DRLs off without VCDS

jandres

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Orlando, FL
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2010 Jetta Sportwagen TDI
I just want to confirm that THIS WORKS! Thanks for the tip. No more DRLs for me.
 

herbert68

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State College, PA
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2013 Passat TDI SEL Premium, 2010 Jetta TDI Sedan. Both bought back by VW on 12/06/2016
Same here! Works fine and could not be easier! Thank you!
 

spee

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Jan 1, 2010
Location
PA
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MkVI Golf TDI
Unfortunately (for me, anyway) this won't work on cars with Xenons.
 

billyz

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Austin
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2010 Jetta sportwagon tdi
fleuger99 said:
Why do you guys want to deactivate your DRL's so badly?
I was just thinking this same thing. It is a safety issue. There are numerous studies that prove having lights on during daylight greatly reduce accidents.

Also, I have seen far too many idiots driving at Dusk without lights. There is no downside to using them. Why don't you disable your cell phones instead ?

So I am really curious as to why disable the DRL's. Enlighten us. :)
 

dieseldorf

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ex- 1996 wagon, ex-2000 Jetta
billyz said:
I was just thinking this same thing. It is a safety issue. There are numerous studies that prove having lights on during daylight greatly reduce accidents.

Also, I have seen far too many idiots driving at Dusk without lights. There is no downside to using them. Why don't you disable your cell phones instead ?

So I am really curious as to why disable the DRL's. Enlighten us.
http://www.lightsout.org/faqs.html :)
 

Souzafone

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I don't know if the new model uses relays, but on the older MkIV the DRL's operated at 90% power through the switch. I was constantly replacing bulbs until the DRL's were disabled.
 

billyz

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Location
Austin
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2010 Jetta sportwagon tdi
dieseldorf said:
http://www.openroad.com.au/motoring_roadsafety_headlightssafefeature.asp

http://www.arrivealive.co.za/pages.aspx?i=1819

How effective are DRLs?
Nearly all published reports indicate DRLs reduce multiple-vehicle daytime crashes. Evidence about DRL effects on crashes comes from studies conducted in Scandinavia, Canada, and the United States. A study examining the effect of Norway's DRL law from 1980 to 1990 found a 10 percent decline in daytime multiple-vehicle crashes.1 A Danish study reported a 7 percent reduction in DRL-relevant crashes in the first 15 months after DRL use was required and a 37 percent decline in left-turn crashes.2 In a second study covering 2 years and 9 months of Denmark's law, there was a 6 percent reduction in daytime multiple-vehicle crashes and a 34 percent reduction in left-turn crashes.3 A 1994 Transport Canada study comparing 1990 model year vehicles with DRLs to 1989 vehicles without them found that DRLs reduced relevant daytime multiple-vehicle crashes by 11 percent.4
In the United States, a 1985 Institute study determined that commercial fleet passenger vehicles modified to operate with DRLs were involved in 7 percent fewer daytime multiple-vehicle crashes than similar vehicles without DRLs.5 A small-scale fleet study conducted in the 1960s found an 18 percent lower daytime multiple-vehicle crash rate for DRL-equipped vehicles.6 Multiple-vehicle daytime crashes account for about half of all police-reported crashes in the United States. A 2002 Institute study reported a 3 percent decline in daytime multiple-vehicle crash risk in nine US states concurrent with the introduction of DRLs.7 Federal researchers, using data collected nationwide, concluded that there was a 5 percent decline in daytime, two-vehicle, opposite-direction crashes and a 12 percent decline in fatal crashes with pedestrians and bicyclists.8 However, a more recent federal study concluded that DRLs have no significant effect on either of these crash types.9
5 Will DRLs shorten headlamp bulb life or lower fuel economy?
Running vehicle lights in the daytime does not significantly shorten bulb life. Systems like those on General Motors cars that use high beams are designed to operate at half their normal power during daylight hours, thereby conserving energy and reducing the effect on a vehicle's fuel economy. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that only a fraction of a mile per gallon will be lost, depending on the type of system used. GM estimates the cost to be about $3 per year for the average driver. Transport Canada estimates the extra annual fuel and bulb replacement costs to be $3-15 for systems using reduced-intensity headlights or other low-intensity lights and more than $40 a year for DRL systems using regular low-beam headlights.

1Elvik, R. 1993. The effects on accidents of compulsory use of daytime running lights for cars in Norway. Accident Analysis and Prevention 25:383-98.
2Hansen, L.K. 1993. Daytime running lights in Denmark: evaluation of the safety effect. Copenhagen, Denmark: Danish Council of Road Safety Research.
3Hansen, L.K. 1994. Daytime running lights: experience with compulsory use in Denmark. Proceedings of the Fersi Conference. Copenhagen, Denmark: Danish Council for Road Safety Research.
4Arora, H.; Collard, D.; Robbins, G.; Welbourne, E.R.; and White, J.G. 1994. Effectiveness of daytime running lights in Canada. Report no. TP-12298. Ottawa, Ontario: Transport Canada.
5Stein, H. 1985. Fleet experience with daytime running lights in the United States. SAE Technical Paper Series 851239. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers.
6Cantilli, E.J. 1970. Accident experience with parking lights as running lights. Highway Research Record 332:1-13. Washington, DC: Transportation Research Board.
7Farmer, C.M. and Williams, A.F. 2002. Effects of daytime running lights on multiple-vehicle daylight crashes in the United States. Accident Analysis and Prevention 34:197-203.
8Tessmer, J.M. 2004. An assessment of the crash-reducing effectiveness of passenger vehicle daytime running lamps (DRLs). Report no. DOT HS-809-760. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
9Wang, J.S. 2008. The effectiveness of daytime running lights for passenger vehicles. Report no. DOT HS-811-029. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.



