Disabling Daytime Running Lights (DRL)

Hootbro · February 3, 2014

Found this little gem from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Basically it sums up DRL's as "not statistically significant" in reducing accidents. Sorta surprises me.

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811029.pdf

kstruckcountry · February 3, 2014

The sun is quite a bit brighter than DRLs, I think that's why they don't make a difference. If you can't see a pickup coming, having a couple lights on isn't going to make people see you, especially on a bright day.

I do think automatic headlights should be mandatory equipment. Some people are too stupid to turn them on when they need to be.

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StinkyCheese · February 3, 2014

I don't think lights make all that much of a difference, *my opinion*. When my dad drove a school bus he'd come home telling me stories of people hitting ones that were stopped and had the lights flashing and all that jazz, excuse given "I didn't see it," was pretty common. People just don't pay attention when they drive, personally I'd rather have any and all advantages that I can, but again that's me. Someone wants to turn them off it's their vehicle go for it, screw the govt and their silly laws!

Edited February 3, 2014 by Chevyguy85

MotoMedic · February 3, 2014

Found this little gem from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Basically it sums up DRL's as "not statistically significant" in reducing accidents. Sorta surprises me.

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811029.pdf

Yeah, I saw that report which uses data from 2001-2005. What's odd is the NHTSA's previous report, which used data from 1995-2001 says DRL's decrease accidents by 5% for vehicle-vs-vehicle and 12% for vehicle-vs-pedestrian (http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/809760.pdf). Unfortunately, the more I've read about DRL's in the US, the more I've discovered it's now a political issue instead of a safety one.

The European studies I've found (specifically Germany, Netherlands, and others having similar climates/weather with large portions of the US) have almost unanimously found DRL's to improve safety by 5 to 15% (ex's: https://www.swov.nl/rapport/Factsheets/UK/FS_DRL.pdf / http://ec.europa.eu/transport/roadsafety_library/publications/DRL_Final_Report_Oct_2004.pdf)

It seems that neither side will be able to claim victory in this debate....

...so with the OP in mind, has anyone been successful in permanently disabling the DRL's?

mcnwil · February 10, 2014

I just noticed today that my DRL's were not on and no matter what I do they will not work. I do not know if I somehow disabled them without knowing it or there is an issue with the system. The upper and lower LEDS come on when remote started but go out when the key is placed in the ignition. They come on when the fogs are activated. The manual to auto light control does not make any difference. I cannot find any other lights that are not working. I have to get the rear slider recall done so I guess I will see what the dealer say about this.

MotoMedic · February 10, 2014

I just noticed today that my DRL's were not on and no matter what I do they will not work. I do not know if I somehow disabled them without knowing it or there is an issue with the system. The upper and lower LEDS come on when remote started but go out when the key is placed in the ignition. They come on when the fogs are activated. The manual to auto light control does not make any difference. I cannot find any other lights that are not working. I have to get the rear slider recall done so I guess I will see what the dealer say about this.

During the day, they only come on when you shift into Drive.

Chris · February 10, 2014

I just noticed today that my DRL's were not on and no matter what I do they will not work. I do not know if I somehow disabled them without knowing it or there is an issue with the system. The upper and lower LEDS come on when remote started but go out when the key is placed in the ignition. They come on when the fogs are activated. The manual to auto light control does not make any difference. I cannot find any other lights that are not working. I have to get the rear slider recall done so I guess I will see what the dealer say about this.

During the day, they only come on when you shift into Drive.

Drive or out of patk. I know in past years my 04 included the DRL will come on in reverse, neutral, drive, manual-x, 3, 2, 1

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mcnwil · February 10, 2014

They are not coming on in drive or reverse. No dash light indicator either unless I push fogs. I tried every switch and button, and read the manual. I cannot think of anything else to try, any ideas?

LTZTom · February 10, 2014

Lucky you!! Let me know if you ever find out why they don't come on and maybe I can duplicate the "problem"

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MotoMedic · February 10, 2014

I do not know if I somehow disabled them without knowing it or there is an issue with the system.

Did you recently add/modify anything to do with the lighting/fuses/electrical systems?

MotoMedic · February 10, 2014

We've established that everyone has different opinions regarding DRL's.

Please stay on topic or this thread will be locked.

Thanks.

TJay74 · February 10, 2014

MCNWIL if you have a SLT truck the LED strips are the DRL on those trim levels.

mcnwil · February 10, 2014

TJay74, Understand that the led strips are my DRL's. They both illuminate with headlights on, they both illuminate when remote started and when fog lights are activated. They will not activate when truck is running in or out of gear, during this time there is no DRL green symbol illuminated in my instrument panel either. Only the bottom LED strip should be on for DRL or at least that is how my truck was.

Moto-Medic, the only work performed on the truck was the installation of the power tail gate lock. I thought about that but I did not damage any wiring, the locks functions fine, and I unplugged it and retested, no difference. I guess in theory I could have done something to a wire in that bundle under the door sill but I was extremely careful when moving them.I checked the manual for DRL operation and fuse locations. None of this helped as I could not find any fuse for DRL, just headlamps, park, tail etc. Which I saw in a few posts on here that the fuse was removed by GM. I did look in the fuse panel at many fuses for a blown one, but would almost have to pull them all to be 100% sure. I have tested all lights, blinkers, bed led's, various options and I cannot fine anything else not working. One other item to note is that I am not sure when this happened as I think I had gotten used to the green dash light and pay it no mind normally. I had also not used the truck regulary for the last few weeks making it even harder to pinpoint.It could have been this way for the past month. I was seeing them light when I remote start leaving work. Just glad at this point that I noticed it because I am finishing the HID conversion novel and wanted to order the DDM kit this week. Also the green DRL dash light lights upon startup as if all is fine with the system then goes out which is normal until you place it into drive. I cannot think of anything else to try at this point. Seems odd that they are the only lights not working, software glitch? failed relay?

04GMshorty · February 11, 2014

Only real way to gain control over your lights without the dealer is to pull the light sensor on ur dash and wire in a resistor, that will get rid of the ''auto'' feature. now on my 04 i had to pull the drl fuse and that worked. i havent dug into my 14 sierra yet, but if you guys are stating theres no fuse it may not be possible, unless the auto light mod will also disable the drl...which now that im thinking about it, it just might...i'll have to do some experimenting on mine.

TJay74 · February 11, 2014

If the DRL bug you enough have the dealer check it out. Since they are controlled by the BCM module now could have a bad BCM or one that needs to be re-flashed. With the CANBUS system now in place and be sensitive to extra "noise" when people tie things into it I would make sure if you have added anything extra to any of the circuit that you remove them and test it out.