Why do car lights turn on during the day: 7 reasons you didn’t know about

Low beam headlights or running lights turned on during the day have long become a familiar sight on Russian roads. But why do drivers do this? Some consider it a meaningless whim, others consider it a mandatory rule, and still others see it as a hidden threat. In fact, there are both legal requirements and physical laws of perception behind this habit.

Disputes about the advisability of daytime running lights have not subsided since 2010, when Russia introduced the mandatory use of low beams or DRLs. Since then, the rules have been adjusted several times, and studies have confirmed that properly adjusted headlights reduce the risk of accidents by 12–15%. But there is also a downside - improper use of light blinds oncoming drivers and creates dangerous situations.

In this article we will look at:

• 📜 Current traffic regulations for 2026 — what the law says about daytime running lights and DRLs.
• 👁️ Scientific evidence — how light affects the reaction of drivers and pedestrians.
• ⚡ Technical nuances — why LED lamps and xenon require a special approach.
• 💰 Fines and controversial issues - when the inspector has the right to fine.

1. Legal requirements: what does the Traffic Regulations 2026 say?

Since April 20, 2026, an updated version has been in effect in Russia Traffic rules clause 19.5, which clearly regulates the use of lighting devices during the day. According to the document, during daylight hours all moving vehicles must be included:

• 💡 Low beam headlights - for all types of vehicles.
• 🔆 Daytime running lights (DRL) - if they are provided for by the design of the car.
• 🌫️ Fog lights — only instead of low beams or DRLs, but not in conjunction with them.

Important: from 2020 prohibited use during the day high beam or side lights as a substitute for your neighbor. There is a fine for this Part 1 Art. 12.20 Code of Administrative Offenses - 500 rubles. The exception is motorcycles: high beams are allowed for them in the daytime.

But there are also nuances:

• 🚗 Cars with factory DRLs (for example, Toyota Corolla 2020+ or Volkswagen Polo 2018+) can drive without low beams.
• 🚛 Trucks and buses obliged use low beams or DRLs regardless of the year of manufacture.
• 🚲 Bicycles and mopeds must turn on their headlights (or flashlights) only in the dark.

⚠️ Attention: If one of your car's low-beam headlights has burned out, drive during the day. prohibited - this is equivalent to a malfunction of lighting devices (clause 3.3 List of faults). The fine is the same 500 rubles.

2. Scientific evidence: how daytime running lights save lives

Research Scientific Research Institute of Automobile Transport (Research Center for Traffic Safety of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia) and foreign organizations (for example, Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute) confirm: turning on headlights during the day reduces the number of accidents by 8–15%. Why?

The point is contrasting perception. The human eye is better at detecting moving objects that stand out from their surroundings. Car with headlights on:

• 👁️ Noticed faster 0.5–1 second earlier than a car without light.
• 🚶 Better visible to pedestrians (especially children and elderly people).
• 🌳 Contrastes with the background (trees, buildings, other cars).

Experiment University of Michigan (2021) showed that drivers react to a vehicle with DRLs 28% fasterthan a car without lights. This is especially true:

• 🌧️ In rain or fog (visibility improves by 30–40%).
• 🌄 At dawn/sunset (when the eyes adapt to changing lighting).
• 🛣️ On monotonous sections of roads (for example, on roads with a monotonous landscape).

But there is also the opposite effect: incorrectly adjusted headlights (especially with LED or xenon) can blind oncoming drivers, increasing the risk of head-on collisions. According to traffic police, 7% of traffic fatalities in 2023 were due to blindness.

3. Technical aspects: DRLs vs low beams vs fog lights

Not all lighting devices are equally useful during the day. Let's figure out what is better to use and why.

Light type	Pros	Cons	When allowed
DRL (running lights)	⚡ Low power consumption (0.5–2 W). 💡 Brightness 400–800 lumens (optimal for daylight). 🔧 Long service life (up to 50,000 hours).	🚫 They do not illuminate the road (only to indicate vehicles). 🔧 Requires correct installation (height 25–150 cm).	Always allowed if provided for by design.
Low beam headlights	🌟 Versatile (suitable for day and night). 🔦 Lights up the road (useful at dusk).	🔋 High energy consumption (50–60 W per lamp). 💡 The service life of halogen lamps is 500–1000 hours.	Always allowed, but increases fuel consumption by 0.1–0.3 l/100 km.
Fog lights	🌫️ Effective in fog/rain. 🔦 Wide beam (well illuminates the roadside).	⚠️ They can blind in clean air. 🚫 Prohibited in combination with low beams or DRLs.	Allowed in place of low beams or DRLs, but not with them.

