DRL's - how to turn them off!

[Dimples]

Hi everyone
first off, apologies if this is a repost, but ive searched and could only find threads from 2011

Ive recently bought a MY14 comfortline, and it has the daytime running lights on (or should i say low-beams on LOL) all the time. is there anyway of turning these off? I understand its a 'safety' item, but its annoying having my low-beam lights on 24/7 while driving - I usually have had just the parkers on in my old cars...


Cheers
James

[Guest001]

If the car has them factory fitted it is actually illegal to turn them off.
Not that it seems to have stopped some on here doing it.

Might affect an insurance claim though.

if you used to run with Parks on whats the difference????

[AndrewBurns]

I used to not like it but then I stopped caring and now my life is much better

[LukePolo]

I cruise around with my foggies on all the time. Looks nicer i think

[Diesel_vert]

The police can issue fines for the incorrect use of fog lights, so be careful.

[DV52]

Hi everyone
first off, apologies if this is a repost, but ive searched and could only find threads from 2011

Ive recently bought a MY14 comfortline, and it has the daytime running lights on (or should i say low-beams on LOL) all the time. is there anyway of turning these off? I understand its a 'safety' item, but its annoying having my low-beam lights on 24/7 while driving - I usually have had just the parkers on in my old cars...


Cheers
James

Dimples: About a month ago, I posted a VCDS tweak that enables the driver to turn-on/turn-off the DRLs on a mVII golf using the Discover Media screen. Not sure if your Polo has a Discover Media screen. If it does, then there is a good probability that the same tweak will work on your car. You can read my post at :

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f197/turning-off-daytime-running-lights-94879-2.html#post1040702

Eventhough I have implemented the tweak so that I now have the option to turn off the DRLs at will, I am very consious of the sage advice that I received from Diesal_vert (repeated in this thread about fog-lights) regarding the possible legal ramifications of doing so. For this reason, I have chosen to leave the DRLs switched-on.

[amazeer]

I understand its a 'safety' item, but its annoying having my low-beam lights on 24/7 while driving

How could it possibly be annoying?

[LukePolo]

The police can issue fines for the incorrect use of fog lights, so be careful.

I read up on this, according to Australian standard, you are able to use fog lights during the day. As soon as it's dusk, and the weather clear, they have grounds to fine you for incorrect use.

I don't know if you've ever seen a new VW Passat, during the day, they use the fog lamps as DRL's. The voltage is the same. I find this with the Polo too, people say the Polo's low beams are at a weaker voltage/dimmer state when the headlamp switch is set to 'O', I've hit it with a tester, it's the same.

If you know of something different then what i've read, please let me know, i don't want to get fined or anything as much as the next person.

[pologti18t]

From VicRoads

Using fog lights
Front fog lights are designed to better illuminate the road in fog, snowfall, rainstorms or dust clouds. They can be recognised by the low, narrow pattern of light emitted.
Road Rule 217 states that drivers must not use front or rear fog lights unless driving in fog or other hazardous weather conditions that cause reduced visibility.
Fog lights cannot be accidentally switched on. They must be switched on separate from the main beam (high beam) and dipped beam (passing) headlights.

Fog lights are designed to improve the visibility of the road directly ahead of the vehicle during fog. To work effectively these lights must be fitted with the specified globes and correctly aimed. It is now illegal to use front fog lights during normal weather conditions, as of June 2008.

The passat has a separate housing for the DRLs.

[LukePolo]

From VicRoads

Okay fair enough.

I feel as if there are too many contradicting statements in regards to use of vehicle lighting. For example, anytime within 200 metres of another vehicle, it is illegal to use high beams. VW Golf's have high beams as DRL's, at the same voltage and levelling at night when used. A definition of Daytime running lights (DRLs) from NRMA "bright, white, forward-facing lights that improve the forward conspicuousness of vehicles in the daytime, DRLs must be wired so they turn off at night time, as they are so bright they dazzle other drivers at night." tell me how many ways a driver could take that one! Golf's use the high beams, Passat's use the fog lights (although it is a different housing, it is the same globe and portrays the exact same beam as the next cars fog lights), Jetta's use a funny brighter parking light globe. So what is the difference of me turning on my fog lights?

[Tig19R]

I used to not like it but then I stopped caring and now my life is much better

I have the exact same approach. Once you stop thinking about it, it's really not an issue.

Still think it would have been nice to have an option to turn them off if wanted.

[Diesel_vert]

It's not really the insurance or regulatory aspect that worries me, so much as the inconvenience of being involved in an accident that could have been avoided had the vehicle been less inconspicuous.

I read up on this, according to Australian standard, you are able to use fog lights during the day. As soon as it's dusk, and the weather clear, they have grounds to fine you for incorrect use.

