Daytime running lights creating confusion for other drivers

[Rupert49]

Came across this link today:
https://www.petrolprices.com/news/daytime-running-lights-creating-confusion-other-drivers/

The article is self explanatory but I have to confess that I went straight outside and started the car's engine so that I could check whether or not the rear lights come on with the front DRLs .. they don't (64 plate S3 Saloon).

If all cars were fitted with automatic lights the problem wouldn't exist, as the full light set would activate when ambient light levels indicated so.

 

[AlS3BE]

Rears on facelift comes on with front.
I still think the problems is still with the idiot behind the wheel. Some think it looks smart to drive around with just drl in the dark.
Was on an unlit dual carriageway the other night and a c7 a6 was flying down the fast lane with just drl on and no rear lights. I’ve owned 3 c7 and they all have automatic headlights. The driver must have consciously made the decision to turn them off as in all 3 cars I owned I never had to touch the switch.
Another confusion thing I noticed more and more recently is turning lights. A lot of cars light up one of the fog lights when you turn the wheel. My s3 lights up the all weather lights. Confusion thing for other drivers is when you enter a roundabout. The left light is on but your are actually indicating right to another exit. So when you are sitting waiting for oncoming car their left fog light is on but they going right so need to get the Crystal ball out and figure out what way they are actually going cause half the time depending on angle of car you might not see the indicator.

 

[Flowrider99]

Where's the confusion other than is some dopes mind. DRL's are on all the time and when conditions require it you turn on the main headlights unless you have auto headlights. I see loads of idiots driving around in poor light conditions with no lights on so these are probably the same drivers that then buy a car with DRL's and still don't put the headlights on. Its not DRL's that are causing the issue's its the drivers.

 

[Mikeso51]

Rears on facelift comes on with front.

Er. Not on my 2017 A3 Sport.

 

[Jassyo06]

The A3 facelift is the only Audi in the entire range to date that has the rear lights permanently on

 

[Lavalamp]

My Rear lights come on only when i put the front ones in the 60% dimmer mode.. If i switch to the circle symbol only the front LED Strips come on at 100%.

2016 A3.

 

[Mikeso51]

The A3 facelift is the only Audi in the entire range to date that has the rear lights permanently on

The rear lights on my facelift A3 most definitely do not come on with the DRLs. iI wish they did.....

 

[Flying Scotsman]

The only confusion are the dimwitted drivers who have DRL and do not look down at their dash and see their is no illumination, even multiple flashes from a following car does not wake them up.
Yes, my FL rear lights are on with DRL

 

[Ormesome]

The study was about dull driving conditions specifically overcast, not DRLs as a whole or night time driving, if it were then obviously stupidity by the driver. I have changed my DRLs to have the rears activated by Carista. I live in Switzerland and surprised by the amount of fog that doesn't turn on the auto lights. what with cars doing a lot more things for us like auto lights etc... this is hardly a surprise and to be honest, I do have sympathy if it is in overcast/foggy conditions.

 

[Goner]

DRLs aren’t that bright that you think you have your headlights on thus negating the need to actually turn external lighting on whilst driving in reduced visibility.

DRLs or no DRLs.. some people are simple and regardless of whether they have DRLs or not if they aren’t going to switch their lights on then they aren’t going to switch their lights on irrespective.

If a driver cannot tell the difference between having their headlights on or DRLs then they shouldn’t be on the road or get to specsavers quick sharp.

 

[Jassyo06]

The rear lights on my facelift A3 most definitely do not come on with the DRLs. iI wish they did.....

If your car has led tail lights they should be on permanently

 

[Mikeso51]

Ah. Nobody mentioned a difference for the led option before. Mine are standard halogen, not led.

 

[AlS3BE]

If your car has led tail lights they should be on permanently

They probably only do it with the led is cause they are low power so they can squeeze an extra 0.0005 mpg out the car and lower the emission

 

[Jassyo06]

Ah. Nobody mentioned a difference for the led option before. Mine are standard halogen, not led.

The halogen bulb life would be shortened dramatically if they where constantly on mate

 

[Mikeso51]

Makes sense

 

[Rupert49]

Flying Scotsman mentioned dash lights being an indicator of whether the 'proper' lights are on or only DRLs. In my car the dash light is always on, irrespective of what lights are lit, so maybe that's something else that's model specific.

 

[Phutters]

The halogen bulb life would be shortened dramatically if they where constantly on mate

Except that it's been mandatory to use permanent dipped headlights in several Scandinavian countries for a long time now - long before the advent of DRLs, never mind LEDs - and that meant that rear lights were on permanently too.

Maybe Halfjords in Norway does a roaring trade in tail light bulbs.

.

 

[Ron240]

I've had quite a few cars with auto headlights....and front DRL since they became manadatory....although this is my first car which also has rear DRL.
My previous car(2017 Honda Civic) had auto lights which were active by default and could not be turned off. At first I was not keen on this but I quickly got used to it and liked it.
My present cars lighting control is set to auto which I never touch. The sidelight position has a permanent amber light which signifies DRL, and the headlight position light green when the auto lights are activated.
I completely agree it is the driver to blame for errors concerning when to turn on their vehicles exterior lights, and it will continue to happen as long as the decision is with the driver.

