The question of whether it is possible to drive with the position lights on in daylight hours is often controversial among drivers, especially those who are used to Soviet standards or trying to save the life of headlight lamps. On the one hand, the dimensions provide the marking of the car on the road, and on the other hand, modern traffic rules require the use of brighter light. Confusion arises due to the similarity of functions and the visual arrangement of optics elements.
Under current regulations, driving at night and in low visibility requires the inclusion of passing beam headlamps or daytime running lights. O-marker lamps, as their name suggests, are used to indicate the dimensions of the vehicle, and not to illuminate the roadway. Their light output is significantly weaker, making them inefficient for providing visibility of the car during daytime or in bad weather conditions.
In this article, we will discuss in detail the legal aspects of the use of various lighting devices, the technical differences between the dimensions and the technical differences between the two. Daytime Slow Lights (DHO), and consider the real risks of getting a fine. Understanding these nuances will help you avoid conflicts with traffic police inspectors and ensure safety on the road.
Legal basis: what do SDAs say
The main document regulating the use of lighting devices are the Rules of the Road of the Russian Federation. Paragraph 19.1 of the traffic rules clearly states that in the dark and in conditions of insufficient visibility, regardless of road lighting, and in tunnels on a moving vehicle must be switched on driving or passing lights, daytime running lights. In this context, position lights are only mandatory when stopping or parking at night on unlit sections of the road.
For daylight traffic, paragraph 19.5 of the traffic rules on the mandatory inclusion of dipped-beam headlamps or daytime running lights. The legislator does not leave the driver a choice between dimensions and headlights in the daytime - the dimensions are not a substitute element for the designation of the vehicle in the stream. Their use instead of DRL or passing beam is formally a violation.
⚠️ Attention: The inclusion of position lamps only instead of passing beam headlamps or DRLs during daylight hours is equivalent to the absence of a vehicle designation, which creates an emergency situation.
It is important to note that the term “marker lights” in traffic rules is clearly separated from the term “headlights”. These are different devices with different technical characteristics and purpose. An attempt to make a wishful thinking, claiming that the dimensions are “well enough to see”, in the event of an accident or stop by an inspector will not have legal force.
Technical differences: dimensions vs DHO
The main difference is the intensity of the light flux. Daytime running lamps (Daytime running lamps)Daytime Running Lights) designed to be visible even in bright sunlight. The luminous intensity of DHO is usually between 400 and 800 cd (candelas). At the same time, the position lights have a luminous intensity of only about 4-12 cd. The difference in brightness can be hundreds of times.
Structurally, these elements may also differ. In modern cars, DRLs are often made in the form of LED strips located at the bottom of the bumper or integrated into the block headlight, but operating in full brightness mode. Dimensions, even if they are LED, work in a low brightness mode to save energy and prevent blinding effect when parking.
A comparison table of characteristics will help to understand the difference:
| Characteristics | Positioning lamps | Daytime running lights (DWL) | Near-light headlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Substantive function | Marking of parking dimensions | Designation of TC in motion by day | Road lighting and TC marking |
| Light intensity (cd) | 4 - 12 cd | 400-800 cd | ~ 900-1500 cd |
| Mode of work | Permanent (at parking) | Only when the engine is running. | If necessary, the driver |
| Energy consumption | Minimum | Low (for LED) | High (for halogen) |
Some drivers try to trick the system by sealing part of the headlight or using software hacks to make the dimensions burn brighter. This is strictly prohibited, as it violates the factory certification of the lighting device. Certified The car must comply with GOST R 41.48-2004, which spells out all the requirements for the installation and operation of lighting.
Can I reprogram the dimensions of the DHO through a computer?
Theoretically, in some modern cars with adaptive optics and complex electronics (for example, BMW, Audi, Mercedes), it is possible to change the logic of the operation of lighting devices through the OBD-II diagnostic connector. However, if the factory design does not provide for the operation of the lamps in the high brightness mode of the DHO, such flashing will lead to rapid burnout of incandescent threads or overheating of LEDs. In addition, any interference with the factory settings of lighting equipment can become the basis for denial of warranty service and problems during the technical inspection.
Penalties for driving with dimensions instead of headlights
Violation of the rules for the use of external lighting devices is qualified under part 1 of article 12.20 of the administrative code of the Russian Federation. This article provides for a warning or imposition of an administrative fine of 500 rubles. Although the amount seems small, regular violations can lead to more serious consequences, especially in controversial situations in road accidents.
There is also Article 12.5 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation, part 1, which states that driving a vehicle in the presence of malfunctions or conditions under which the operation of the vehicle is prohibited, entails a warning or a fine of 500 rubles. In the list of faults in which the operation of the vehicle is prohibited, there is paragraph 3.1: external lighting devices do not burn (if their inclusion is provided by the design) or are contaminated. If the inspector decides that your "DHO" (which is actually size) does not meet the requirements for brightness, he may treat this as a malfunction or non-conformity of the design.
- 🚔 Article 12.20 of Part 1 - Violation of the rules for the use of external lighting devices (fine 500 rubles).
- 🚔 Article 12.5 part 1 - Management of vehicles with malfunctions (fine 500 rubles).
- 🚔 Article 12.31 of Part 1 – Release of the vehicle with malfunctions (for legal entities and individual entrepreneurs, fines are much higher).
It is important to understand that if a traffic accident occurs as a result of a movement with the proper light turned off (near or DRL) and it is proved that the poor visibility of the car played a role, the driver with only the dimensions turned on may be found guilty to a greater extent. Judicial practice knows cases when the lack of properly working light became an aggravating circumstance.
