Since my car doesn't have daylight running lights, for a while now I've been switching on my dipped headlights during the day to make myself more visible in less-than-ideal conditions (like low glaring sun or a gloomy day with drizzle/light spray, rather than the sort of heavy rain when you're an idiot not to have your headlights on). To my eyes cars with DRLs are a little more noticeable in the mirrors in those condtions, and I'm trying to achieve the same thing - make myself a bit more noticeable to people with dirty windows, dodgy eyesight etc. so they're less likely to fail to spot me and pull out on me.

Headlights do feel like overkill sometimes though. Especially so since I switched from standard H4 bulbs to Nightbreakers, seeing as they're a hell of a lot brighter and also have a shorter lifespan.

I often see people without DRLs put on their sidelights in those conditions, but the majority of cars you see driving around on a gloomy day with sidelights on... well, they might as well not bother as they're so dim. It barely makes them any more noticeable at all.

My thinking is to upgrade the bulbs in the sidelights to something brighter than the current feeble yellow glow, but I can't find much good info out there as most people swapping sidelights mainly seem to do it to improve the looks. Ideally I'd like something that's a lot more powerful than the current bulbs so I can be seen, but is still road legal and doesn't dazzle other drivers. I don't want to go down the route of fitting aftermarket DRL kits. There are LED sidelight bulbs but I've read bad things about the internals melting from the heat of uprated headlights. And I don't want bulbs that have to be swapped out at MOT time because I know I'll forget!

Any thoughts or ideas, guys?

I just drive around with dipped beam on all the time. It helps that both our cars turn off the lights with the engine, so the switches never get touched

 

You'll probably struggle to find any useful sidelight bulbs as they're just not designed for the job, which is why you have read about uprated ones melting the housing. I think the standard ones are only 5 watts. Sidelights are pretty much just there as a legal requirement and nothing more.

^^^^^What he said. My IAM observer in circa 2005 questioned why I drove with sidelights on in the height of summer. Upon replying "to increase my visibility to others", his response came "if you're going to make a statement, make it a bold one".

Since then I've driven on dipped headlights all the time.

With the lack of DRLs (and her having a great memory ) I've coded the wife's Touran to Scandinavian settings meaning all front facing lighting (and rear lights) comes on with the ignition too.

Just on the OP's point about Dipped Headlights (& Sidelights) being possible 'Overkill' during the day,

they might be overkill as Dipped Beam in the dark as well then, to other drivers and road users.

 

Gloomy days even if just light drizzle / spray are really  Dipped Headlight days IMO,

& not Daytime / Daylight Running Light time.  Or even sidelights with Brighter Bulbs days.

 

Not being able or wanting to use bulbs because of short life spans is something i really find amazing these days.

Penny pinching on using headlights because they might need replaced often.

Edited 17 November, 201510 yr by goneoffSKion1

I have Osram NB ultimates fitted and drive dipped beam on all day regardless of weather.

if nothing else if the worse happens and some blind dipstick drives into me - well mr insurance man/ officer/ judge , i dont know how he didnt see me, i had my lights turned on...

Ive got some LED's in the bike headlights that are super bright.

I still use headlights all the time though. Its the increased surface area and the angle that it can be seen that makes me use the headlights too.

But different headlight clusters are different, of course.

Im not a fan of DRL's or driving with headlights on in the day for cars. Purely because youre making bikes blend in again, like they did when everything had its headlights off in daytime.

Edited 17 November, 201510 yr by fabiamk2SE

This is an argument I don't get.

 

If a biker is being masked by a car...then there's a car coming and you need to be careful of that anyway?

This is an argument I don't get.

If a biker is being masked by a car...then there's a car coming and you need to be careful of that anyway?

Its more that people dont look properly. This is why so many pull out on bikes to start with. 'Sorry mate, i didnt see you'

If theres lights on every car, people get used to seeing lights, Still not looking properly.

So the the bike isnt standing out anymore as the 'beam of light' that catches your eye and makes you think twice.

I would be astonished to hear if people who pulled out in front of cars say 'well, I saw him, but pulled out anyway'. I'd expect there's a good bit of SMIDSY to all vehicles. I suppose its just a bit more dangerous for bikers when they're on the receiving end. I would still think there would be a net reduction in total accidents if everyone had their lights on, as the ratio of cars to bikes is large. Particularly so in poor weather, where too many people have no lights and are difficult to see. Yeah, sorry mate, I didn't see you AS YOU HAD NO BLOODY LIGHT ON IN THICK FOG YOU MORON.

 

Having said all that, I have far too many times held eye contact with someone at a junction or roundabout where they just decide to pull out anyway, presumably because they see I'm watching them that I can stop for them.

I understand that the W5W sidelight bulbs in a MkI Octavia are housed inside the dipped beam headlight, seen here just under the cap over the dipped beam bulb?

 

 

Due to the size of the hole in the reflector it is going to be difficult to get a brighter LED in there as most of them are quite fat.

 

As you aren't keen on aftermarket DRL's I'm assuming the idea of aftermarket headlights with integrated DRL's also do not appeal?