Particular attention should be paid LED lamps and xenon:

• 🔆 Xenon lamps (for example, Philips D2S) provide bright light (3000–3500 lumens), but require autocorrector and headlight washer. Without them, they blind oncoming drivers.
• 💡 LED lamps (for example, Osram LEDriving) are economical, but must be certified for your headlight model. Uncertified LEDs can create dangerous light and shade.

⚠️ Attention: If you have installed xenon or LED into headlights not intended for them, this amounts to malfunctions of lighting devices (fine 500 rubles + requirement to eliminate the violation). Check the markings of the headlights: they must have signs D (for xenon) or LED.

4. Exceptions and controversial points: when headlights are not needed during the day

Despite strict traffic regulations, there are situations when driving with headlights off not punished:

• 🚗 Cars with factory DRLs (for example, Hyundai Solaris 2017+, Kia Rio 2020+). If they are working properly, it is not necessary to turn on the low beam.
• 🌞 Clear sunny weather — inspectors rarely stop you for lack of light if visibility is perfect (although technically this is a violation).
• 🚜 Agricultural machinery (tractors, combines) - separate rules apply for them.

But there is also pitfalls:

• 🔧 If you have one DRL lamp burned out, you must turn on the low beam. Otherwise - a fine.
• 🌧️ B rain, snow or fog low beam or fog lights are required, even if you have DRLs.
• 🚓 The inspector may fine you for dirty headlights, if they reduce the visibility of light by more than 50%.

Frequently asked question: Is it possible to use side lights instead of low beams? No! Dimensions are intended to indicate the machine only in the parking lot or in the dark. Their brightness (4–10 lumens) is not enough for daytime visibility.

What happens if you ignore the requirements?

According to traffic police statistics, 30% of accidents involving pedestrians during the daytime occur because the driver noticed the person too late. In judicial practice, there are cases when a driver driving without a light was found to be at fault for an accident, even if the pedestrian was crossing the road in the wrong place. Insurance companies may also reduce your payout if it is proven that the lack of lights contributed to the accident.

5. Myths and misconceptions about daytime running lights

There are many myths surrounding the topic of daytime running lights. Let's look at the most common ones.

Myth 1: "DRLs ruin the battery"

❌ Reality: Modern DRLs consume 0.5-2 W - this is 20-30 times less than low beam (50-60 W). Even if idle with the DRLs on for 8 hours, the battery will only discharge by 1-3%. For comparison: the alarm system “eats” 5–10% over the same period.

Myth 2: “Headlights are only needed during the day in winter”

❌ Reality: In summer, the contrast between the car and the environment is often belowthan in winter (snow reflects light, making cars more visible). In the heat, the asphalt “shimmers” from the heated air, and the headlights help to better detect traffic.

Myth 3: “LED lamps for low beam are the best solution”

❌ Reality: Only if they certified for your headlight model! Non-certified LEDs create an uneven luminous flux, blind oncoming drivers and can lead to refusal of technical inspection.

Myth 4: "If you're driving slowly, you don't need headlights"

❌ Reality: Speed does not affect visibility. A pedestrian or driver at an intersection should notice your car in advance, regardless of whether you are driving 30 or 90 km/h.

Myth 5: “DRL is enough even at night”

❌ Reality: DRLs do not illuminate the road - their task is only to indicate the car. At night necessarily turn on low or high beams.

6. How to properly set your headlights for daytime driving

Even working headlights can dazzle or perform their function poorly if they incorrectly adjusted. Here's what to check:

Make sure all the lamps are on (low beam, DRLs, headlights)|Check that the headlights are clean (dirt reduces brightness by 30-50%)|Adjust the angle (required for xenon/LED)|Check the color temperature (4300-5000K is optimal)|Check that the DRLs turn on automatically when you start the engine (if equipped)

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Headlight adjustment:

1. Place the car on a flat area 5 meters from the wall.
2. Place marks on the wall at the level of the center of the headlights and 5 cm below (for low beam).
3. Turn on the low beam and adjust the screws on the headlight so that the light border is at the bottom mark.
4. For xenon/LED use professional equipment - their beam of light is more focused.