 

[TYb]

The rear lights on my facelift A3 most definitely do not come on with the DRLs. iI wish they did.....

What spec is your car? I think it’s s line and above, they definitely come on with DRL’s on S3’s.

 

[Audi Bairn]

The A3 facelift is the only Audi in the entire range to date that has the rear lights permanently on

Our TT does it too J


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Bristle Hound]

Both my Cupra & the wife's Captur have the rear lights on permanently when the front DRL's are on
Confirming what @jassyo06 says both cars have LED rear lights (& fronts)

 

[AlS3BE]

My previous car(2017 Honda Civic) had auto lights which were active by default and could not be turned off. At first I was not keen on this but I quickly got used to it and liked it.
My present cars lighting control is set to auto which I never touch. The sidelight position has a permanent amber light which signifies DRL, and the headlight position light green when the auto lights are activated.

Like your Honda I think it should be set to auto by default and the driver needs to consciously turn it off every time if they don’t want it on.
Just like front fog lights should only be turned on with tears that will stop the boy racers driving about with front fog lights and sidelights on and these too should automatic turn off after ignition cycle. Had a tiny bit of fog 2 days ago and now every idiot is still driving about with front and rear fog lights on for days.

 

[Mikeso51]

What spec is your car? I think it’s s line and above, they definitely come on with DRL’s on S3’s.

Spec. is in my signature. It’s A3 Sport tfsi150. Seems the DRL linked tail lights only come with the led package.

 

[oli356]

The only confusion are the dimwitted drivers who have DRL and do not look down at their dash and see their is no illumination, even multiple flashes from a following car does not wake them up.
Yes, my FL rear lights are on with DRL

You're not flashing them enough

My high beams get abused during winter...

 

[Ormesome]

Spec. is in my signature. It’s A3 Sport tfsi150. Seems the DRL linked tail lights only come with the led package.

Which in @TYb's defence, states nothing about what kind of lighting package you have!!

 

[Mikeso51]

- and in my defence, the model, spec. and all the options on my car are stated in my signature. If I had the Led lighting option, this would have been listed.

 

[TYb]

- and in my defence, the model, spec. and all the options on my car are stated in my signature. If I had the Led lighting option, this would have been listed.

No idea where the signature is to see it to be honest, I just knew that s lines and S3’s etc come with them.

 

[Mikeso51]

No problem TYb. I wasn’t trying to be pedantic. Just pointing out that the info was already there. Signature is at the bottom of the post. Not everyone fills them in, but they can be useful for checking the details of a posters car.

 

[HertS3]

Do rear lights come on with DRLs on 2015 S3 Sportback? I hope that they do as I leave my car on auto all the time and haven't checked whether rear lights come on. If they don't, can this be enabled via VCDS?

 

[TYb]

No problem TYb. I wasn’t trying to be pedantic. Just pointing out that the info was already there. Signature is at the bottom of the post. Not everyone fills them in, but they can be useful for checking the details of a posters car.

I wonder if because I’m on an iPhone I don’t see the signature or I’m looking in the wrong place.

 

[Rupert49]

While we're on the subject of lights generally, I usually use the auto high/dip beam facility, but if I have a criticism it's that it's slower to dip than I would choose if I was dipping manually. My '64 spec S3 Saloon came before the clever matrix light system, so I'm sure that on occasions the oncoming motorist must think: 'Damn, he left that late!' when my beams eventually do dip.

 

[Mark_R]

I wonder if because I’m on an iPhone I don’t see the signature or I’m looking in the wrong place.

If you hold the iPhone in landscape the signatures are shown.

 

[TYb]

If you hold the iPhone in landscape the signatures are shown.

Thanks, every day is a school day.

 

[josul]

Thanks, every day is a school day.

It is, works this way on android too!

 

[Jassyo06]

Talking about lights on cars.. This is the first winter that I have used my current car to commute, 50 miles return journey most miles driven on the unlit M8 Motorway and l admit the Matrix headlight system is a god send and also ****** amazing, couldn't have another car without them now didn't think much of them til this winter

 

[TYb]

Talking about lights on cars.. This is the first winter that I have used my current car to commute, 50 miles return journey most miles driven on the unlit M8 Motorway and l admit the Matrix headlight system is a god send and also ****** amazing, couldn't have another car without them now didn't think much of them til this winter

I didn’t spec them but a friend loves the BMW equivalent on his 335d

 

[Jassyo06]

I didn’t spec them but a friend loves the BMW equivalent on his 335d

Will hopefully get a test drive in a Beemer with the laser lights in the New year mate they must be amazing

 

[TYb]

Will hopefully get a test drive in a Beemer with the laser lights in the New year mate they must be amazing

Really liking the new beemers and the current ones to be fair.

 

[Ron240]

Do rear lights come on with DRLs on 2015 S3 Sportback? I hope that they do as I leave my car on auto all the time and haven't checked whether rear lights come on. If they don't, can this be enabled via VCDS?

The quickest way to get an answer would be simply to check for yourself.
Rear DRL are only in conjunction with full LED lights, and only with current facelift models.

 

[Paul finch]

Do rear lights come on with DRLs on 2015 S3 Sportback? I hope that they do as I leave my car on auto all the time and haven't checked whether rear lights come on. If they don't, can this be enabled via VCDS?

Why don't you turn the ignition on and look at the rear lights?