Arn't standard bulbs like 6-12 dollars. So what if they burn out once a year. That's not a big cost. Are they that hard to replace that this is even an issue?
My Bonneville Still has the original headlight bulbs, both of them and one of the fog light bulbs is still original. The other fog light and every other bulb has been replaced at least once. This car now has 205K miles and it's 12years old.
I like DRL keeps me out of trouble. I've been pulled over 3 times for headlights not being on. I didn't have any problem seeing so I would forget to turn them on. So if I have to replace the bulbs a few times more, I'm ok with that.

quackrstackr,
There is a difference in output on mine. I'm not sure maybe truck you where comparing the output in was wired up wrong?

 

I would hope not.. they were wired up in the car at the factory, it's not an aftermarket rig.

Bulbs for it are $12-$14 apiece.

As Chris said, it's not really the burn time, but the # of times off and on are a factor. High intensity bulbs are worse than others (spot lights for instance are actually measured in heat cycles and not hours of life). With DRL's every time you turn the key you turn them off or on. I routinely cycle them 4 to 6 times more per day than I would if I had to switch them myself.

There is going to be an exception for everything. My 8 year old truck with original headlights, battery, belt and hoses after 127k miles was one of them. Sure wish this truck was like that one was.

 

I suppose in Kentucky the local police may not stop you for a blown bulb, so the bulb may be blown for five years and thus you see it a lot.
Feds mandate different levels of brightness for DRL.
Not that it is relevant. Even on full bright the lights should last roughly 5-7 years driven two hours every day. That is far more driving than most people outside of California ever do.

Rocks sell 100 times as many headlights as wear does.
Even the ones with plastic covers and inner bulbs die from rocks. When a rock hits a bulb the shock/jolt tends to ruin a bulb. The glass ones lose vacuum and the separate bulb models get moisture into the inner bulb after a strike.
Leaving the lights on can cost you a very tiny amount of gasoline though.
The light on when wipers are running is another law we have here, real pain.
Add that to the 'safety zones' where you are required to turn on the lights and just avoiding one ticket will pay about ten headlights and five years of DRL used gasoline.
So it's not a bad idea.


I’m mainly interested due to the roughly 4 million illegals I share the road with on any given day. Drinking and driving among our ‘visiting’ population is endemic. About one in three is under the influence during any traffic stop. Only a quarter of those are legally drunk. The other three quarters are just buzzed, not a crime in California.
Anything that makes the truck more visible is worth while…

Chris

 

Oh, I forgot. Everytime I unlock my doors it turns the lights on to. With or without DRL it cycles them to.

 

Put somthing over that red blinky thing..........

 

I wanna do this..

 

Isn't your keyless just set to flash the parking lights? Most don't use the headlights themselves.
You could switch that function off if it worries/bothers you.
Chris

 

mine turns the lights on as well

and i dont see a point to drl's, if someone cant see your truck but can if the lights are on then they shouldnt be driving with that bad of vision....and i see TONS of chevys with 1 drl out, and see at least a couple burnt bulbs every night, there is actually a game where when you see a car with 1 head light you yell out "sex" (not sure why that word) and hit the roof last person in the car to do it has to remove an article of clothing

 

Headlights and Interior come on with a time delay. The parking lights flash twice. I like that function. I was just pointing it out.

 

Ask your insurance company. They give discounts in many places for DRL. Canada requires them. There are fewer accidents with DRL equipped cars. And as I say, the law requires your lights on when wipers are working or on any dangerous stretch of road.
Wonder why that is if it doesn't make a difference?
Since California has the largest illegal driving population and the largest senior driving population being seen by people is a big plus.

So in your part of Arizona the cops don't stop for missing headlights? You really rural?


Funny, the two who are against DRLs are in low population density states. Kentucky 4 million, Arizona 5 million. California we are crowded with 38 million plus 4-9 million illegals depending on who you believe.
Plus in California we drive an average of 3 times as many miles as Arizona, 6 times as many miles as Kentucky per household.
Traffic density is 12 times and 8 times respectively.

I think those things may make the difference.
Chris