What's safer during the day - DRL or headlights ?

I'm more concerned about being seen from behind, so my running lights are always on, I switch on the low beams when it rains hard.

 

Most earlier generation Priuses don't have automatic lights, and Americans in general are pretty poor drivers.

It's not an intellect thing. It's a training thing.
LA driver's aren't the worst ones on the planet (I've driven in non-disclosed places in Asia and the EU, and I've heard that Russia is pretty bad) BUT they're probably more self-centered and distracted than the norm.

As far as lights on and safety?
That's pretty self-evident.

You're in the minority.
I used to wonder why they wasted money on all of those "Lights On When Raining" signs when they could just make it a $1,000 fine and eliminate a lot of state debt.

 

I pretty much never get down to the States, but we were driving in Hawaii a few years back, and it was kinda astounding: the number of cars driving deeper and deeper into dusk, with no lights, nothing. That and the lack of motorcycle helmet laws.

It's strange now in BC though, it's become really common to see late-model cars, with BC plates, rolling along with no daytime running lights. It's our "Liberal" government in action, I guess. US purchased and imported cars?

 

If they import a used car or a new car it must be modified to Canadian standards. The inspection is done at Canadian Tire though, so that may explain it.

Then there is the acquaintance who got tired driving late at night and decided to stop. For "safety" he pulled off the highway, and parked on the other side of the "ditch", 20 feet from the road, and left the "parking lights" on and engine running for heat.
As you may know, you tend to drive where you look.
So a drunk comes along, sees the lights and slams into him. Real safe.

 

My apologies to everyone. I'm just really frustrated with all the traffic, and speeders, and tailgaters, and drunks, and inconsiderate drivers. (And it seems to be even worse when you're driving a Prius.)

I'm retired, and just want to go out and enjoy some nice leisurely drives and do some sightseeing. But easy-going driving is almost impossible in this huge urban sprawl of Los Angeles county. If I had any sense, I would move the heck outa here.

(ETC, did you also "drive" that boat?
God bless you and thank you for your service.)

 

Pretty much everybody onboard gets to "drive" them. Well, except for the cooks, oilers and radar. Deciding where it's going, that's another story.

 

Yes, that's pretty common how the drunks tend to hit cars that are parked on the side of the road with the lights on. That's why so many police officer's vehicles are struck
when doing a traffic stop. The drunks gravitate towards the lights.

I was just wondering if ETC was the former skipper...

 

He could tell us, but then...

 

The Wickapedia excerpt Mendel posted did say "permitted" when referring to use of the high beam bulb/filament for Canadian DRLs. So low or high could be used. As well as turn signals.

I just checked, and indeed, the 2012 Prius also uses the high beam bulb at reduced intensity in Canada.
The 2007 FJ Cruiser uses the low beam filament at reduced intensity.
So to correct my previous posting, Pearl S is the first vehicle I have owned to use the high beam lamp for DRL.

On the subject of headlamps, I find it curious that often the high beam lamps are the low technology ones. In the case of Pearl S projector halogens for low beam and bulb in a reflector for high beams. In the case of the older HID in Prius, HID low beams and halogen bulb for high beam. In the case of the first LED headlamps, LED low beams and halogen high beams.
Now, well into the 21st century, we finally see LED headlamps that simply -move- from the low beam position to get the angle and beam pattern needed for high beams.
I suppose it makes some sense, the low beams must not blind oncoming traffic, and the high beams can't blind anyone as there isn't anyone there to blind, right? I mean nobody -EVER- leaves the high beams on when there is approaching traffic!

 

I've noticed my high beam bulbs are getting a tan/brown patina, from all the DRL use I think.

 

No...I was enlisted.
When I knocked holes in the ocean, I was an Electronics Technician (E6) and mostly did 'forward electronics' type stuff like Navigation, Radar, ESM, IFF etc...
As pointed out above, everybody 'gets to drive' the ship from time to time for qualifications, but generally the regular drivers are very junior sailors in the the forward part of the boat.
Something like skimmer ships, who are steered by relatively junior folks at the helm.

I used to like to stand a proficiency watch at the planes sometimes when we went to periscope depth during rough weather (when I wasn't driving the ESM stacks.)
Fun stuff!!

