The DRLs in my Elegance (next to front fogs) extinguish when any other lights are switched on. Even parking lights.

Had the odd flash from other motorists but not had interest from the constabulary (yet).

Got some smart DLR's coming out, Lexus being one of them, think the VRS could do with being brighter like the Merc's imo.

Got some smart DLR's coming out, Lexus being one of them, think the VRS could do with being brighter like the Merc's imo.

I think you can make them brighter in VCDS but they weren't designed to be any brighter.

with the DRLs, cars without foglights will make use of the high-beam running at 20-30% power.

just like the mk6 golfs.

Not on the Octavia.

Early Superbs's used dipped headlights (not main beam) running with reduced output for DRL's but have since moved to a dedicated bulb next to the fog light like the Octavia.

DRL's are not a legal requirement on the Octavia so those models without them (S and SE) will do without until the next generation Octavia is launched.

As mentioned, if you do want DRL's on the lower spec Octavia's it is still possible but they use dipped headlights.

Not on the Octavia.

Early Superbs's used dipped headlights (not main beam) running with reduced output for DRL's but have since moved to a dedicated bulb next to the fog light like the Octavia.

i don't know about the octavias, but using low beams for drls are pointless - for any car.

the whole point of a drl is to make the vehicle visible in broad daylight, to b easily spotted. the beam angle properties of a low beam projector/reflector housing does NOT achieve this. hence why the high beam reflectors r used.

the high beams direct the light much higher, and by running it at 30% power (rather than blinding anyone infron at full power), they r ideal for making the car easily visible in broad daylight.

hence why many, if not most make use of high beams for drls.

obviously this doesn't apply to high beams on cars fitted with bi-xenons.

some company/fleet cars r setup to run with low beams on everytime the car is started. having the low beams on is better than having no lights on at all for visibility. this probably wat started the "need for drls".

Edited 26 March, 201115 yr by JR RS

thanks for that, when they are enabled is that them on everytime you drive the car? i mean at night do they stay on with the headlights on? i have seen some cars with them on at night also. if they are on all the time does the bulbs last long?

cheers

They certainly do not need to be enabled on a new VRS and they are separate to the fog lights. They are a strip of LEDs which suggests they should last longer than "normal" bulbs.

I previously had a Volvo which had the headlights on all the time as DRLs and I replaced one halogen bulb after five years....

i don't know about the octavias, but using low beams for drls are pointless - for any cas.

some company/fleet cars r setup to run with low beams on everytime the car is started. having the low beams on is better than having no lights on at all for visibility. this probably wat started the "need for drls".

Cars in Sweden have been running low beam as mandatory DRLs for 30+years. We've had Volvos and Saabs set up like this in the UK for many years. I think positive results in Scandinavia with such DRLs have driven the current European adoption.

The use of reduced power high beam appears to have been a Canadian thing introduced as a sop to US car makers to reduce warranty claims on low beam bulbs if this is to be believed:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daytime_running_lamp#Canada

Edited 26 March, 201115 yr by juan27

Thanks for confirming that, looks like no DRL's for me then

If the law says that DRL's are required to be lit on all vehicles first registered on or after February 2011 then that's that. Vehicle manufacturers must fit them and they must be in operation and it cannot be left to the whim of the manufacturer or the user. The DRL's are of low power (21 watts) and not 55 watts in normal fog lights.

I took delivery of a new Octy on 10 March and the DRL's were not functioning and therefore not, strictly speaking, road legal, but I got them working with VCDS. They go out when the side/main lights and switched on.

Mac

I took delivery of a new Octy on 10 March and the DRL's were not functioning and therefore not, strictly speaking, road legal, but I got them working with VCDS. They go out when the side/main lights and switched on.

Mac, your Octavia was introduced before February 2011. It is only mandatory for new models introduced (not manufactured) after February 2011. There is no requirement for car manufactuers to retrofit DRLs into the design of existng cars - although many have done so anyway (including Skoda).

Mac, your Octavia was introduced before February 2011. It is only mandatory for new models introduced (not manufactured) after February 2011. There is no requirement for car manufactuers to retrofit DRLs into the design of existng cars - although many have done so anyway (including Skoda).

