DRLs?

[4two4me]

Originally Posted by august8pm

I've kept quiet long enough: That is the most ridiculous, inexcusable oversight I can imagine. For all their talk of safety, they deliberately exclude a feature that prevents accidents and say they are "looking into options for future models"? You don't need an option: you have already have a solution! Now we have to search for an after-market SAFETY feature that doesn't void our warrantee? I am astonished and profoundly disappointed in the entire brand now. Wow.

That seems a bit over-the-top when you can simply reach out and turn on the headlights yourself. What ever happened to personal responsibility? Many people seem to think the government is responsible for protecting us from ourselves.

[august8pm]

Originally Posted by 4two4me

That seems a bit over-the-top when you can simply reach out and turn on the headlights yourself. What ever happened to personal responsibility? Many people seem to thing the government is responsible for protecting us from ourselves.

Daytime Running Lights are not the same as driving with your lights on. My disappointment is directed at smart, not the government, for electing to save (at most) $20 by removing an optional safety feature that has proved to reduce accidents.

[4two4me]

Originally Posted by august8pm

Daytime Running Lights are not the same as driving with your lights on.

Yeah, having ALL your lights on is even MORE safe in such a small car.

[Dave777]

Originally Posted by 4two4me

Yeah, having ALL your lights on is even MORE safe in such a small car.

Thank you. Just turn the lights on for goodness sake.

[4two4me]

I did a little research on daylight running lights and what I found was mixed. There doesn't seem to be any evidence that they reduce overall accidents. It seems any accidents reduced by having your lights on during the daytime are offset by people forgetting to turn their lights on at night. Also, daylight running lights consume more gas and contribute more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. The amount is small per car, but it adds up if everyone is required to have them. One study I read says the U.S. would consume an additional 406 million gallons of gasoline per year if everyone had daylight running lights. Additionally, mandatory daylight running lights on all cars in the U.S. would add 8 billion pounds of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere each year.

[amoore007]

Is that 406 per year?

[4two4me]

Yeah, I just edited it.

It works out to about 2 gallons per car per year, but when you factor in ALL cars in the U.S., it's quite a lot.

[jwight]

Whatever happened to personal responsibility, indeed? Back to the OP, all smart has to do is enable the computer "switch" that runs the DRLs in Canada. Failing that, webelectric.com has a universal DRL module which will go on our smart as soon as we have it (the car, that is.) That's a personal responsibility decision on my part. Once all the Hummer, Tundra and 747 drivers have lowered their carbon emissions I'll start worrying about the impact of the DRLs on a 41 mpg smart.

[4two4me]

Originally Posted by jwight

Whatever happened to personal responsibility, indeed? Back to the OP, all smart has to do is enable the computer "switch" that runs the DRLs in Canada. Failing that, webelectric.com has a universal DRL module which will go on our smart as soon as we have it (the car, that is.) That's a personal responsibility decision on my part. Once all the Hummer, Tundra and 747 drivers have lowered their carbon emissions I'll start worrying about the impact of the DRLs on a 41 mpg smart.

Don't get me wrong. I think it should be available if you want it. I'm just saying MANDATING it might not be such a good idea, since the studies show it really has little impact on accident rates. Whenever I drive on 2 lane rural roads with a 55 MPH or higher speed limit, you can be assured I turn on my headlights during the day, no matter how large the vehicle I'm driving (though I tend to drive small ones).

[jediknight36]

Originally Posted by jwight

Whatever happened to personal responsibility, indeed? Back to the OP, all smart has to do is enable the computer "switch" that runs the DRLs in Canada. Failing that, webelectric.com has a universal DRL module which will go on our smart as soon as we have it (the car, that is.) That's a personal responsibility decision on my part. Once all the Hummer, Tundra and 747 drivers have lowered their carbon emissions I'll start worrying about the impact of the DRLs on a 41 mpg smart.

I tried going to that site and it says that it dosnt exist and the URL is for sale. I spoke with Allison at Dallas smart and she sent it over to tech. I got the impression that it is possible for them to switch it to DRL, but since they are not required to, they probably wont. Maybe Mr. Franklin Can change their mind...