Fog lights are like running lights. Running lights, dipped beam and fog lights: what does the SDA say and what threatens to violate the rules? Regulatory requirements for DRL

The Code of Administrative Offenses provides for a fine for driving without DRLs turned on during the daytime. Many European and Scandinavian countries have been using this practice for many years, and other countries are adopting such policies from their neighbors. It is for this reason that we decided to consider in more detail the concept of daytime running lights, their types, purpose, requirements and other aspects of this topic.

What are daytime running lights

Daytime running lights are marker lights (headlights) that are used for daytime lighting. There are both regular (installed by the factory) and installed additionally. Thanks to the use of such dimensions, the vehicle is better seen by others.

The presence of DRLs improves the visibility of your car to pedestrians and other motorists, this factor significantly reduces the risk of a car accident.

According to statisticians, after the introduction of amendments to the traffic rules, the number of car accidents in our country has halved.

The absence of regular navigation lights entails the use by drivers as an analogue of other light sources that are not prohibited by law. Let's look at the types and classifications of such analogues.

DRL classification

high beam headlights- most effective method use. This type of headlight is installed on every car, it should be used only in the absence of oncoming cars, in order to avoid dazzling them, and it is better at night.

But as an analogue for DRL, in the daytime, you can use half-channel high beam, the option is interesting in that it provides catchiness, and due to incomplete power consumption, energy consumption is reduced.

With the right connection, the high beam can be used by 30%, and make it turn on automatically, which is what a large number of motorists use. But you should be extremely careful and attentive, since the use of high beam headlights requires certain knowledge and qualifications.

Low beam headlights- the most common method that is used as DRL. Since these headlights do not require additional settings and intervention from the driver. Just turn it on and you're good to go. The disadvantage of using dipped beam is the high energy consumption, which can affect the battery charge. Also, according to the law, the use of dipped headlights as an analogue of daytime running lights is allowed.

Fog lights - the name speaks for itself, this type dimensions is not designed for use as a DRL, it is designed for use in foggy weather and poor visibility. An absolute plus is, of course, energy consumption. The disadvantage of this option is that the headlights are located too low and the light of such headlights is often yellow, which reduces visibility in the daytime. Also, the power of the headlights is lower than in other options. Nevertheless, the use of this type of dimensions, as an analogue of DRL, is not prohibited.

Additional (independent) lights- the most ideal option for using dimensions as a DRL. These headlights are designed for daylight use. As already mentioned, such headlights on many cars are not installed regularly, this is precisely the minus of this option. Connection and installation will require certain costs. It will also be necessary to make changes to the design of the factory assembly of the car, which you should not do on your own, without experience and skills in this direction. Unconditional pluses are durability, brightness, minimum power consumption.

There are lamp and LED variations of additional headlights. An unconditional plus, and probably the only one, of lamp products is cheapness. LED running lights have the advantages of low power consumption, high brightness and long service life. Also, the LED variation is much less blind to oncoming drivers.

Philips LED DayLight8
HELLA LEDayFlex 8,
Osram Led Riving FOG
EgoLight DRL-D70/DRL-120Р18

Regulatory requirements for DRL

When choosing a DRL for your car, be sure to pay attention to the fact that the headlights must comply with the standards established by GOST.

The presence of two dimensions on the vehicle. Headlights must be located at the front of the vehicle, to fully verify this condition, the light emitted by the headlights should not be reflected in mirrors or other mirror surfaces.
At a height of at least 25 and not more than 150 centimeters from the ground. Between two headlights, a distance of no more than 60 centimeters must be observed. From size to extreme point car - no more than 40 centimeters. The direction of the headlights must always be forward.
The daytime running lights should turn on automatically when the ignition is turned on. Shutdown is also automatic - when the car changes to other dimensions, if necessary.
It is required to observe the angle at which the light will come out. Horizontal plane - 200. Vertical plane - 100. Pay special attention to this point, since it is it that drivers most often violate.
And the main parameter is the use of only white light lights, for the use of others color schemes you may be fined.

