Which headlights should be turned on during daylight hours: a complete analysis of traffic rules

Modern road traffic requires drivers not only to have excellent knowledge of maneuvering rules, but also to have a clear understanding of the requirements for lighting devices. The question is which ones headlights should be lit on a car during daylight hours, often causes controversy even among experienced car enthusiasts. Many people confuse daytime running lights with low beam or fog lights, which can lead to an unpleasant conversation with a traffic police inspector and a fine being issued.

According to the current traffic rules of the Russian Federation, the movement of a vehicle during daylight hours necessarily must be accompanied by switched on lights. This requirement was not introduced by chance: statistics show that a designated vehicle is much more visible on the road, which reduces the likelihood of head-on collisions and accidents in passing traffic. The driver needs to understand the difference between the operating modes of the optics in order to properly configure the car before starting the trip.

In this article we will analyze in detail which external lighting devices are allowed to be used during the day, what are the technical nuances of modern cars and why ignoring these rules can cost you money and nerves. We will also touch on the topic of automatic systems, which are often implemented by manufacturers, and we will figure out whether you can always rely on automation.

Legislative framework and traffic regulations requirements

The main document regulating the behavior of road users is the Traffic Rules. Clause 19.1 clearly states: during daylight hours, all moving vehicles must have their low beam headlights or daytime running lights (DRL). This is a basic requirement, the violation of which is classified as an administrative offense. The legislator does not leave the driver a choice between “I want” and “I don’t want”, setting a strict visibility standard.

It is important to note that the wording of the law allows the use of exactly two types of devices. However, there are nuances associated with the design of the car. If your car only comes standard with daytime running lights, then when you turn them on, the other headlights may not light up. But if the DRLs are missing or faulty, the responsibility for using the low beam passes to the driver in full. Ignoring this rule is equivalent to driving with faulty lights.

⚠️ Attention: Using only side lights during daylight hours is prohibited! Many drivers mistakenly believe that the “dimensions” are enough to designate the car, but from the point of view of traffic regulations this is a violation, since the dimensions do not provide sufficient brightness for daytime.

The legislation also implies that lighting devices must be in good working order and comply with the requirements of technical regulations. This means that a burnt-out bulb in one of the low-beam headlights or in the DRLs makes the vehicle illegal to operate until the fault is corrected. The inspector has every right to stop the vehicle and issue a fine if he notices that one of the required light sources is not functioning.

Difference between DRL and low beam headlights

The main difference between daytime running lights and low beams is their purpose and the intensity of the glow. Daytime running lights (Daytime Running Lights) are designed specifically to make the car visible during daylight hours. They consume significantly less electricity and have lower brightness compared to low beam headlights, which allows them to work for a long time without the risk of overheating or quickly draining the battery.

Low beam headlights, in turn, is intended primarily for illuminating the road surface at night or in conditions of poor visibility. When you turn on your low beams during the day, you are using powerful lamps that produce a wide beam of light. This is not a violation, but may be less energy efficient. In addition, when you turn on the low beam, the rear marker lights often light up, which further informs drivers behind you of your presence on the road.

From a technical point of view, DRLs are often implemented as separate LED strips in the bumper design or as low-intensity lamps in the main headlight. In some car models, for example, in some versions Volkswagen or Skoda, the role of DRLs is performed by high beam lamps operating at full intensity. Understanding your vehicle's design helps avoid situations where the driver thinks the DRLs are on, but in fact the lights are on.

• 🚗 DRLs automatically turn on when the engine starts and turn off when parked.
• 💡 Low beam requires manual activation (if there is no auto mode) and often lights up along with the rear lights.
• ⚡ Energy consumption of DRLs is 5-10 times lower than that of low beam lamps.
• 👁️ The brightness of the DRLs is specially selected so as not to blind oncoming drivers, but to be visible from 400 meters away.

Thus, if your car is equipped with standard DRLs, you can safely use them during the day without switching to low beam. However, if you enter the highway at dusk or enter a tunnel, you will need to manually or automatically switch to low beams, as the DRLs do not illuminate the road in front of the car.

Can fog lights be used during the day?

Question of use fog lights (PTF) during daylight hours often causes the most controversy. According to traffic regulations, fog lights can be used at night and in conditions of poor visibility in conjunction with low or high beam headlights. However, for daylight hours, rule 19.4 makes things clear: PTFs can be used separately from low beam headlights, but only in conditions of poor visibility.

It would seem that the PTF cannot be turned on on a clear sunny day. But here clause 19.1 comes into force, which allows the use of DRLs or low beams. Since many cars do not have separate DRLs, drivers often use “fog lights” as a replacement for them. The technical regulations of the Customs Union allow the use of PTFs as daytime running lights if they have passed the appropriate certification and have an operating mode with reduced brightness or correct light distribution.

