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Date:         Tue, 16 Nov 1999 09:24:12 +0200
Reply-To:     Helmut.Zeidler@NOKIA.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Helmut.Zeidler@NOKIA.COM
Subject:      Re: City Lights
Comments: To: vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

>I find it strange that the high beams are used >as DRLs, all cars here in Norway >has had mandatory automatic DRLs since 1985, >and it is usually low beams or fog >lights operated at 70-100% voltage. The >requirement for DRLs are that they have >to be bulbs of at least 20w, and with yellow >or white light. All pre-1985 cars >have to use lights on at daytime as well, >one can get fined for not using >lights, with 500 crowns or $65. There are >kits available here, that makes your >low beams into automatic DRLs.

That's good to know, I never heard that I had to use DRLs in Norway. But I haven't been there sice '82. Same in Sweden, where I places a big sticker onto my speedo. But after 2 weeks I tend to ignore that sticker.

>Exactly, and studies have showed that there >are less accidents when lights are >used in daytime. That's why we've had this >since 1985.

The special on Northern countries is, that the sun is very closed to the horizont. It is very difficult to recognize a vehicle coming out of the sun. Very resonable to switch on the lights. But in more Souther countries, like Germany, there is no need to switch on lights all day long. Just the opposite: Motorcyclists switch on their lights all day long, so you can see them very quickly, even they own a narrow siluette only. If cars and trucks switch their light on, too, there are no special lights for motorcyclists. And this could be dangerous for them, not to be regodnizes as a small fast motorcycle.

>>(Some European cities have wisely chosen >>to forbid headlamps in the city, recognizing >>that they do more to blind >>oncoming vehicles than they do to illuminate >>roads that are sufficiently >>illuminated by street lamps).

>I have never heard of this, and I have neither >felt blinded by other cars >headlights in traffic. (Not speaking from the >Vanagons high view point either)

In Italy and France it is allowed to move a car inside a city with the 5 Watt headlights on only, if steet lights iluminates the scenery. But it is not forbidden to use the 45 (55) Watt low beams. This makes sense and I switch off the low beams while driving in those areas.

Regards Helmut '80 Vanagaudi


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