If you have automatic headlight leveling (for example, on Audi A4 or BMW 3 Series), check its operation:

• 🔧 When loading the trunk or passengers in the back seat, the headlights should automatically lower.
• 🚗 If there is no corrector, adjust the headlights manually when the load changes.

For fog lights separate rules apply:

• 🌫️ They can be used instead of low beams only in low visibility conditions (fog, rain, snow).
• 🚫 Turn them on on a dry road during the day prohibited - it blinds oncoming drivers.

7. Fines and disputes with inspectors: how to avoid punishment

For violation of the rules for the use of lighting devices during the day, a fine of Part 1 Art. 12.20 Code of Administrative Offenses - 500 rubles. But in practice there are nuances:

When the inspector has the right to fine:

• 🚨 If you have all lights are turned off (no low beam, no DRLs, no fog lights).
• 💡 If it burns out one headlight (low beam or DRL), and you did not turn on the replacement.
• 🔦 If you are using high beam or dimensions instead of your neighbor.

When a fine can be challenged:

• ⚖️ If you have factory DRLs, but the inspector requires you to turn on the low beam (check the vehicle documentation).
• ☀️ If the weather clear, and the inspector insists on turning on the fog lights (this is allowed only in poor visibility).
• 🔧 If you just bought a car and did not have time to eliminate the malfunction (for example, a burnt out lamp).

What to do if you are stopped:

1. Politely ask the inspector to indicate specific article of violation.
2. If you have DRLs, show them on your vehicle documents (section "Lights").
3. If the lamp burns out during a trip, you can refer to clause 2.3.1 of traffic rules (the driver is obliged to correct the malfunction as soon as possible).

⚠️ Attention: If the inspector issued a fine for lack of daylight, but your lights were turned on fog lights, the fine can be challenged - they are allowed as an alternative to low beams (Section 19.5 of the Traffic Regulations).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about daytime running lights

❓ Do I need to turn on the headlights during the day if my car is white?

Yes, the color of the car doesn't matter. Research shows that even a white car with its headlights on is noticed 20% fasterthan without them. This is especially important against the backdrop of snow or bright sun, when the car can “dissolve” in its surroundings.

❓ Is it possible to use an LED strip on the bumper instead of low beam?

No. According to GOST R 41.48-2004, daytime running lights must meet strict requirements:

• Brightness: 400–800 candelas.
• Color: white only (no blue, red or yellow).
• Location: not lower than 25 cm and not higher than 150 cm from the ground, the distance between the lights is not less than 60 cm.

The LED strip is not certified as DRL and may blind other drivers. Fine - 500 rubles.

❓ Why do many people in Europe drive without daylight, but here they have to?

In most EU countries (eg Germany, France) daytime running lights not required, but recommended. This is due to:

• 🛣️ More developed road infrastructure (better markings, lighting).
• 👁️ Driving culture (drivers are used to watching for pedestrians).
• 📜 Local studies that did not reveal a significant reduction in accidents caused by daylight.

In Russia, mandatory daylight was introduced due to the high accident rate and the large number of pedestrians on the roads.

❓ How can I check if my DRLs are working correctly?

Take a light meter (or download a light meter app on your smartphone) and measure the brightness at a distance of 1 meter from the headlight:

• 🟢 Norm: 400–800 lumens.
• 🟡 Low light: less than 300 lumens (need to check bulbs or wiring).
• 🔴 Too bright: more than 1000 lumens (may be blinding, adjustment required).

Also make sure the DRLs turn on. automatically when starting the engine (if provided for by the design).

❓ What should I do if I was blinded by an oncoming car with incorrectly configured headlights?

Follow the algorithm:

1. Don't brake suddenly - slow down smoothly.
2. Look to the right, focusing on the roadside or markings.
3. If the glare is strong, turn it on alarm and stop.
4. Once your vision is restored, continue driving at a reduced speed.

If such a car is often found on your route, you can report to the traffic police (indicating model, number and location). Inspectors can check lighting devices for compliance with GOST.