:)
 

spee

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PA
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MkVI Golf TDI
fleuger99 said:
Why do you guys want to deactivate your DRL's so badly?
For me it is because I'd like to preserve my Xenons for as long as possible. Those suckers are expensive to replace. I'm planning on assigning DRL duty to my fogs (parking lights if I ever get around to installing a euro switch) instead of xenons.
 

mostchillin

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Location
Columbia, SC
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2010 JSW TDI
Disabling DRLs has always baffled me but I did take the time to read some of the links provided in this thread. That being said, I think a bunch of the commentary is a crock of $hit. Common sense says they work; do you own analysis and then come back and tell us that you can see a car without it's lights on as well as one with them on. Doubt it.

As for saving money... You buy a $25K plus auto and your now worried about light bulbs??? It just doesn't add up for me -- sorry. For the Xenon owners, I guess I have a little more sympathy but I would still think the cost of safety needs to be factored in.

And finally, those that want to disable them obviously don't ride motorcycles. I'm certain without my lights on my bike I would be dead by now... It's all about being seen.
 

dieseldorf

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MA
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ex- 1996 wagon, ex-2000 Jetta
This issue is almost as polarizing as the Oil Wars

I hate seeing all these cars riding around at night with only one headlight burning - - that's the collateral damage from running the headlights all the time and not having the common sense to check it 'til you fail inspection next time or get a ticket :rolleyes:
 

mostchillin

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2010 JSW TDI
Bulbs are going to burn out regardless of DRLs or not. More quickly? Obviously yes... So for the folks running around at night with one light -- DRLs don't factor into that. They either work or not.
 

dieseldorf

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billyz said:
Billy:

In the US the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a preliminary assessment of DRL effectiveness in June, 2000 as well as a followup in 2004. NHTSA's FARS data found no statistically significant benefit for DRLs in two-vehicle fatal crashes, yet NHTSA still permits high intensity, safety negative, DRLs to be installed on vehicles in the US. Why?
:D
 

dieseldorf

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mostchillin said:
Bulbs are going to burn out regardless of DRLs or not. More quickly? Obviously yes... So for the folks running around at night with one light -- DRLs don't factor into that. They either work or not.

(Groan.)

[jeopardymusic]

A bulb has a service life of 1000 hours, for example. If I use 750 of those hours on sunny days, how many hours do I have remaining for my night driving :confused: ....

[/jeopardymusic]
 

mostchillin

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Don't get me started on how the NHTSA is always correct... If they say that they don't work, then I advise everyone to disable their DRLs... :rolleyes:

I'm done with this debate as it simply defies common sense... :confused:
 

aenea

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Location
OH
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2010 JSW
1000. The halogen DRL on 2010's is run off a separate filament on the high beam bulb.

dieseldorf said:
(Groan.)

[jeopardymusic]

A bulb has a service life of 1000 hours, for example. If I use 750 of those hours on sunny days, how many hours do I have remaining for my night driving :confused: ....

[/jeopardymusic]
 

billyz

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Location
Austin
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2010 Jetta sportwagon tdi
Ha Ha,

If one study in Ten shows no statistical difference, then that negates the other Nine ? Also, It was for some types of accidents not all types .

Still, We will do what we will do, and we will justify our actions.

peace :)
 

fleuger99

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2012 Touareg TDI
My question was mere curiosity lol!

Everyone is entitled to do what they wish with their cars. Personally, I prefer the DRL and even if I own the car for 6 years and that requires a few bulbs but it saves me from one idiot driver not paying attention then it has paid for its self 1000 times over.
 

Souzafone

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It's not the expense of changing headlight bulbs, it's the hassle of changing ALL bulbs. At one point in time I had 3 MkIV's in my driveway, all consumers of all manner of bulb, headlight, tailight, any and all bulbs. I deleted DRL on my car for about a year, only feeding glass to my wife's and son's cars, before doing the other 2. Just because I can change a drivers side head lamp bulb in the dark while it's snowing doesn't mean I should. Personally, I feel it's more important to see where I'm going than it is for someone else to see me. I drive like everyone else on the road is a menace anyway, having my headlights on at less than full power doesn't increase the odds of my arriving anywhere safely, but being able to see properly does.
 

EJS

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LMAO -

Association of Drivers Against Daytime Running Lights = fail as any sort of valid data source.