There may be some confusion (and misinterpretation) over the wording of the regulation, but see below the comment from a motoring organisation -

"Since 7th February 2011 all new cars and delivery vans will have to be equipped with Daytime Running Lights (DRL). DRL are designed to improve road safety by making it easier to spot oncoming traffic. They switch on automatically when the engine starts and turn off when the engine stops or the headlamps are turned on.

This law will not affect cars bought before this period and DRLs will not have to be retro fitted."

The difference between 'new', 'introduced' and 'registered' is not clear.

Mac

There may be some confusion (and misinterpretation) over the wording of the regulation, but see below the comment from a motoring organisation -

"Since 7th February 2011 all new cars and delivery vans will have to be equipped with Daytime Running Lights (DRL). DRL are designed to improve road safety by making it easier to spot oncoming traffic. They switch on automatically when the engine starts and turn off when the engine stops or the headlamps are turned on.

This law will not affect cars bought before this period and DRLs will not have to be retro fitted."

The difference between 'new', 'introduced' and 'registered' is not clear.

Mac

Yes, meaning that contruction cars after that date must como with DRL lights and LEDS are not mandatory.

All other cars before can have them on or not , either original or aftermarket has long as you fallow the rules of how to install.

Now, it also says that the DRL light must be shut off when dipped beam on except if used as parking lights.

Some makes aren´t fallowing this, like mercedes and volvo.

I don´t know if the VRS model, not many here, does the DRL led bar stay on, does it have parking bulb on also???

Edited 26 March, 201115 yr by alberg

The difference between 'new', 'introduced' and 'registered' is not clear.

After a bit of Googling I can quote direct from the horses mouse (so to speak):

EC Directive 2008/89/EC

Article 2

With effect from 7 February 2011 for vehicles of categories M1 and N1 and from 7 August 2012 for vehicles of other categories, if the requirements laid down in Directive 76/756/EEC, as amended by this Directive, are not complied with, Member States, on grounds related to the installation of lighting and light-signalling devices, shall refuse to grant EC type approval or national type approval for new types of vehicles[.

European directive 2008/89/EC is the one that is forcing the introduction of DRLs. The exact wording is new types of vehicles so this doesn't apply to vehicles that already have an EC type approval.

Sorry to get technical but a lot has been a lot of misinformation about this recently and various motoring organisations and the press haven't helped.

(edit: corrected forum tags)

Now, it also says that the DRL light must be shut off when dipped beam on except if used as parking lights.

Some makes aren´t fallowing this, like mercedes and volvo.

I don´t know if the VRS model, not many here, does the DRL led bar stay on, does it have parking bulb on also???

on the vrs, the led strip, used as drls, dim from sidelights and on. i.e also dipped and high beams.

the led strip "becomes" the sidelight as the parking bulb is not wired.

according to law, a drl must not remain at full power when the other lights r switched on

or

the drls must switch off.

the occy vrs certainly doesn't remain at full power.

Edited 27 March, 201115 yr by JR RS

on the vrs, the led strip, used as drls, dim from sidelights and on. i.e also dipped and high beams.

the led strip "becomes" the sidelight as the parking bulb is not wired.

according to law, a drl must not remain at full power when the other lights r switched on

or

the drls must switch off.

the occy vrs certainly doesn't remain at full power.

That´s why you see them on with reduced intensity.

Thanks

on the vrs, the led strip, used as drls, dim from sidelights and on. i.e also dipped and high beams.

the led strip "becomes" the sidelight as the parking bulb is not wired.

according to law, a drl must not remain at full power when the other lights r switched on

or

the drls must switch off.

the occy vrs certainly doesn't remain at full power.

So how come Audi's and Mercs get away with this then? :wonder:

Last week my wife was stopped by the police and was accused of driving with her fog lights on. Even when she switched the "real" fog lights on the officer did not seem to believe she was driving with Daylight Running Lights but let her carry on with a warning about driving with the fog lights on.

Can't and don't agree, sorry.

Do an internet search for daytime running lights and every site says the same thing. It's every new car used after February 7th 2011 MUST be fitted with DRLs. It doesn't make the slightest bit of difference whether the model is currently in production or just new models, its EVERY car used on IK roads from that date forward.

