Disabling Daytime Running Lights (DRL)

LTZTom · January 30, 2014

Check the truck's manual. It will contain a fuse diagram & key, indicating what system is connected to what fuse.

Already did that...no luck.

SLESierra · January 30, 2014

Controlled in the BCM - will need a tech to disable them, you can request it if it is not a requirement in your state from what I understand, just a check box in the software

LTZTom · January 30, 2014

Controlled in the BCM - will need a tech to disable them, you can request it if it is not a requirement in your state from what I understand, just a check box in the software

Thanks!! I'm gonna try it the next time I'm at the dealer. I'll post when/if I make any headway.

Dnt · January 31, 2014

I don't live in Canada and don't believe my safety has anything to do with my initial question. Thanks for the info though.

LTZTom you must be assimilated, resistance is futile.

Northside · January 31, 2014

I'll take paying for a bulb over getting smoked by someone that isn't paying attention any day. Lots of people are too clueless to turn on their headlights in low visibility conditions.. I personally think that all cars should have them.

Well one of the character flaws a lot of we Americans have, is that we don't like other people telling us what our vehicles should have. I guess we are just rebellious by nature. Drive safely my Canadian friend.

AaronIROCZ · January 31, 2014

Hey guys, here is the link to the wiring diagram for some circuits for the 2014 trucks http://www.gmupfitter.com/files/media/photo/474/2014%20BBM%20Electrical%20section_10_18_2013_WIP.pdf

VMaxtastic · February 2, 2014

I don't live in Canada and don't believe my safety has anything to do with my initial question. Thanks for the info though.

What on earth does being to Canada have to do with it? I was first on scene to a head on collision. I guess some weird thing about seeing a few people die in front of me, and a stranger's brains, makes me extra cautious on the road. You wanna be a "rebel" and put your life in danger, go for it. Not surprised by the 'Merica! replies at all. Typical.

LTZTom · February 2, 2014

I was a firefighter for 30 years and I saw plenty of "people dying in front of me and stranger's brains". I can't think of ONE INSTANCE where daytime running lights would have made a difference!!

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MotoMedic · February 2, 2014

I was a firefighter for 30 years and I saw plenty of "people dying in front of me and stranger's brains". I can't think of ONE INSTANCE where daytime running lights would have made a difference!! Tapatalk via iPhone 5s

Not to start an argument but you, a firefighter, and myself, a medic, arrive on the scene after the accident.. that means neither of us are qualified to comment on DRL's effectiveness.

In 30 years you never had a patient say "I didn't see them"??? In my experience, that was a weekly occurrence. The original reasoning behind DRL's was to make vehicles more noticeable to other drivers. It may/may not make not make a difference in most cases, no one knows... they don't have statistics on almost-accidents. IMO, if it prevents even one in every 1000 accidents, it's a good thing.

That said, I have no issues with any owners that disable them. They're not required by law so everyone should be free to choose if they want them or not.

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Edited February 2, 2014 by MotoMedic

LTZTom · February 2, 2014

I wasn't implying that I was "qualified to comment" on anything. I just want to disable those stupid DLRs. I didn't ask for comments on how evil I am for wanting to.

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soltys · February 2, 2014

The ignorant thing about wanting to turn of the DRL's on your own truck for whatever reason, is not for your own safety - because if you don't care, who am I too. But, it's for the safety of the people coming at you because chances are, their vehicle will have them so you'll have no problem seeing them.

MikeNH · February 2, 2014

...chances are, their vehicle will have them so you'll have no problem seeing them.

Not in the US. GM is alone in the domestic brands for having DRLs across their lineup. Various Asian brands have it on some models. German stuff generally does too.

Jon A · February 2, 2014

Every head-on I've ever heard of was a case of somebody falling asleep at the wheel and crossing the center lane, or somebody so drunk they didn't know they were in the wrong lane. And they usually happen at night, when normal headlights were on. DRL's are obviously a non-issue for these.

I'd like to see some stats showing just how big a problem head-on crashes are in the daylight, with sober drivers who aren't doing something else stupid like street racing. If the odds of that happening are somewhere near those of winning the lottery, having DRL's save you from one would statistically be something like winning the lottery twice. I'm sure those numbers are published somewhere.

Dnt · February 2, 2014

I was studying my New 2014 GMC Sierra and the LED's look so COOL in the daytime that there is no way I want them off but as stated it is a personal preference. If I wanted them off they are off by golly FBI Homeland Security IRS NSA Canadian Mounties Etc be darned

MotoMedic · February 2, 2014

I wasn't implying that I was "qualified to comment" on anything. I just want to disable those stupid DLRs. I didn't ask for comments on how evil I am for wanting to. Tapatalk via iPhone 5s

"I was a firefighter for 30 years" sounds like a qualifying statement.. if not intended that way, my mistake. And I never said you were evil. I clearly stated "everyone should be free to choose if they want them or not."

Every head-on I've ever heard of was a case of somebody falling asleep at the wheel and crossing the center lane, or somebody so drunk they didn't know they were in the wrong lane. And they usually happen at night, when normal headlights were on. DRL's are obviously a non-issue for these.

I'd like to see some stats showing just how big a problem head-on crashes are in the daylight, with sober drivers who aren't doing something else stupid like street racing. If the odds of that happening are somewhere near those of winning the lottery, having DRL's save you from one would statistically be something like winning the lottery twice. I'm sure those numbers are published somewhere.

First, the general public only hears about significant accidents, involving fatalities or serious injuries. There are many, many more that most never know about. Just because you don't hear about something, doesn't mean it is or is not happening. As for day versus night stats, per the NHTSA, in 2011 there were 29,757 fatal crashes. 14,589 of them (49%) occurred during the day. 1181 of the (4%) occurred at dawn/dusk. 13,861 of them (46%) occurred at night. Also, of those 29,757 fatal crashes, only 9001 involved alcohol. (I've attached a nice little graph of La "crashes with injuries" by time of day to better illustrate the trend towards daylight accidents)

Second, I believe you're mistakenly assuming that DRL's are only intended to stop head-on collisions. There are many other types of accidents that involve the front of one vehicle striking another. One example is the T-bone-type. I worked hundreds of accidents where one driver at a 4-way or T-intersection pulls out in front of an oncoming vehicle. Often they misjudge the distance/speed of the other vehicle or don't see it at all. DRL's could help some driver's avoid these mistakes and prevent accidents.

Bottom Line - DRL's do increase a vehicle's overall visibility to other drivers.

But like I said before, it's impossible to keep stats on accidents prevented, so there's no way to know exactly how effective they are.

And again, I don't care if anyone uses them or disables them. I do however care about dis/misinformation on this forum.