I don't know if you've ever seen a new VW Passat, during the day, they use the fog lamps as DRL's. The voltage is the same. I find this with the Polo too, people say the Polo's low beams are at a weaker voltage/dimmer state when the headlamp switch is set to 'O', I've hit it with a tester, it's the same.

If you know of something different then what i've read, please let me know, i don't want to get fined or anything as much as the next person.

For NSW, rule 218–1 states that:

The driver of a vehicle must not:

(a) use any fog light fitted to the vehicle unless the driver is driving in fog, mist or under other atmospheric conditions that restrict visibility...

Rule 214–1 defines a fog light as:

a light used to improve the illumination of the road in case of fog, snowfall, heavy rain or a dust storm.

There is nothing in the regulations which prohibits the use of fog lights during the day. It would pretty silly if there were such a rule, as fog can form at any time during the day (or night), given the right conditions.

Source: Road Rules 2008 (NSW)

Okay fair enough.

I feel as if there are too many contradicting statements in regards to use of vehicle lighting. For example, anytime within 200 metres of another vehicle, it is illegal to use high beams. VW Golf's have high beams as DRL's, at the same voltage and levelling at night when used. A definition of Daytime running lights (DRLs) from NRMA "bright, white, forward-facing lights that improve the forward conspicuousness of vehicles in the daytime, DRLs must be wired so they turn off at night time, as they are so bright they dazzle other drivers at night." tell me how many ways a driver could take that one! Golf's use the high beams, Passat's use the fog lights (although it is a different housing, it is the same globe and portrays the exact same beam as the next cars fog lights), Jetta's use a funny brighter parking light globe. So what is the difference of me turning on my fog lights?

Just as the housing for the dipped beam, main beam and direction indicator lamp is integrated, so too can the fog and daytime running lamps (if desired by the vehicle manufacturer), but each category of lamp will have their own positioning, geometric visibility and orientation requirements and specifications.

The bulb type or filament wattage does not necessarily determine the category of lighting.

The Mk6 & Mk7 Golf uses a H15 halogen bulb which has a dual filament: 15W for the daytime running lamp (full brightness) and parking lamp (reduced brightness) and 55W for the main beam lamp.

A H7 halogen bulb with a 55W filament is used for the dipped beam.

[LukePolo]

It's not really the insurance or regulatory aspect that worries me, so much as the inconvenience of being involved in an accident that could have been avoided had the vehicle been less inconspicuous.



For NSW, rule 218–1 states that:

The driver of a vehicle must not:

(a) use any fog light fitted to the vehicle unless the driver is driving in fog, mist or under other atmospheric conditions that restrict visibility...

Rule 214–1 defines a fog light as:

a light used to improve the illumination of the road in case of fog, snowfall, heavy rain or a dust storm.

There is nothing in the regulations which prohibits the use of fog lights during the day. It would pretty silly if there were such a rule, as fog can form at any time during the day (or night), given the right conditions.

Source: Road Rules 2008 (NSW)



Just as the housing for the dipped beam, main beam and direction indicator lamp is integrated, so too can the fog and daytime running lamps (if desired by the vehicle manufacturer), but each category of lamp will have their own positioning, geometric visibility and orientation requirements and specifications.

The bulb type or filament wattage does not necessarily determine the category of lighting.

The Mk6 & Mk7 Golf uses a H15 halogen bulb which has a dual filament: 15W for the daytime running lamp (full brightness) and parking lamp (reduced brightness) and 55W for the main beam lamp.

A H7 halogen bulb with a 55W filament is used for the dipped beam.

Ah! Thank you for that diesel-vert

[Dimples]

Ok ok I'll just leave them on lol. Might get some more 'white' globes - I find the stock ones too yellow that's all. But thanks for the details
James

[Guest001]

Okay fair enough.

I feel as if there are too many contradicting statements in regards to use of vehicle lighting. For example, anytime within 200 metres of another vehicle, it is illegal to use high beams. VW Golf's have high beams as DRL's, at the same voltage and levelling at night when used. A definition of Daytime running lights (DRLs) from NRMA "bright, white, forward-facing lights that improve the forward conspicuousness of vehicles in the daytime, DRLs must be wired so they turn off at night time, as they are so bright they dazzle other drivers at night." tell me how many ways a driver could take that one! Golf's use the high beams, Passat's use the fog lights (although it is a different housing, it is the same globe and portrays the exact same beam as the next cars fog lights), Jetta's use a funny brighter parking light globe. So what is the difference of me turning on my fog lights?

The standards have nothing to do with the road rules.

I don't know where you get the info on the Passat from because the current model Australian Passat has LED DRL in the edge of the headlight housing.
It has separate cornering lights to the fogs which must be switched on manually.

The rule for their use is the same in all States and is as written above.

Most DRL's are not as the NRMA describe and do not dazzle anyone.

Its the "Wanker " lights that do that, being used illegally.

Fog lights are not focused as are other lights and that's why they spray light everywhere and blind people.