Holding it for a few seconds defaults it to the day-time brightness. You push the "-" button to go back to nightime brightness.

 

but in the in pre 04s, the brightness returns to default settings if you turn the car off. the 04 remembers the setting.

 

Let's assume for a moment that both studies referenced are right: DRLs reduce highway accidents by 28%, and the cost of keeping DRLs on all the time is $600 million per year.

According to data available from NHTSA (requires some searching for a 2003 report), the total estimated costs of motor vehicle accidents in 2000 was $230.6 billion. If the first study is right, then, implementing DRLs would result in 28% fewer accidents, and assuming an equal distribution of cost to accidents, this translates to a savings of $64.57 billion per year in accident costs.

Subtracting the cost of running DRLs each year at $600 million, implementing DRLs still saves $63.97 billion dollars in accident costs each year.

If you believe the studies referenced, that is.

Now, admittedly, this number is inflated because it includes both single and multiple vehicle motor vehicle crashes, and DRLs only help prevent multiple vehicle crashes (if you believe the study). So looking at another set of data from the same report: 18957 people were killed in multiple vehicle accidents in 2003. If 28% fewer multiple vehicle accidents means 28% fewer fatalities, that's a savings of 5308 lives. How much is a life worth? If a human life is worth more than $113,037.78, you make up the operating costs of DRLs just in fatalities alone.

If you believe the studies. Given any data, you can torture it enough that it will talk, and it will say anything you want.

 

Next question: Can we get the Canadian DRL relay and install it in our cars?

I did this on my '96 M Miata - I had a Canadian Miata.net member get one from his dealership and mail it to me. It was a simple plug in operation under the dash. On my SVT Contour you removed a shorting plug from the fuse/relay box and installed a relay and you got "Canadian" DRLs. My BMWs could be programed on at the dealership. I rewired the OEM fogs on the RX-8 to come on with the ignition a couple of weekends back and I would love to have DRLs on the S.

I use KisanTech headlight and tail light modulators on the motorcycles to make them stand out even more than just running the lights.

Dennis

 

Of course, you can. However, it's not as simple as your Miata or other examples. The system used on the Canadian S2000s consists of a DRL module and several switches, relays and wiring harnesses. This was discussed a couple of years ago (funny how this topic cycles in and out) and it was determined that it would cost you hundreds of dollars to do the addition (including labour at the dealer). The system must infiltrate the ignition, park brake, speed sensor.
A simple 50 buck DRL module available in the aftermarket is a far cheaper way to go. It simply infiltrates the highbeam circuit and ignition. You turn on the car, the lights come on. I won't care about the hand brake or the need to get a speed signal (I have no clue why the OEM DRLs need a speed signal anyway).

 

I keep mine on because not only is the car small and want people to be able to see it, the HID lights just look awesome. The car just looks that much better when they're on.

I drive with my lights on >95% of the time

 

The silliest thing IMHO, I see on roads are people driving with their parking lights on (usually as the sun is setting). In my view, if it is dark enough for you to put your parking lights on, it is dark enough to have your normal headlights on.

 

Lots of people and lots of judgements.
There are very different driving conditions and having a narrow opinion and thinking it applies to everyone or that others are "dumb" or "stupid" because they choose to do things differently?!

I turn mine on when I feel that improved visibility to others would be a benefit. I turn them off when I feel it's a waste of gas and bulb life. And I'm not buying the "danger" of nonbraking tails being on... as long as your bulbs aren't dim, burnt out, or your car is dirty.

 

How much gas are we talking about here by having them on though? I get 24-26 MPG in the city, and around 32 MPG on highway and I always have mine on.

 

Absolutely! run your headlights whenever you drive, a few years riding my street bike taught me this.