Skoda's decision to fit them is because they are now a legal requirement, and because any vehicle used after 7th February 2011 in the UK will no longer get type approval without DRLs fitted.

Mike

This link here:

http://www.parliament.uk/briefingpapers/commons/lib/research/briefings/snbt-01361.pdf

This will apply only to new types of vehicle, not to vehicles already in use or to new vehicles built under existing type approvals.

Yep, sorry Mike, can't agree.

Granted, the wording of the legislation is open to different interpretations.

Take the Octavia S and SE for example, they do not have DRL's. On the Scout, DRL's are still a cost option.

I can give you a list the length of my arm of new cars on the roads registered since February without DRL's.

Can't and don't agree, sorry.

Skoda's decision to fit them is because they are now a legal requirement, and because any vehicle used after 7th February 2011 in the UK will no longer get type approval without DRLs fitted.

But a car model does not get its type approval renewed. If it was type approved without DRLs unless it is significantly modified it remains type approved. The regulation says no new type approval will be granted without DRLS, ie to new models.

I guess this kind of forces the maker's hand on older models as they need to fit DRLs so they don't blatantly look like older models.

I guess this kind of forces the maker's hand on older models as they need to fit DRLs so they don't blatantly look like older models.

Quite right, Skoda's choice to fit DRL's to the Octavia is a purely personal choice and is no doubt driven by the marketing department in an effort to keep the range fresh and offer product differentiation.

Quite right, Skoda's choice to fit DRL's to the Octavia is a purely personal choice and is no doubt driven by the marketing department in an effort to keep the range fresh and offer product differentiation.

So how come Audi's and Mercs get away with this then? :wonder:

They don't! Look carefully and you will see that they dim when the main lights go on. On an Audi the relevant DRL also dims when the indicator on that side goes on so that the DRL glare does not obscure the indicator. This is the easiest way to see it dimmed since you can see clearly how bright the other DRL still shines relative to the dimmed one.

You can also set this very feature on a Å koda via the VCDS (and I have done so on mine) but to be honest the distance between the DRL on both my Yeti and your Octavias are such that there is no glare to obscure the indicators. I think I will undo this next time I get someone with a VCDS to look at my car.

You can also set this very feature on a Škoda via the VCDS (and I have done so on mine) but to be honest the distance between the DRL on both my Yeti and your Octavias are such that there is no glare to obscure the indicators. I think I will undo this next time I get someone with a VCDS to look at my car.

Interesting, I didn't know that was possible.

It amazes me how many hidden options and adjustments there are on modern cars

They don't! Look carefully and you will see that they dim when the main lights go on. On an Audi the relevant DRL also dims when the indicator on that side goes on so that the DRL glare does not obscure the indicator. This is the easiest way to see it dimmed since you can see clearly how bright the other DRL still shines relative to the dimmed one.

You can also set this very feature on a Škoda via the VCDS (and I have done so on mine) but to be honest the distance between the DRL on both my Yeti and your Octavias are such that there is no glare to obscure the indicators. I think I will undo this next time I get someone with a VCDS to look at my car.

They don#t actually look any dimmer with the headlights on. But then again the DRL's don't dim when the indicators are on with the headlights so perhaps they are actually dimmer.

I would like to be actually be able to set my DRL's to full brightness (or brighter than the dimmed setting) with the headlights on and or sidelights on and also have them dim when indicating. Anything to make me more visible as I seem to be invisible most of the time as it is...It is quite hard to notice a big shiny red car with bright LED's on the front i suppose...

They don#t actually look any dimmer with the headlights on.

On a Škoda they don't dim no, but they do on an Audi. That was my point.

Anything to make me more visible as I seem to be invisible most of the time as it is...It is quite hard to notice a big shiny red car with bright LED's on the front i suppose...

Science lesson 101, first grade I'm afraid. Look up the frequency of the colour red. You will find it is the most invisible colour on the road as its frequency means it just blurrs into any background. It is the one reason I will never ever own a red car. The few times in my life I've nearly pulled out in front of a car at a junction they have ALL been red.