Keep your lamp replacement checks and electrical diagnostics. In case of a dispute with the inspector, this will prove that you are monitoring the serviceability of the car and inadvertently made a malfunction.
When position lights are required
There are situations where the inclusion of position lamps is not only desirable, but strictly mandatory by safety rules. This is especially true for parking and stopping in the dark. If you stop at the side of the road outside the village at night, the dipped-beam headlights can blind other drivers, and the dimensions clearly indicate the contours of your car.
The dimensions shall also be lit when driving in tunnels (together with passing light) and when towing another power-driven vehicle. In the latter case, the towed vehicle shall be equipped with position lights, if the design permits, or with appropriate reflectors, if the towing takes place at night.
In fog, heavy rain or snowfall, where visibility is limited, the rules require the inclusion of passing beam headlamps, fog lamps (if any) and rear fog lamps. The dimensions of this cocktail of lighting devices should also burn, but only as an addition to the main light, and not as a replacement for it.
⚠️ Warning: Stopping on an unlit stretch of road at night with dimensions off is a direct threat to your life. You may not be noticed until the moment of the collision.
The situation with the trailer deserves special attention. If you are towing a trailer, it should also be lit position lights, stop lights and direction indicators. Failure of the trailer wiring in this part also entails a fine and a ban on further movement.
Problems with the passage of the Technical Inspection
The Technical Inspection Regulations (TO) strictly monitor the compliance of lighting devices with the UNECE requirements. A diagnostic card will not be issued if the position lights do not work, flash (unless provided) or are of an inappropriate color (e.g. red front or white rear, except for the reversing lamp).
A frequent problem is the installation of non-standard LED equipment. If, instead of standard incandescent lamps, bright LED lamps are installed in the dimensions without a corresponding change in the design of the headlamp and without marking, this can be regarded as making changes to the design of the vehicle. Although in practice, the dimensions are more loyal to the TO than to the headlight, the risk of failure exists.
The procedure for verification of the TO includes:
- ✅ Check the operability of all lamps (on/off).
- ✅ Checking the purity of the lens (pollution is the cause of failure).
- ✅ Check the color of the glow (must comply with GOST).
- ✅ Blinking check (for direction indicator and alarm).
If you are planning to tune lighting, make sure that the new components have the necessary certificates of conformity. No markings E or e On the headlight case or on the lamp itself can become a formal reason for nagging on the part of a technical expert.
☑️ Optics check before the TO
Impact on the resource of electrical equipment
There is a myth that driving with dimensions saves the life of the generator and battery compared to passing light. This is only true for halogen-powered cars, where the power consumption of a single lamp can reach 55-60 watts. The dimensions consume about 5 watts. However, in the era of the spread of LED technologies, the difference has become minimal.
Moreover, the constant operation of incandescent lamps in the "full-fat" mode (like DRL) or even in full-fat (as dimensions, if forced) leads to thermal aging of the headlight plastic and reflector. Positioning lights, not designed for long-term operation in the daytime at high temperatures of the hood space, can fail faster or cause clouding of the headlamp plastic at the lamp landing site.
Modern cars with a system Start-Stop and complex onboard electronics can incorrectly perceive the replacement of standard lamps of dimensions on LED. The onboard computer may give an error of "Check Bulb" or "Lamp Failure", as the resistance of the LEDs is much lower. For proper operation requires the installation of additional resistances (deceptions), which again brings us back to the question of energy consumption and heating.
The use of regular DRLs or passing beams is safer for electrical wiring and optics than artisanal modernization of dimensions for day driving.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I drive in the daytime if the light is on?
If “automatic light” means a mode in which the car turns on only dimensions (the so-called “parking light” or “polite light” in some interpretations), then you can not move this way. This automatic mode (Auto) shall include a passing beam or DRL at engine start-up. In the switch position Auto watch the indication on the dashboard: the green icon of the headlights should burn, not the orange icon of dimensions.
Is there a penalty for a burnt-out fire?
Technically, according to p. 3.1 The list of faults, the failure of external lighting devices (except rear-view mirrors) is the basis for the prohibition of operation. However, if only one size does not burn, the inspector may limit himself to a warning or a fine of 500 rubles per article. 12.5.1 if it considers that this affects safety. In the dark, movement with a non-burning size is strictly prohibited.
Is it allowed to use dimensions instead of DHO in winter?
No, seasonality does not change the rules of traffic rules. In winter, visibility is often impaired by precipitation and early darkness, so vehicle designation requirements become even more critical. Using dimensions instead of DRL or passing beam in winter increases the risk of accidents, as white snow and gray sky make dim light dimensions almost invisible.
What if all the lamps are burned and you need to go?
The traffic rules (paragraph 2.3.1) permit the driver to proceed to the parking or repair site in case of a malfunction, taking the necessary precautions. However, this is the way to the repair site. It is impossible to move along the usual route "to work" or "on business" with a faulty head light (even during the day). In extreme cases, if the DRLs do not work, turn on the passing light, even if it consumes the life of the lamps to avoid fines and accidents.
Can I install additional dimensions in the bumper?
Installation of additional lighting devices not provided for by the vehicle design is prohibited. The overall lights should be located in strictly defined places (closer to the edges of the width of the car). The insertion of additional "dimensions" into the bumper or grille is regarded as making changes to the design of the vehicle, which requires separate certification and registration with the traffic police, which in the case of simple light bulbs is economically impractical.