 

 

I would be astonished to hear if people who pulled out in front of cars say 'well, I saw him, but pulled out anyway'. I'd expect there's a good bit of SMIDSY to all vehicles. I suppose its just a bit more dangerous for bikers when they're on the receiving end. I would still think there would be a net reduction in total accidents if everyone had their lights on, as the ratio of cars to bikes is large. Particularly so in poor weather, where too many people have no lights and are difficult to see. Yeah, sorry mate, I didn't see you AS YOU HAD NO BLOODY LIGHT ON IN THICK FOG YOU MORON.

Having said all that, I have far too many times held eye contact with someone at a junction or roundabout where they just decide to pull out anyway, presumably because they see I'm watching them that I can stop for them.

People look, but something doesnt click in their head, so they go anyway.

Trust me. Ive had it. Made eye contact and everything.. Then theyve just gone. Straight infront. ive even smashed into one on a bike.

Theres something about a bike, the frontal area is small, and we need all the help we can get to get noticed.

I ride a bike and a car, and the amount of times people pull out or do something stupid whilst im riding the bike is much greater. You really have to have your whits about you, even if youre just going the same speed as everyone else on the road.

Lighting everything up, isnt making bikes stand out. Back to square one.

Exhaust pipes help. Some dont like em, but the sound does catch peoples attention

Just do what a small minority of bikers do round here, ride everywhere with main beam on instead, sure to outshine those pesky cars and their DRL's!

 

The issue is that as I can't see anything at all as they approach me then they are more likely to be chewing my front grill and windscreen than if they had normal dipped headlights on.

Just do what a small minority of bikers do round here, ride everywhere with main beam on instead, sure to outshine those pesky cars and their DRL's!

The issue is that as I can't see anything at all as they approach me then they are more likely to be chewing my front grill and windscreen than if they had normal dipped headlights on.

Yeah im not into that.

Very difficult to judge speed if youre dazzled isnt it

OP - A good idea as many have had before, including me. unfortunately not a practical option.

 

I have found some canbus friendly led replacements and whilst they are brighter than normal w5w bulbs they are in no way bright enough to be used as DRL's.

 

Your rear lights will be on in this situation anyway, so you may as well use your headlights. It is a pretty crappy set up on these Skoda's IMO.

Sidelights no good other than for parking regs.

My audi has proper switchable DRL's and even my old 1994 Honda accord, when the sidelights were switched on with the engine running, it automatically switched to a drl type of light. I cannot remember exactly the set up, but probably a reduced dipped beam.

 

As regards Motor cycling, I have lights on my MTB that are brighter than some motor bike lights, and if I rode, I would fit at least one of these to my bike.

A torch costing circa £5 to £10 and an 18650 lithium battery could save your life.

I do use it in flashing mode on the road in daylight and it catches peoples attention. I do not think it is blinding, although it is bright enough to be if not carefully aimed. If you want to argue that this is, or would be illegal, if it kept me alive I would worry about the legality if & when it arose.

 

Also if drivers take no notice of your bike light now it may actually help if cars have their lights on all the time in the future. Maybe?

I did see a programme the other day where a Biker got ran into, but he set off that fast that the driver had no chance of seeing him. The driver was stuck at a hatched crossing waiting for it to clear so he could go and the biker courier was 10 yards to his left. They both set off at the same time but the driver moved about one yard and the biker was in front of him.

OP - A good idea as many have had before, including me. unfortunately not a practical option.

I have found some canbus friendly led replacements and whilst they are brighter than normal w5w bulbs they are in no way bright enough to be used as DRL's.

Your rear lights will be on in this situation anyway, so you may as well use your headlights. It is a pretty crappy set up on these Skoda's IMO.

Sidelights no good other than for parking regs.

My audi has proper switchable DRL's and even my old 1994 Honda accord, when the sidelights were switched on with the engine running, it automatically switched to a drl type of light. I cannot remember exactly the set up, but probably a reduced dipped beam.

As regards Motor cycling, I have lights on my MTB that are brighter than some motor bike lights, and if I rode, I would fit at least one of these to my bike.

A torch costing circa £5 to £10 and an 18650 lithium battery could save your life.

I do use it in flashing mode on the road in daylight and it catches peoples attention. I do not think it is blinding, although it is bright enough to be if not carefully aimed. If you want to argue that this is, or would be illegal, if it kept me alive I would worry about the legality if & when it arose.

Also if drivers take no notice of your bike light now it may actually help if cars have their lights on all the time in the future. Maybe?

I did see a programme the other day where a Biker got ran into, but he set off that fast that the driver had no chance of seeing him. The driver was stuck at a hatched crossing waiting for it to clear so he could go and the biker courier was 10 yards to his left. They both set off at the same time but the driver moved about one yard and the biker was in front of him.

Bloody good arent they those torches. Ive got a Fenix PD32 for work. About 300 lumens i think. Its not dipped though, so i imagine it could be quite dazzling.

And yes i agree with the speed. Setting off at such a speed can catch people out, so its worth thinking ahead.

I mean, most bikes will do 0-60 in 3 seconds or so. People just dont expect you to pick up speed that fast. Which is fair game really.