Thanks for the thanks, BTW.
....and for paying for my training, room, and board.

 

I'm no expert, but I see no qualitative difference between the Prius (2013 and newer) LED DRLs and having your head lamps on or high beams.

The point of DRL is to make you more noticeable. Even LEDs are well-suited to do this job. If other drivers are inattentive, I don't see how high beams would be any more effective. They are best in situations where being in the wrong place (under shade) would make your car near invisible to an oncoming vehicle...mostly because the oncoming driver's eyes are adapted to bright light and can't clearly see what's concealed in shadow. The DRLs do a good job at making you visible to such drivers.

I have a motorcycle with HID bulbs on both high and low beam. I can't attest to if they make me more visible or not to others. I know some guys have a "wig wag" module to alternate bulbs to make them noticeable, but HID systems would blow under the strain of constant switching like that.

I don't think there has been any studies analyzing the qualitative effect of DRLs vs. low beam vs. high beam vs. HID.

Again, it comes down to the attentiveness of other drivers. The DRLs are a tool to make you more visible under certain daytime conditions. They are of no help if the other driver is a moron.

Think of it like a police siren. I've had no less than three times a cop running lights and siren came up on me (on the motorcycle), and I didn't have a clue they were there because I didn't look at my mirrors until I heard the siren (they didn't want me...they needed to get past). At 70+ mph, the volume of an approaching siren is so weak you can hardly hear it over the motor. Even in a car, depending on the cop's approaching speed, they can fly past you just as you hear the siren. You'd think the lights would really work, but all the flashers in the world do nothing unless you LOOK at them. On a motorcycle, I infrequently check my mirrors unless I'm thinking of switching lanes. I'm more focused on what's in front of me.

 

If the question is "What is Safer During The Day?"

Then I'm going to default to the logic that the more visible the better and say headlights would be more visible than DRL's.

That being said?

I don't drive with my headlights on during the day, because I don't think it looks cool.
People don't know if it's a nod to safety, or whether your connection with reality is just deteriorated to the point where you can't tell 10:00 am from 10:00 pm.

Plus DRL...stands for Daytime Running Lights....which at least gives me a definition that befits the usage reality.

As far as the rest of the debate, in terms of cost....

Well do what you want. I sincerely doubt there is much difference with ANY choice.

So for me? I'm going Fernando Lamas with this issue and say, it's better to look good than to feel good.

When the Sun is out, my headlights are off.

If you want to define that as daredevil living? Then give me a canyon to jump over.

 

You should be practicing defensive driving, and that means being aware, at all times, what's going on all around you. Knowing what's behind, and to each side of you, will tell you which lane is clear if you ever need to take evasive maneuvers from an unexpected situation ahead of you.

 

find some backroads & leave the hi-beams on for like 30 minutes; that should dissolve the residue & make it condense on the filament again/
should....

 

Oh, I do, but the vast majority of my attention must be on what's in front of me. Motorcycles go where you look. So, spend too much time looking elsewhere....

 

As I am considering adding extra DRLs, I checked that link and found under the product description that it was NOT intended for hybrid or electric vehicles! Has anyone installed those on a Prius, and if so, with what results?
The reason I post this is because in researching additional 12-volt LEDs, I have found some that are listed for 12 volts ONLY, and others that are listed for 12-30 volts. As the DC-DC inverter on my Prius produces 14.4 volts, the voltage may be too high for the 12-volt only versions, resulting in a possible fire. So if I go that route, I certainly want an LED assembly rated for at least 15 volts.

 

Robert, if you are referring to the Philips DRLs, try going through the reviews on Amazon. Someone usually comments on whether they'll work on a hybrid with start/stop technology. Also, there is a way to ask specific questions about the product. hope this helps

 

When they say "intended for a 12V system" they mean a system that runs at 14V or so. The battery is 12V nominal, so that is the "name" applied to the system. There is NO car that runs at 12V. They all run in the 13.5 to 14.5V range (to maintain the charge in the 12V lead acid battery). Sometimes they even hit 15V for a short time. If the engine stalls a non-Prius will drop to 12V. A Prius will maintain the 14V nominal voltage when the engine stops.
I don't really understand why they would say "not intended for a hybrid". Maybe they think we run the lights on our 200V battery?