However, there is an important nuance: if you turn on the PTF during the day in clear weather, you must be sure that they do not blind other road users. Many homemade fog lights with high-power halogen lamps can create discomfort for oncoming drivers. Therefore, although there is no direct ban on the use of certified PTFs during the day, you should not abuse this, especially if the car has standard DRLs.

⚠️ Attention: Using PTF together with high beam headlights at night is prohibited. Also, you cannot install lamps in the PTF that do not match the type of lens (for example, xenon in a halogen headlight), as this leads to blinding oncoming drivers and is grounds for deprivation of a license.

If you decide to use PTF during the day instead of low beams, make sure that they turn on automatically or have convenient controls. Constantly driving with the PTFs turned on in dry weather can lead to their overheating, since they are not designed for long-term operation without cooling by a flow of oncoming air (which is not present when parked) or at low speeds.

Automatic light switching: pros and risks

Modern cars are increasingly equipped with an automatic light switching system. This is a convenient feature that eliminates the need for the driver to remember to switch modes. The light sensor analyzes external conditions and decides when to turn on low beam or activate DRL. For many drivers, this has become a lifesaver, eliminating the risk of forgetting to turn off the headlights and drain the battery.

However, you should not rely completely on automation. Light sensors are often located at the top of the windshield or on the dashboard. If you put documents, a navigator on the dashboard, or simply wiped the glass with a rag, leaving streaks, the sensor may not correctly read the light level. As a result, the car may “think” that it is night and turn on the low beams in the middle of a clear day, or vice versa - not turn them on in cloudy weather or when entering a forest.

In addition, automation does not always take into account weather conditions, such as fog, rain or snowfall, when visibility deteriorates, but the overall level of illumination remains high. In such situations, the system may not activate the headlights, leaving the vehicle poorly visible to other road users. The driver is obliged to control the situation and, if necessary, forcefully turn on the lights.

• 🌦️ Automation may not work in heavy rain or snowfall, when visibility is limited, but it is light.
• 📉 Sensors get dirty faster than headlights, which leads to false positives or their absence.
• 🚗 In some cars, the automation only turns on the DRL, forgetting about the rear lights, which is dangerous at dusk.
• 🔧 When replacing a windshield, it is important to install the sensor correctly, otherwise the system will not work correctly.

Why can a light sensor lie?

The light sensor is a photocell that reacts to the intensity of the light flux. If it gets shadowed by tree branches, a bridge, or even your hand while gesturing, it can briefly switch the light. The tinting of the windshield also affects the operation: if it is too dark, the sensor may assume that it is night.

Owners of cars with automatic lights are advised to periodically check their operation. A simple test: cover the sensor with your hand (usually located in the center of the dashboard or at the base of the windshield) with the engine running. If the headlights do not turn on, the system may be faulty or disabled in the car menu settings.

Fines for improper use of lighting devices

Violation of the rules for the use of external lighting devices is classified under Part 1 of Article 12.20 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. Punishment for this violation is provided in the form of a warning or administrative penalty. fine in the amount of 500 rubles. The amount seems insignificant, but with systematic violations or in combination with other fines it can become significant.

It is important to understand that a fine is issued not for the fact of driving without lights (although the inspector can stop you for prevention), but for driving a vehicle with malfunctions or in conditions where the use of light devices is mandatory according to traffic regulations. If one bulb in your low beam headlight or DRL is burned out, this is already considered a malfunction. In theory, the inspector can prohibit further movement until the fault is eliminated, although in practice they are more often limited to a fine.

The situation is aggravated if violation of the rules for the use of light leads to the creation of an emergency situation. In this case, the driver’s actions may be reclassified under more serious articles, providing for larger fines. In addition, in the event of an accident, if it is proven that one of the causes was the lack of headlights on during the day, the driver may be found more at fault.

Violation	Article of the Administrative Code	Punishment	Note
Lights not turned on during the day	12.20 p.1	Warning or 500 rub.	If the headlights are working but are turned off
Faulty headlight (bulb burnt out)	12.5 part 1	Warning or 500 rub.	Prohibition of operation in case of malfunction
Installation of non-certified PTFs	12.5 part 3	Deprivation of rights from 6 months. up to 1 year	Xenon/LED in halogen headlights
Dirty headlights (number not readable)	12.2 part 1	500 rub.	If dirt hides the light or number

Technical malfunctions and optics maintenance

Even if you follow all the rules for turning on headlights, technically