topic Re: quick Top Gear-type question in Off-Topic

quick Top Gear-type question

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 21:32:24 GMT

I've noticed, quite recently that some modern cars seem to have what I know as 'sidelights' on, even it does warrant imho

what are they please ?

solar powered reflectors of some sort, LED, LCD, or what ?

I don't drive ..... I'm simply curious .....

Re: quick Top Gear-type question

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 21:34:30 GMT

Does this answer http://www.drivingtesttips.biz/what-are-car-sidelights-when-to-use-them.html

Re: quick Top Gear-type question

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 21:46:27 GMT

thank you BoB ..... = ..... very interesting for a non-driver like me ..... = ..... didn't know it was allowed that you could leave a car parked with its sidelights on overnight ..... eg for added security perhaps ..... & that they have minimal drain on car's battery

Re: quick Top Gear-type question

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Jul 2014 21:48:25 GMT

You're most Welcome.

Re: quick Top Gear-type question

MI5 — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 09:08:42 GMT

What you see on all new cars theses days are called "DRL's" (daytime running lights) and they are now compulsory legislation for safety - Another of the EU rulings that has filtered down to out country.
A good idea they are too....

Re: quick Top Gear-type question

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 09:14:36 GMT

thank you for that MI5 ..... it was puzzling me .... as I thought they would be running down the car's battery un-necessarily

Re: quick Top Gear-type question

MI5 — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 09:23:56 GMT

Modern car batteries are capable of holding a charge for much longer now than they used to be. Also coupled with more efficient charging and energy recovery systems so flat batteries are getting quite rare these days (not impossible, but rare ;))

Re: quick Top Gear-type question

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 09:31:19 GMT

thank you again MI5 for the info ..... no prizes for guessing I'm not a driver ..... did have some lessons in the past, in different places, & took 2 tests, narrowly failed, but for various reasons had to let driving lessons go

anyway I could not afford to run a car now ..... use one particular taxi firm when necessary

but I do like looking at the swish cars which pass, usually too fast, through town

have a good day MI5

Re: quick Top Gear-type question

MI5 — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 09:35:23 GMT

You too Jane

Re: quick Top Gear-type question

Anonymous — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 15:52:33 GMT

I have DRLs and I they annoy the hell out of me for some reason - on a bright sunny day I don't need to have lights on! Unfortunately Ford (unlike Peugeot) has designed the car so they can't be turned off. Grrrrrrrr!

Re: quick Top Gear-type question

Cleoriff — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 18:31:07 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I have DRLs and I they annoy the hell out of me for some reason - on a bright sunny day I don't need to have lights on! Unfortunately Ford (unlike Peugeot) has designed the car so they can't be turned off. Grrrrrrrr!

Agree Tracey... I love my Ford Kuga... but the side lights... not so much....

They remind me of the old model Volvo of years ago that always had the lights on ...(I am sure it was the Volvo?)

Re: quick Top Gear-type question

MI5 — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 18:33:02 GMT

They can't be turned off because legislation states that they must be on at all times.

Re: quick Top Gear-type question

Cleoriff — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 18:36:21 GMT

@MI5 wrote:
They can't be turned off because legislation states that they must be on at all times.

I understand that @MI5 ...it doesn't mean I have to like them though....

Does this legislation mean that all cars from now on will have this feature inbuilt?

Re: quick Top Gear-type question

aldaweb — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 18:37:31 GMT

On recent cars they do tend to be LED which use less power, don't have to like them more because of that though

Re: quick Top Gear-type question

Cleoriff — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 18:39:24 GMT

@aldaweb wrote:
On recent cars they do tend to be LED which use less power, don't have to like them more because of that though

Must be an age thing @aldaweb ...

Re: quick Top Gear-type question

MI5 — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 18:39:36 GMT

@Cleoriff wrote:
Does this legislation mean that all cars from now on will have this feature inbuilt?

Yes, All new cars for the past few years already have.

Re: quick Top Gear-type question

MI5 — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 18:40:38 GMT

@Cleoriff wrote:
Must be an age thing @aldaweb ...

.....partly due to old fogies forgetting to turn their lights on

Re: quick Top Gear-type question

Cleoriff — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 18:43:01 GMT

@MI5 wrote:
@Cleoriff wrote:
Does this legislation mean that all cars from now on will have this feature inbuilt?
Yes, All new cars for the past few years already have.

Oh well...it must be a female thing. I chose my car for the make, design and colour *coughs*...

I knew nothing about DLR's

Re: quick Top Gear-type question

aldaweb — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 18:50:29 GMT

@Cleoriff wrote:
Must be an age thing @aldaweb ...

You're not wrong

Re: quick Top Gear-type question

Cleoriff — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 18:59:08 GMT

@MI5 wrote:
@Cleoriff wrote:
Must be an age thing @aldaweb ...
.....partly due to old fogies forgetting to turn their lights on

I beg your pardon? I have never forgotten to 'turn my lights on' ...I can't see much without them ...