yn 23 - Friday, May 4, 1990 - North Shore News ASK THE EXPERT £6 ASK THE Expert is a weekly column in the North Shore News’ Automotives section. Each week a reader’s question will be answered by an expert from the British Columbia Automobile Associa- tion (BCAA). This week’s question is: Since I began driving 13 years ago | have had one set of fog lights on my @ vehicle. As [ drive a small car I feel it is important to be seen so | drive with the fog lights on during the day. At night I use them with headlights during rain, fog or snow, I have them wired so that they can switch on when the high beams are turned on. The lights are wired so they only operate with the park Jights on. Recently | was stopped for a driving infraction and was informed by the officer that it was against the law to drive with my fog lights on during the day. I asked why this is so and he said that fog lights were distracting to other drivers and that they must be wired to the headlights and only used during snow or fog. He informed me that there was a $75 fine. 1 recently read in the News that new federal laws state that all new vehicles must have daytime running lights. Could these be fog lights? Or could these be headlights on low beam? Or high-beam lights at a reduced intensity? 1 also note that daytime running lights do not have to be wired to work only with a vehicle’s park lights on. Does this override the provincial laws? Or does it mean that all 1990 cars in B.C. are breaking the law when using daytime running lights without park lights on? And if this so, according to federal law, I can use fog lights as daytime running lights. Gordon Hall, Surrey A Your question raises a number of interesting points @ about daytime running lights. The B.C. Motor Vehi- cle Act does not restrict use of fog lights to fog or snow conditions, but it would appear that there is some conflict between Canadian Federal Safety Standards and B.C. Motor Vehicle Law. On Dec. 1, 1989, Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Stand- ards (CMVSS) required all new vehicles sold in Canada to have daytime running lights incorporated in the lighting system. It is probably best if I first give an overview of the types of daytime running lights systems permissible under CMVSS: e reduced intensity high beams ¢ reduced intensity low beams e full intensity low beams when combined with tai! and licence plate lights © full intensity fog/driving/park or turn signal lights provid- ed they meet light intensity requirements (500 candela (cd) minimum to 1200 cd maximum) SAE recommended practice 5883 to ECE (Economic Commission of Europe) Regulation 19, sections five to eight. So, to answer your question, yes, fog lamps, low beams and reduced intensity high beams can be used as daytime running lights. 4.0. law requires fog lights to be wired into the vehicle’s Hehting system so that the tail and licence plate lights are also iliuminazed. However, automobile manufacturers build cars to Cana- dian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards which permit the use of fog lights as a daytime running light. CMVSS do not require the use of other lights in addition to the fog lights and this is where it differs with B.C. law. This is obviously something that B.C.’s lawmakers will have to address in the near future. Some automakers are using fog fights as daytime running light on new vehicles with concealed headlights. There may be some new vehicles that fall within this grey area of the law, but on the couple of ’90 model year cars of this type I checked, the tail and ficence plate lights were also il- luminated. Studies in Europe have proven that daytime running lights reduce daylight accident rates by 17 to 20 per cent. BCAA’s Turn On and Live campaign back in 1985 catled for the in- troduction of daytime running light systems on new cars. It makes sense that when other people can see you there is less chance of an accident occurring. Hopefully we will soon see the positive effect of the new daytime running light systems on 8.C.'s ever escalating accident statistics. If you intend to convert an older car to daytime running light, be sure to purchase a kit that complies with CSA standard D603. It should state CSA compliance on the packaging. Bob McHugh, BCAA‘s Consumer and Technical Advisory Dept. AYU TG MOTI Automakers target design - as major change for the ‘GOs ' IN THE past decade, we have seen automobile styling evolve from square, boxy, ‘folded-paper’ designs to smooth, aerodynamic shapes that resemble old- fashioned soap bars and teardrops. Streamlined shapes are rothing new, going back as far as racing cars of the early 1900s. But it wasn’t until the 70s and 80s that acrodynam- ics became an important means of reducing fuel con- sumption. en AutoMotion Wi lower a Generally, the car’s coefficient of drag, the better fuel economy it gets, assuming all other factors are equal (which they never are). Aerodynamics affect fuel consumption primarily at high speeds when air resistance is greatest. While there are other im- portant factors which affect fuel consumption such as weight, rolling resistance, engine size, and transmission gearing, much of the work in these areas has already been done. The revolution in automobile styling has just begun. Surprisingly, the stimulus for automakers to make their cars more fuel-efficient WE SURROUND YOU WITH SATISFACTION NORTH SHOR mazDa 700 MARINE DRIVE, N. GAN. We'll be open on Saturdays starting May 12 Call for appointment Genuine Mazda Parts & Accessories Specialized Service V E— S ’ DESIGN FOR the future — the Mercury Concept 50 is a look into the future of small- specialty FWD vehicles. (and aerodynamic) comes from the government. In the United States, federal iaw requires automakers to meet an overali average fuel con- sumption rating of all the cars they sell (CAFE). And each year, this rating gets tougher. Consumer preferences also have a lot to do with the way cars look today. Our tastes have evolved from the big, overweight, land yachts of the 60s and 70s to the trim- med-down, rounded-off, fuel-efficient cars of today. However, it’s hard to say whether our preferences in- fluenced automaker’s designs, or whether their designs influenced our pref- erences. Whatever the case, it is very trendy to have a car that looks like a bullet park- ed in your driveway. Car companies are hoping that your neighbor, who has a cas shaped like a brick, will feel left out of the aero revo- lution. In 1990, it’s a case of keeping up with the Jetsons. I recently had a chance to hear an address on the future of automobile design by Jerry Palmer, executive designer of General Motors Design Staff's Advanced Automotive Design Group. COMPLETE OVERHAULS * ENGINES * TRANSMISSIONS * CLUTCHES * SHOCKS OPEN MON. - FRI. 8:00 AM - 5:00. PM 987-4458 Among other automobile designs, Palmer was respon- sible for the 1982 Chevrolet Camaro, Z28, the 1984 Cor- vette, and the 1987 Chevrolet Beretta. According to Palmer, the three most important things in automobile styling are proportion, proportion and proportion. “Proportion is the key element in design. The reia- tion of the length, width ... Capilano Volkswagen. __~ is Expanding! Constiucti on Sale on. Now! ’89 VW JettaCarat Luxury sedan, auto trans. 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