone. I usually go a little faster than the posted limit on back roads, and I try to stay with traffic on the interstates, even when everyone else is doing 10mph over the speed limit. I consider that to be safer than being the one lone driver *actually* doing 55mph when everyone else is doing 65-70mph. > > Again, sorry if I didn't clarify properly before, but I'm not an > > aggressive driver. I simply react to those drivers in a less than > > friendly way. Hope this clears it up. > Yeah, "but mooooom, he started it". I got that earlier already but > thanks for confirming. Hey...I have to put up with insane traffic jams everyday on the way in and back out of work. Those traffic jams exist before I get there in the morning, (I didn't "start" them) and they're always caused by some jackass who did something stupid and screwed it up for everyone else. Someone has to fight these a.sholes...if they get behind me and start their sh.t, I will do whatever I can to make their life more difficult than it needs to be. ~jp > Look, I already said that maybe I should've clarified what kind of > situations I've been subjected to while driving. The light-flashing is > bad enough, ... But see, that was my whole point to begin with. While the other actions you mention *are* aggressive (and could be seen as ass-holish) the act of flashing the lights is NOT. > but I've yet to experience someone simply flashing their > lights from a safe distance. It's always accompanied by tailgating and > just generally aggressive driving. In your reported experience. My experience is otherwise. Here's a little logic problem for you: Most tailgaters flash their headlights, therefore all light flashers are tailgaters. True or false? > I simply will not condone that type > of behavior, and whoever decides to act like that behind me can expect > some level of retaliation. Who said it was up to you to condone anything? And what about the innocent third parties that are driving on the same road that you and the maniac start to play your silly road games on? > Besides, what if I'm passing a bunch of > cars in the right lane?? If I can't get over, I'm not going to speed [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > into "getting out of the way" then they can just wait. Not my > problem... "Just wait"ing is a lot different than slamming on your truck's brakes or even flashing the brake lights, both of which endanger the purp. and everone else on that roadway. > Just because I can see someone coming up behind me at what I consider > an unsafe speed doesn't mean I necessarily have the time or ability to [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > more to please the dickhead behind me flashing his lights and riding my > a.s like a maniac. Right so you have two sane choices. Either continue at your present speed and then move to the right after completing your pass, or else slow down slowly if you feel the oncoming maniac is tailgating too closely. > Hey...I have to put up with insane traffic jams everyday on the way in > and back out of work. Those traffic jams exist before I get there in > the morning, (I didn't "start" them) and they're always caused by some > jackass who did something stupid and screwed it up for everyone else. Actually, you don't "have to". It is a choice that you made/make to pursue the employment that you are engaged in. You could always change that. > Someone has to fight these a.sholes...if they get behind me and start > their sh.t, I will do whatever I can to make their life more difficult > than it needs to be. No, actually, nobody "has to fight these a.sholes". "Fighting these a.sholes" is only a (slightly) different flavor of a.shole-dom. I have a little secret for you. The a.sholes will always win in a confrontation in the end. If you let them get to you, and they don't kill you first, you will become one. Signature-Fred W > > Look, I already said that maybe I should've clarified what kind of > > situations I've been subjected to while driving. The light-flashing is [quoted text clipped - 66 lines] > confrontation in the end. If you let them get to you, and they don't > kill you first, you will become one. Good discussion. I tend to be laid back and not interfere or engage when provoked by maniac drivers. Yes, it takes some getting used to resisting your natural instinct, but you never know if the situation will escalate into real road rage and perhaps (in the US) someone pulling a gun at you. I'd rather get to my destination in a slower, but undamaged state of man and vehicle... > Good discussion. I tend to be laid back and not interfere or engage when > provoked by maniac drivers. Yes, it takes some getting used to resisting > your natural instinct, but you never know if the situation will escalate > into real road rage and perhaps (in the US) someone pulling a gun at you. > I'd rather get to my destination in a slower, but undamaged state of man > and vehicle... Ah, finally the voice of reason!! These are my thoughts exactly. Signature-Fred W >I don't get you. It's OK for you to go 10mph over the speed limit but >someone that wants to go 15mph over is a fool? Anyone going slower than me is an idiot; anyone going faster than me is a moron. (George Carlin). >>I don't get you. It's OK for you to go 10mph over the speed limit but >>someone that wants to go 15mph over is a fool? > > Anyone going slower than me is an idiot; anyone going faster than me > is a moron. (George Carlin). ^^^^^ Maniac, isn't it? > >I don't get you. It's OK for you to go 10mph over the speed limit but > >someone that wants to go 15mph over is a fool? > > Anyone going slower than me is an idiot; anyone going faster than me > is a moron. (George Carlin). Anyone driving in front of me is a bad driver. >> > What a useless...um..."feature". >> > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > But flashing the headlights at a car in