Poor vision of instruments during daylight hours

[AndrueC]

1 hour ago, Haliotis said:

Possibly worse as we grow older, but our pupil irises close to adjust to the brightness, which adversely affects our ability to see that which is in shadow.

That sounds plausible but at 57 years old I'm no spring chicken 🙂

On the other hand I almost always drive wearing sunglasses - even on relatively dull days. Perhaps that mitigates the problem.

[Haliotis]

1 hour ago, AndrueC said:

That sounds plausible but at 57 years old I'm no spring chicken 🙂

On the other hand I almost always drive wearing sunglasses - even on relatively dull days. Perhaps that mitigates the problem.

I find that wearing sun glasses does also generally darken the rest of the visual field, except that they do provide visibility where direct glare would otherwise detrimentally obscure ones vision.  To the point where the unlit speedo dial is almost a blank disc, which would not be the case if the dial was fully illuminated.

Our daughter and her husband have just bought a 2024 Hyundai, and the speedometer gives a large digital figure for the mph, instead of an analogue dial.  Now that is common sense - the same condition applies on our other daughter’s BMW X3.

[alan333]

3 hours ago, Haliotis said:

 

Our daughter and her husband have just bought a 2024 Hyundai, and the speedometer gives a large digital figure for the mph, instead of an analogue dial.

You can set the display between the dials of your C-HR to be a large digital figure for the mph, along with remaining range.  It's on the first icon (the one with the car and the small letter i), and it's the third page down.

[Haliotis]

1 hour ago, alan333 said:

You can set the display between the dials of your C-HR to be a large digital figure for the mph, along with remaining range.  It's on the first icon (the one with the car and the small letter i), and it's the third page down.

That would suit me fine, Alan.  But i notice that your C-HR is a 2024 model.  Is this facility available on a 2021 car?

[alan333]

Just now, Haliotis said:

That would suit me fine, Alan.  But i notice that your C-HR is a 2024 model.  Is this facility available on a 2021 car?

Yes, see pic.  We still have a 2021 Orange Edition and, until recently, a 2021 Excel.  (all the advice I’ve given to you relates to your 2021 Dynamic). 

[Haliotis]

Thanks for that, Alan.  Will have a play tomorrow and see how I get on.  If it works, I can forget about the speedo lighting, I reckon, if the digital reading stays on screen when other functions like cruise control with distance from vehicle ahead are operating.

[Haliotis]

Alan, you are a star!  Amended the MFD to show digital mph.   Great.  Not bothered about instrument panel illumination any more - the digital display more than solves my problem.  Did a short trial run, and engaged cruise control with vehicle spacing active.  On engagement, the screen changed only momentary, then visual digiotal speed returned.

I assume that, unless I wanted to change it back, this facility will remain active - haven’t switched back on again to check this, but reinstating it would not be difficult - now that I know how 😀

[alan333]

16 hours ago, Haliotis said:

Alan, you are a star!  Amended the MFD to show digital mph.   Great.  Not bothered about instrument panel illumination any more - the digital display more than solves my problem.  Did a short trial run, and engaged cruise control with vehicle spacing active.  On engagement, the screen changed only momentary, then visual digiotal speed returned.

I assume that, unless I wanted to change it back, this facility will remain active - haven’t switched back on again to check this, but reinstating it would not be difficult - now that I know how 😀

Result!!

[Emma Smith]

I have a Proace, the model 6 months before mine has buttons to dim/brighten the display. The new model doesn't have these and can see no way to dim the screen. Working nights this is a pain

[Haliotis]

12 hours ago, Emma Smith said:

I have a Proace, the model 6 months before mine has buttons to dim/brighten the display. The new model doesn't have these and can see no way to dim the screen. Working nights this is a pain

I personally think that many of the car makers give too little attention to the need for instrument dials to be easily visible in all conditions.  The two worst situation are the effects of strong sunlight and the glare of oncoming cars at night - both of which automatically cause the irises of your eyes to contract, which in turn reduces visionary ability.

[moggio53]

Im sure I heard or read somewhere that the plastic lens over the instrument is quite soft plastic and very easy to scratch. When I bought by SH RAV last year I got the dealer to change the lens, since in bright sunlight it was impossible to read the smaller icons.

[Haliotis]

Since being able to set up my MPH reading as a large numeral in the MFD panel (thanks Alan), I have no problem regardless of ambient visibility in instantaneous check on my speed.  This info, along with several other critical indicators relating to safe driving/damage-preventing warning lights, should be a prime consideration during the process of vehicle design.