[AT] tractor hauler a pain to install headlights.

Mon Jan 20 11:36:43 PST 2020

As DRL's rose in popularity in the USA, there was outcry from the
motorcycle safety community.  It varies state by state, but enough states
have required motorcycle headlights on (that's full brightness headlights,
not dimmer DRL's) for so long that motorcycles have had literally no
headlight on/off switch for decades.  Various studies show that motorcycles
are more conspicuous and safer with daytime headlights.  There was a notion
that this safety margin is eroded if everything on the road has lights on.

SO

On Mon, Jan 20, 2020 at 1:38 PM Henry Miller <hank at millerfarm.com> wrote:

> Canada requires DLR or did 20 years ago when I checked. GM asked the US to
> do the same. After years of study (probably waiting until the GM bankruptcy
> which was the same time) they released a study which showed there was no
> stastical safety difference, and when you would expect the most diffence
> you found the most difference: DRL was worse. Thus there is no requirement,
> and probably never will be.
>
> --
>   Henry Miller
>   hank at millerfarm.com
>
>
>
> On Mon, Jan 20, 2020, at 8:36 AM, Jim Becker wrote:
>
> The last car I had where I actually knew how it was wired was a ‘96
> Cavalier.  It used a relay for the DRLs that put the two headlights in
> series, giving them 6 volts each.  It may have used the hi-beams, don’t
> remember.  In any case, there was a huge difference between the DRLs and
> the headlights on full power.  Again, as you say other cars may be
> different.  I’m unaware of an actual requirement for DRLs, so there may be
> no standard for brightness.
>
> Jim Becker
>
> *From:* Brian VanDragt
> *Sent:* Sunday, January 19, 2020 8:57 PM
> *To:* 'Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group'
> *Subject:* Re: [AT] tractor hauler a pain to install headlights.
>
>
> Yes it is 80%.  There is very little increase in brightness when I turn
> the light switch on.  Maybe its different on today’s cars, mine is 21 years
> old.  My DRL’s are not separate light bulbs, they are the actual headlights.
>
> Brian
>
>
>
> *From:* AT [mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] *On Behalf Of *Jim
> Becker
> *Sent:* Sunday, January 19, 2020 9:49 PM
> *To:* 'Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group'
> *Subject:* Re: [AT] tractor hauler a pain to install headlights.
>
>
>
> Yeah, what Brian said about DRLs, except maybe not at 80%.  Automatic
> lights respond to light levels and should turn on both front and rear.
> Most if not all also have an instrument panel indicator so the driver can
> tell if the automatic lights are on.  They do not know when it is raining
> as light levels in rain are usually above the level that turns on the
> lights.  It is still up to the driver to turn on lights in the rain.
>
>
>
> Jim Becker
>
>
>
> *From:* Brian VanDragt
>
> *Sent:* Sunday, January 19, 2020 8:35 PM
>
> *To:* 'Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group'
>
> *Subject:* Re: [AT] tractor hauler a pain to install headlights.
>
>
>
> I don’t know how all the auto mode lights work, but my ‘99 Chevy Tahoe has
> daytime running lights and no auto mode.  Daytime running lights are the
> front headlights only and are always on at 80% brightness whenever the
> engine is running and the parking brake is not set.  I don’t consider these
> auto mode lights.  If I want my rear lights on and the headlights up to
> full brightness when it is getting dark or when it is raining, I have to
> turn my lights on manually.  Daytime running lights are to make oncoming
> traffic more visible in shaded areas.
>
> Brian
>
>
>
> *From:* AT [mailto:at-bounces at lists.antique-tractor.com] *On Behalf Of *Gilbert
> Schwartz
> *Sent:* Sunday, January 19, 2020 9:23 PM
> *To:* Antique Tractor Email Discussion Group; Howard Pletcher
> *Subject:* Re: [AT] tractor hauler a pain to install headlights.
>
>
>
> Howard, I am glad to hear that on your escape. The last four vehicles I
> have had would not turn on the rear lights when the auto mode turned on the
> front lights. One of those vehicles was a pickup truck. Now I am wondering
> what condition turns the lights on in auto mode. Several years ago my wife
> was driving in a rainstorm while I was behind her. When we stopped I raised
> the roof because she had no lights on. She advised me real quick "I had
> them on auto mode".
> The next time you are out in the daylight take a look at the oncoming
> traffic and see how many have lights on the front but none on the rear,
> unless of course they are applying their brakes.
> I am guessing now that the insurance explanation says it all. I thought
> for sure that EPA had something to do with it.
> I guess I am just getting too old, I am one of those people that just
> don't matter anymore.
>
> On January 19, 2020 at 8:02 PM Howard Pletcher <hrpletch at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> ????  I don't think a dangerous situation like that can be industrywide.
> My Ford Escape turns on both front and rear in the auto mode.
>
>
>
> Howard
>
>
>
> On Sun, Jan 19, 2020 at 8:50 PM Gilbert Schwartz < vschwartz1 at comcast.net>
> wrote:
>
> While we are talking about vehicle lights, please, someone explain to me
> why or how anyone would want to have lights on the front of their vehicle
> with no lights on the rear. It appears that this condition is industrywide
> and seems to be always in the "AUTO" mode on the headlight switch.
>
> _______________________________________________
> AT mailing list
> AT at lists.antique-tractor.com
> http://lists.antique-tractor.com/listinfo.cgi/at-antique-tractor.com
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> AT mailing list
> AT at lists.antique-tractor.com
> http://lists.antique-tractor.com/listinfo.cgi/at-antique-tractor.com
>
>
> ------------------------------
> _______________________________________________
> AT mailing list
> AT at lists.antique-tractor.com
> http://lists.antique-tractor.com/listinfo.cgi/at-antique-tractor.com
> _______________________________________________
> AT mailing list
> AT at lists.antique-tractor.com
> http://lists.antique-tractor.com/listinfo.cgi/at-antique-tractor.com
>
> _______________________________________________
> AT mailing list
> AT at lists.antique-tractor.com
> http://lists.antique-tractor.com/listinfo.cgi/at-antique-tractor.com
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.antique-tractor.com/pipermail/at-antique-tractor.com/attachments/20200120/bd0936e2/attachment.htm>