front is not part of the UK > Highway Code, Well it is if you're warning them of your presence... > it's usually seen as aggressive. Yes. > Flashing is sometimes > used for prompting someone out from a junction, but again this is not > official and hence dangerous to rely on. Correct. In Europe it means "see me? see me? stay where you are!" :) SignatureThe DervMan www.dervman.com >> Hi... My 2000 9-3 convertible has DRL and "headlights ON" options on >> the switch. What's the difference? [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Gary Just wondering where it is the law. I haven't heard anything about it being illegal to use hi-beam during the day. Other replies indicate that you can pull a fuse to disable the DRL's it's in the manual. When I got my '00 9-3 they told me to just turn the switch all the way and leave it there. I said OK and it hasn't been off since. Wayne >Other replies indicate that you can pull a fuse to disable the DRL's >it's in the manual. > >When I got my '00 9-3 they told me to just turn the switch all the way >and leave it there. I said OK and it hasn't been off since. Saabs, unlike some other makes, don't have "special" light arrangements for DRL's - it's just like turning the headlights on. That leads us to the question - why do they bother with the DRL feature at all - why not just let people who want their headlights on to turn them on? 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. Back in the '70's I read something from an insurance company that indicated daytime accidents were significantly reduced by using the headlights in the day to be seen better. I was driving a Saab 99 LE at the time, and I noticed the headlight switch was connected to the keyswitch - I put 2 and 2 together and realized the intent on Sab's behalf. I started driving this way, and every day dozens of cars would flash their lights at me, thinking I had "forgotten" my headlights, and that they were saving me from a dead battery situation! Years later, driving in Sweden and Denmark, this made much more sense, as the sort of semi-dusk that prevails there through half the year easily explains why all cars there are wired this way, and everyone drives with lights on all the time. I believe this use is much more pertinent in places like this than say southern California, where it's blazing sun every day - people will hardly see your lights - nevertheless it is a good practice to bear in mind. In fact, it is now the law in Italy, and will soon be in France as well. The reason the DRL position doesn't allow the high beams is that you may not be aware you have them on (you cannot se the effect of course, and the little light on the panel may not jump out at you in daylight conditions eitjher) but it could still be aggressive to others, particularly as dusk approaches. The "flash" function remains available as this is how Europeans get others' attention - not only to pass them, but for any reason. Sometimes it's used to say "I see you, and I'm letting you go ahead of me". Other times it means 'Look out, I'm not stopping". You have to understand which is meant!! Now I notice in New England, where everyone used to flash at me for driving with my lights on 30 years ago, many many cars are driving this way, and no one sees it as odd any more. At present, I always drive this way, unles it is a very bright sunny day, in which case I turn them off and probably save a few drops of precious fuel. GF >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 [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >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 > >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 [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > 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? >> And military guards -- especially these days -- tend to get a bit >> testy if a car approaches them at night with bright lights that make [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >What's done in Canada where the headlights with the >ignition are required and have been for 20 years or so? That's not an issue - they don't have a Vice President. >> 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. >See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daytime_running_lamp. >DRL is the intended position during the day. The high-beam switch does >nothing in this position because they don't want cars to use high-intensity >lights during the day. >"Headlights ON" is the normal night-time position, and allows you to use >the high beams. >You have to wonder why high-intensity lights are a safety problem during >the day (when the ambient light is orders of magnitude higher than at >night, your pupils are contracted, etc.) but they "aren't" at night (when >the headlights are vastly brighter than any other light source around). >But we're talking laws here, not logic. I think a lot of this has to do with the stupidity of 'reverse logic' in lighting design which sees modern car front lights have everything integrated into one unit, and the headlights are often two seperate lamps which means not only is there more to fail, but when something fails you often have to replace the entire cluster and they're very expensive. Then again I'm sure that when new, classic 900 headlights (since they are unique and not used on any other make/model of car) priced out at a bit dollar figure. Especially the H4 e-code lights which were used all through Europe and here in Oz, but not in the US/Canada until the 'facelist' 900's appeared. Craig. SignatureCraig's Saab C900 Page at | Craig's Classic Saab Workshop - Sydney .au http://lios.apana.org.au/~c900 | http://www.classicsaab.net and other URL's Email: c900@lios.apana.org.au | For Saab 99/C900/9000 Enthusiasts World-Wide! Alternate: saabonaut@gmail.com | Web-forums, galleries, library, links, etc. |
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