DRL / Daytime Running Lights / Driving Lights

[Corey_R]

Golf GTD and GTI have foglights standard. Golf R does not have fog lights, but has dedicated DRL LEDs.

Fog lights can be fitted by dealers if you really wanted them...

[Ryan_R]

I've survived the fog in other cars without special lights (plus the normal headlights are 18 years old and not brilliant), so I'm sure I will be ok without them on the Golf It's more about other cars seeing me I guess (esp with the Shark Blue colour).


We had some heavy fog around S.E. Melbourne last week in the morning, plus it's pretty regular if you head up into the hills east of Melbourne (i.e. Belgrave, Healesville) on cold winter mornings

[Maverick]

Whilst it may bug you, there have been numerous studies all over the world that having Daytime Running Lights does make cars more visible during the day, even in countries such as Australia. Hence why it has been law on Motorbikes for years now. Just do a search on "Daytime Running Lights Australia" on google and see how many results come up.

Research has shown a minimal impact on safety in non nordic countries and this impact dimishes over time as road users become accustomed to them.

DRLS for motorbikes are no longer required IIRC as accidents increased after the introduction as it was harder to calculate the distance when you were approaching a motorbike.

Telstra activated headlights on it's fleet many years ago but found that accidents dropped off for a short time as people were not used to seeing headlights on but the accident level soon went back to normal. They no longer have headlights wired to the ignition.

I won't bother posting links as all of them support the use of them for safety.

Neither will I but I posted a lot of info on this forum or the golfmkv australian section a while back.

[Brian]

Finally it dawned on me that these clowns are providing you a very useful service. Given that it is illegal to use them when not in FOG - it tells you that these cars are not Police cars coming at you with a radar. Now there's a tip

What a great revelation Logger! , you are a genius. I continuously moan when others have their fog lights on in non fog conditions, though I now leave my DRLs on all the time. Call me a hypocrite, but the DRLs seem less "wankerish" than fog lights without fog

[Stoney!]

I was pulled into an RBT one night, went up to the last officer at the front of the line. I did my biz he said no probs but can you turn your fog lights off thanks. I said they aren't on.... He replied saying they were as I drove in. I was like "ohhhh if you look when I turn the wheel the fog light on that side comes on"

Officer walkts to the front of the car, asks me to do it again, see his eyebrows raise and he says "oh, thats pretty awesome, have a good night"

Stoney!

[stomper]

Running Lights Change?

Sorry if this has been asked before - I did a search but couldn't find an answer.

I recently took delivery of a new GTI. When you turn the headlight switch to the "0" position the head lights don't turn off.

I only noticed this after I had rear parking sensors fitted as previously (all of 1 week) I had the switch in the Auto position and the lights were on all the time in that position.

I asked the service department and I was told that they all function this way. I don't know if I believe that as I haven't noticed other Golfs getting around with their lights on during the day.

Any ideas if there has been a recent change? During the day, should the headlights be on even in the Auto position?

Thanks

[pologti18t]

I asked the service department and I was told that they all function this way. I don't know if I believe that as I haven't noticed other Golfs getting around with their lights on during the day.

Look harder

[Ryan_R]

All the new Golf's have Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) which are your parkers. A study in Europe found that they increase others visibility of you and help reduce accidents. Of course the latest more expensive cars use LED DRLs now.

Look in the Official VVW VCDS thread for the setting to disable them if you wish, although I personally don't recommend it. You'll need to borrow or buy a VCDS cable though.

[epicmac]

I think you can turn them off in the menus under lighting (or similar, can't quite remember). At least I can on my Mk6 Golf.

[Ryan_R]

Not all Golf's have it, guess it depends on MY. I don't have the option.

[AdamD]

When you turn the headlight switch to the "0" position the head lights don't turn off.

If it is DRLs you're referring to, they can be disabled - there's an option in the MFD for MY11 and after. (Prior to that there was a sequence using the indicator stalk to enable/disable them. Check out the manual.)

If you're talking about your full headlights (complete with tail lights, dash lights, etc), then you may have an issue with your light sensor.