Running day lights

[Kees den Hertog]

If plans come through, end this year, 2008, it is a law that we should drive in the Netherlands with our lights on at daytime. Just as it is now in Scandinavien countries and Italy. No big problem with a normal car, but I don't like to drive in my 328 with the pop-up lights...All Ferraris from the 70's, (308, 328, Mondial, 348, 355, Testarossa, F 40, 456), will have the same problem. I like the lines of my car, the pop-up lights are not a sign of top design. Does anybody have a suggestion for day running lights? It should be something like Audi has, I think, a LED device in the grille, or something like that. Are there any experiences in other countries, Sweden, Denmark, Italy

[Kingpin328]

Rewire your flash lights. Probably illegal, but what police officer will know? ;

[Kees den Hertog]

I tried this last year, and yes, at least one police officer knows, he warned me, I didn't get a fine, but a warning, <your foglights are on and that is illegal...>It as on the border with Germany, near Arnhem. Nice picture by the way, I will print it and keep it in the car, yust for the occasion..

[JWA]

I put some fog lights on my 308 a few years ago because i wanted to be more visible and didn't want my headlights to be up.
I tilted them down a lot so they are not blinding to uncumming cars.
Have been pulled over twice by the police since, just had a warning, no fine.

Last week i rewired my parking lights so the headlights won't cum up when i switch them on. (See pic below)
The only thing is that i don't think they are bright enough to stand out enough.
Maybe use a set of daylight LED lights i found some on the net

[Kees den Hertog]

Hai JWA, do you have an internet adress for me off these LED devices? I am very interessed in them

[JWA]

Kees & Menno you've got mail.

These are from Autostyle, see www.autostyle.nl

SY SJ257
LED DayLight White 105x24mm Set 2 pcs (no E-m
LED witte dagrijdlampen, set a 2 stuks
Universeel/ 32,50

Buth there are others, for instance D&W in Germany www.duw.de
Hella has a nice assortment, Hella international is www.hella.com here you can choose your language.
Hella in Dutch is www.hella.nl go to "automobilist" and then "voor hen met oog voor veiligheid" for driving lights

Interesting info about the rules of using drivinglights you find on http://forum.infopolitie.nl/viewtopic.php?t=14769
Sorrry people it's just in Dutc

[Kees den Hertog]

Thanks JWA, good information! Hella looks O.K

[PaulBennett]

I get so frustrated at this because all the safety studies show that daytime headlights impairs distance judgement vision and hinders safe overtaking. Thirty years ago they issued tickets for headlights on and the politicians get on involved to screw things up. Arrgh

[Kees den Hertog]

That was 30 years ago, driving is different now, at least in Europe..............

[PaulBennett]

What is different now is the density of traffic.

What is not different is the fact that an oncoming car 300m away with large bright headlights looks like an oncoming car 200m away with small dim headlights, and judgment whether to pass or not is impaired. Lights off, their distance is easily known. So say the safety studies.

If a driver cannot see an oncoming car in daylight without it's lights on, should they be behind the wheel? Daytime headlights don't add information, they muddle it. Admittedly, I dislike popping my pods in normal daytime driving for Pininfarina reasons.

I have also modified my parking lights soas turning on without lifting the pods. I placed 2 small pushbutton switches in the small ?glove? box (left of the steering wheel) to turn parking lights on/off. The turn signals also flash both front parking, turn, and sidemarker together.

Would like to hear more about the Audi led light bar, pictures maybe. Can that really take place of daytime headlights?