Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 16:15:28 -0000 From: Gary Fritz <fritzxxxnospamrii.com> Subject: Re: Daytime running lights...what's the deal?
"Jon R. Pickens" <jonrpicknospaml.com> wrote: > Hi... My 2000 9-3 convertible has DRL and "headlights ON" options on > the switch. What's the difference? > > I just figured out today that the high-beam switch does nothing while > the light switch is set to DRL, and the fog light switch works the > same. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daytime_running_lamp. DRL is the intended position during the day. The high-beam switch does nothing in this position because they don't want cars to use high-intensity lights during the day. "Headlights ON" is the normal night-time position, and allows you to use the high beams. You have to wonder why high-intensity lights are a safety problem during the day (when the ambient light is orders of magnitude higher than at night, your pupils are contracted, etc.) but they "aren't" at night (when the headlights are vastly brighter than any other light source around). But we're talking laws here, not logic. Gary