Daytime Running Lights (DRL) and UK (EU) Law
 

There is a lot of confusion about when you can and can't operate Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) on motorcycles in the UK (and EU). This isn't surprising because, for cars, the requirement is to have them switch off or dim when the headlights are used. But many motorcycles have dipped beam on if the engine is running. That presents a bit of a conundrum.

I've searched the net trying to find clear directions for motorcyclists operating DRLs and failed to find anything conclusive. But I did find a couple of useful extracts from the UK Department for Transport DRL Information Sheet...

"DRLs are necessarily bright to ensure they are visible in the daytime but not so bright that they will dazzle others. However they are too bright for night time use and are not intended to illuminate the road in the dark. If used at night they will cause dazzle and discomfort to others and so drivers should always switch to their position lamps or headlamps at night."

and...

"Ideally retro fitted DRLs should be installed such that they activate automatically when the engine starts and switch off when headlamps are turned on. If this is not the case then you must ensure that you manually turn DRLs off at night as they will cause dazzle and discomfort to others if used in low ambient lighting conditions."

The AA suggest that manually operated daytime running lights should be turned off at night to avoid dazzling other road users.

So the primary requirement, for operating DRLs, is they must not dazzle other road users at any time. Outside of this it seems to me that it's a case of common sense... Always fit a manual on-off switch and don't use them at night with dipped beam.

For a few years I read a number of posts on weather they are leagal, are they any good on a bike,,,,,,

I'm not sure if they are any good or not if its something that you want to fit I would fit them, it's against the law to drive with fog lights and spot lights on when it's not foggy but people do, I don't think the police will be locking you up for that one

I had a 2013 1190 Adventure which came with DRL as standard. It came on in daylight and there was a light sensor in the dash that put the low beam on if the bike thought it was 'dusk'.

It could be overridden so you had dip beam on all the time.

I liked it as the DRL was bright and, as it was an inverted 'V' shape, I felt it stood out better when seen by other road users (as compared to a standard dip beam).

I suspect that the references cited in the first post refer to automobiles, not motorcycles.

It's beyond my comprehension why there would be any debate at all about the use of the headlight at all times on a motorcycle. Here in North America, it has been standard practice (required by law) for at least the last 20 years that motorcycle headlights are on at all times. Heck, we don't even get an on-off switch for exterior lighting on a motorcycle manufactured for sale in North America... all the external lights are on, at full brightness, whenever the ignition is on.

We get a single switch to switch between high and low beam, that is all.

Michael

Same over here Michael, I think they are referring more to additional lighting.

As another note, I work for a major truck manufacturer. Our daytime running lights come on with the engine running. They dim when the headlights are switched on. However, when on DRL side and tail lights are illuminated. I've noticed on a lot of Ford cars that only the DLR's are on and that leads to a lot of them riding around at night blissfully unaware they have no tail lights on.


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There are two different regulations for Daytime Running Lights on automobiles that are operated in Europe.

In the Scandinavian countries, it is obligatory that all exterior lighting be illuminated at full power at all times.

In the other European countries, it is permitted that only the headlights be on (if headlights, as opposed to dedicated DRL lights, are used for DRL purposes), and they are permitted to be operated at reduced power. That is the same policy as Canada... the USA does not require DRLs by law, but many new vehicles sold in the USA are provisioned with DRLs anyway. The practice of operating headlights used as DRLs at reduced power is rapidly falling by the wayside, because only incandescent lamps benefit from being operated at less than full power.

On most vehicles, the configuration of the DRLs can be switched via software coding to comply with either the Scandinavian or Rest of Europe (and Canada) spec.

I don't know if the DRL regulations apply to trucks, or if so, what the rules are, because trucks are covered under a different set of rules.

Michael

Our trucks are Scandinavian so that explains that.

We have Fiestas as courtesy cars, I just find it surprising that a safety feature that was legally implemented has caused vehicles to be driving round with no tail lights. I think the fact the instruments are lit as soon as the ignition is turned on makes it worse.

My car is an old Volvo V40, all the lights are on as soon as it starts, you can't turn them off. Very similar to my Triumph Tiger.


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Drl s are not legally required on either bikes or cars in the UK, they are in a number of eu countries eg france where bike lights should be on all the time and Slovakia where car lights should always be on. It is a matter of cost, why put an on off switch on some bikes destined for the UK, when you can just remove this and leave the lights hard wired, likewise with cars. Fortunately our transport dept resisted Drl s after lobbying by the bike groups, this hasn't stopped it arriving by the backdoor though courtesy of peugeot, BMW etc etc.