What is it with Toyota DRLs?
#16
Lexus Champion
I leave mine on Auto, and if I switch off the car with the headlights on, I either lock the car twice with the fob or turn the headlight switch to Off and return it to Auto; either of these actions turns off the headlights immediately rather than the 30seconds to 1 minute.
#17
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
This doesn't explain the pure stupidity of people who can't even notice that the road is pitch dark in front of them.
#19
I agree with you, but the DRLs on so many cars have gotten so bright that I think drivers mistake them for actual headlights. My Audi DRLs are so bright that I probably wouldn't need headlights to drive. Go figure... the DRLs were meant to improve safety and they are actually impeding it.
#20
Never paid attention to the brand, just because of this thread noticed 4 cars on my commute home and non of them were Toyota or Lexus.
#21
Audi, for example, has a thing where if it's dark outside and you don't turn on your headlights, the instrument cluster will not be lit (even if it's configured to be lit). This is to remind the driver that their lights are not on.
On most Toyotas/Lexuses for the US market that don't have a switch related to DRL, you can turn it off with Carista. For Canadian-market cars, that's usually not an option.
On most Toyotas/Lexuses for the US market that don't have a switch related to DRL, you can turn it off with Carista. For Canadian-market cars, that's usually not an option.
#22
Lexus Test Driver
Definitely something to do with the gauges being lit all the time. On older cars, when it's dark outside, you were forced to turn on dipped beams to see the gauges. With automatic lights it's even easier to make a mistake - you expect the dipped beams to turn on in the dark but they don't because the light stalk could've been set away from Auto.
The only way to tell is if the small green headlight symbol is turned on. Then again, that symbol is also on with parking lights on and dipped beams off. I've made this mistake a lot of times. There should be a separate symbol for dipped beams on.
The only way to tell is if the small green headlight symbol is turned on. Then again, that symbol is also on with parking lights on and dipped beams off. I've made this mistake a lot of times. There should be a separate symbol for dipped beams on.
#23
Lexus Champion
Cars are smarter now. I think showing a visual warning on the instrument cluster reminding the driver the headlights are not on after dark would be beneficial for cars that have auto headlights but the driver has them in the off position.
#24
Pole Position
I see mostly the new Accords driving around with just the LED DRLs at night. It might be because the LED's are "bright" enough where it may seem like the headlights are on? People these days don't look for that headlight symbol on their dash anymore.. They could easily get into/cause an accident because their tail lights are not on, especially on the freeway.
#25
Pole Position
I agree, taillights should be included in DRL for reasons stated.
#26
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
I agree with you, but the DRLs on so many cars have gotten so bright that I think drivers mistake them for actual headlights. My Audi DRLs are so bright that I probably wouldn't need headlights to drive. Go figure... the DRLs were meant to improve safety and they are actually impeding it.
And, in all fairness, I see people (1) without DRLs at all driving down unlit suburban streets with no headlights, and (2) in older cars that I know do not have IP backlighting doing the same thing. I understand that the modern IP has given people this "impression" that their lights are on, but it's not a license to just stop using your brain.
Automakers could add some "indicator" or "warning"--but there would still be people who don't know what it means, or don't notice it--just like people that blind me with their high beams. There's a blue indicator in their instrument panel--why are they driving around in heavy traffic with their high beams? Because they are clueless. My local Walmart has a sign on the door when you come in reminding customers not to forget their children in the car.
Last edited by tex2670; 01-17-17 at 10:39 AM.
#27
Backlit clusters and lit display radio screens are the main culprit. I see this everywhere, last night even a new 3 series wagon.
I haven't been in a VW in a while... but I seem to recall that the backlit gauges on the VW would darken if it was dark outside, to help indicate that your headlights weren't on yet.
Plenty of cars have auto headlights, but they also need the control to be set on auto, and not on off.
I haven't been in a VW in a while... but I seem to recall that the backlit gauges on the VW would darken if it was dark outside, to help indicate that your headlights weren't on yet.
Plenty of cars have auto headlights, but they also need the control to be set on auto, and not on off.
#28
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
Backlit clusters and lit display radio screens are the main culprit. I see this everywhere, last night even a new 3 series wagon.
I haven't been in a VW in a while... but I seem to recall that the backlit gauges on the VW would darken if it was dark outside, to help indicate that your headlights weren't on yet.
Plenty of cars have auto headlights, but they also need the control to be set on auto, and not on off.
I haven't been in a VW in a while... but I seem to recall that the backlit gauges on the VW would darken if it was dark outside, to help indicate that your headlights weren't on yet.
Plenty of cars have auto headlights, but they also need the control to be set on auto, and not on off.
#29
The DRLs in the A4 are amazing. They wrap around the entire headlight and they are bright, so yes... especially at dusk they light up the road.
#30
Lexus Test Driver
As for parking lights, the ES doesn't have any. The light stalk position after Auto dims the DRLs and turns on tail lights. On Auto, this setting never gets used, so it's either DRLs only or dipped beams and tail lights.
Would it be a huge distraction if cars had front *and* rear DRLs? That would at least stop drivers from going around at night with only front DRLs on.