Re: More on DRLs

["Fred Munro" <munrof@isys.ca>]

-----Original Message-----
From: Tim Atwood <atwood@ptc.com>
Date: Friday, March 20, 1998 3:23 PM
Subject: More on DRLs


>Lee Levitt <wheelman@shore.net> wrote:
>>No American car has *ever* had good lights. Many are designed, seemingly
>>purposefully, to collect snow. What are the designers thinking?
>>The DRL only at night question is an interesting one. I've warned my wife
>>that when she starts the car she will see the glow of her city lights in
>>the garage...but she still needs to turn on the headlamps (at night). This
>>is a really good reason not to do this, btw, if the primary (or any)
driver
>>of the car considers vehicles appliances...
>
>I had the misfortune recently of renting a 97 Pontiac Grand Am. Aside
>from all the other things wrong with it (what a POS), it had a very
>dangerous lighting setup: DRLs which were as bright as the regular
>lights at night, and interior lights which switched on automatically
>when it became dim enough. Since the lights looked the same up front and
>the interior lighted up by itself, it was very likely that the driver
>could be tooling along at night with only the DRLs on, and no tail
>lights at all, and not be able to tell without checking the light
>switch. I was appalled at how poorly the car was designed, and this
>feature underlined it.
>--
>Tim Atwood Parametric Technology Corporation DoD #1461
>Burlington, MA atwood@ptc.com AMA #360999
>1998 ZX-9R 1990 90Q20V
>
    DRL's are required by Canadian law. When the ignition is switched on, my
'91 200q illuminates the low beams at reduced output and the taillights. The
dash lights are not illuminated. Your first clue at night that you don't
have the headlights on is your inability to see the instruments!

Fred Munro
'91 200q  247k km