Bulb life = fail (IMHO), 5 years and they never failed for me

Sunlight & glare? = epic fail, so stupid it simply makes the web site look foolish

Motorcyles? = fail, see sunlight - just freak'n stupid

Profit center = fail, like they couldn't find any other method

On the upside if your insurance company has them listed for your vehicle or even offers a discount due to having DRLs and they find out they are disabled = denied coverage, sweet!
 

danham

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mostchillin said:
... And finally, those that want to disable them obviously don't ride motorcycles. I'm certain without my lights on my bike I would be dead by now... It's all about being seen.
I'm not fanatic about DRLs either way on my car, but have chosen to disable them, preferring to use my lights when I think they should be on, at which point the lack of tail lights with DRLs is also an issue.

But I also ride a BMW F800 ST and would never disable the DRL on it, for several reasons, one of which is that unlike cars, they are the law for bikes.

Without waiting for the definitive study on DRLs and accident prevention, I know that anything I can do (including my clothing and riding techniques) to be seen will help. Experiments have shown that a standard lead pencil, held at 3/4 arm length from your face, is enough to mask a full-dress Harley.

I also haven't seen in this debate any mention of target fixation. Short version: you tend to steer toward what your eyes are drawn to. Motorcyclists know this and avoid staring at that cinder block that fell off the truck, instead looking carefully at the best route around it.

DRLs can provide a very attractive "target" and this is why many bike riders, even those who do favor DRLs, are not willing to make that problem worse by adding what are known as "modulators" (intensity varies as you ride -- a big attention getter, but therefore a huge target).

Best comment I've seen here is that you really have to drive/ride as if nobody can see you anyway, so I doubt DRLs will save you from the TXTing moron, who would have to actually look out the windshield to even see your DRLs [g].

-dan
 

MBoni

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Atlanta, GA
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EJS said:
Agreed. A miserably stupid website.
EJS said:
Sunlight & glare? = epic fail, so stupid it simply makes the web site look foolish
Anyone who has glare problems in full sunlight due to headlights is either not human, or too blind to be allowed outdoors.

EJS said:
Motorcyles? = fail, see sunlight - just freak'n stupid
Wait, someone in a car might mistake my motorcycle for a heavy and dangerous car, and thus give me more room? Wow, can I do this reliably? Can I get mistaken for a truck and be even more safe?
 

TDI-Shawn

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JSW 2010
dieseldorf said:
Heh, wow, what an assinie website. I'm thinking it's for fun and not serious (probably giving them too much credit).

No evidence? How about common sense? ;)

A car/truck with headlights on is much more visible to me and anyone I've ever met. Do you really need stats shoved up your nose about "lives saved" to like 'em. Wow.

Airplanes turn on their lights near landing time, intelligent motorcycles/motorcyclists that value their hide have them (including the cool ones that pulse), etc. etc. Yeah, none of that serves a purpose, it's a conspiracy by the companies that make bulbs, who you want you to use them more so they can sell more when yours burn out --- nice. :D
 

740GLE

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danham said:
they are the law for bikes.


-dan
Not for antique bikes, the charging system's aren't up for constant headlight use on many older bikes. Being that one motorcycle that doesn't have their headlights on could be seen as a benifit. I've had many people notice me and flash their lights when I've riden with out my headlight.
 

danham

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Location
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True about "antique" bikes, and I've somehow managed to emerge with all four limbs still intact after many hundreds of thousands of miles riding motorcycles that did not have DRLs (since 1969) and driving cars that did not have them (since 1965).

As I said earlier, I turn on my lights when the situation calls for it, not just at civil twilight. Fog, snow, rain, unexpected two-way segments in road construction, whatever the situation.

On my 2009 bike that means my choice is to leave the DRL active. On my JSW, I choose to de-activate them. With that many years and miles with zero at-fault and a grand total (pardon the pun) of only one single not-at-fault accident on my record, those choices have worked fine for me.

But I don't think it's helpful for anyone here to claim that their opinion is the only correct one or criticize someone who chooses to use/not use DRLs.

-dan
 
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dieseldorf

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Sorry. It comes down to the facts (vs. emotional opinions)

US DOT rejects Daytime Running Lights




DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration

49 CFR Part 571

[Docket No. NHTSA–2001–8876]


Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108; Lamp, Reflective Devices and Associated Equipment


AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.


ACTION: Denial of petition for rulemaking.


SUMMARY: This document denies a petition for rulemaking submitted by General Motors on December 20, 2001. The petitioner requested that the agency amend the Federal motor vehicle safety standard (FMVSS) on lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment to require the installation of daytime running lamps on passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses that have a gross vehicle weight rating under 4,536 kilograms (10,000 lbs). NHTSA has reviewed the petition and performed an extensive analysis of real world crash data. Based on the results of our study we were unable to find solid evidence of an overall safety benefit associated with daytime running lamps and are therefore denying the petition for rulemaking. The agency maintains its neutral position with respect to the safety benefits from the use of daytime running lamps.
Source document: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-15314.pdf
 
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