SDA requirements

Consider the requirements for daytime running lights, which are established by law and specified in the traffic rules. On November 20, 2010, an amendment was made that obliges the use of DRLs during the daytime. In paragraph 3.3. it is also said that you cannot use a vehicle on which the dimensions used to consecrate the vehicle are dirty.

If your DRLs are not installed according to the GOST rules that we studied above, you can also fall under the penalties of the Code of Administrative Offenses.

To install additional headlights that are planned to be used as DRLs, you will need to obtain permission from the traffic police; we do not recommend installing it yourself, even if all the rules are followed.

Please note that even if you installed DRLs with minor violations, and the traffic police did not notice this, at the next technical inspection it will be revealed that the installation took place without permission, and this will entail additional costs.

Responsibility for traffic violations

For violating traffic rules, you can get a fine of 500 rubles from a traffic police officer, and this is for the lack of light from one headlight. For the first time, you can get off with a warning. Let's also take a superficial look at what other types of violations you can get a fine for.

First of all, let's turn to the main road law -. So, paragraph 19.5 reads: “During daylight hours, all moving vehicles for the purpose of their identification, dipped-beam headlamps or daytime running lamps shall be switched on.” At the same time, the Rules unequivocally allow one possibility of replacing the passing beam - clause 19.4. permits the use of fog lamps instead of low beam headlights.

Thus, during the day, you have either dipped beam headlights, or fog lights, or daytime running lights in front of you. There is no mention of the fact that there are enough parking lights during the day in the traffic rules.

How to distinguish side lights from DRL?

Let's say you're buying a car, new or used, and you want to determine if it has DRLs. Running lights are fundamentally different from conventional marker lights both in greater brightness and mode of operation. Even if the car's lighting control is in the "OFF" position, when the engine is started, the DRLs light up by themselves, and when the headlights are turned on, they either dim or turn off completely.

light and law

Although the Rules have put everything in its place, many motorists are trying who do not yet have regular DRLs. What is the reason? The fact is that the need to burn low-beam lamps all day can lead to the fact that you are much more likely (especially if your light sources are halogen) to be left with one functioning headlight. And then any inspector on the road at night can stop such a one-eyed car, fine the driver, and even prohibit further movement. And it will be right! According to clause 2.3.1, “it is forbidden to drive with non-burning (missing) headlights and tail lights at night or in conditions of insufficient visibility.”

In other words, either learn to change in the dark, under snow, in frost, and quickly, how to assemble a Kalashnikov assault rifle, or take care of the low beam headlights. Therefore, during the day I advise you to drive with foglights or DRL. The owner can install the latter on his own or in a car service, but at the same time it is necessary to comply with the requirements for the placement and brightness of such lights.

How not to:

Installation in colorless direction indicators LED lamps, which glow bright white while driving, until the turn signal is turned on. Then they start flashing orange. Due to the use of LEDs, the idea may fail when meeting with.
The use of an electronic unit that, when starting the engine, turns on the high beam lamps (or high beam spirals in combination lamps) with a reduced (40–70% of nominal) brightness. The headlights are located above the foglights, and therefore are visible better. Traffic police officers are unlikely to distinguish them from just burning low beam headlights, especially if double-filament lamps of the H4 type are used. And they should not dazzle oncoming drivers because of the reduced brightness. And, of course, as soon as you turn on the dipped headlights, all of the above functions should be disabled.
Installation instead of "dimensions" (weak incandescent bulbs) powerful LED. Then it is enough to turn on the "dimensions", and all problems are solved? Not certainly in that way! Firstly, there may be problems with the traffic police, and secondly, with this mode of use, a lot of lamps on the instrument panel and on the back of the car will burn in the car. And, I remind you, the parking lights will burn and burn out from behind, for which the inspector can arrange an overnight stay for you in an open field if the lamp is not lit, and you do not know how to change it.

I highly recommend (unless you have a system for automatically turning on the light during the day): mark your car in some way, because the surrounding drivers and pedestrians are already used to the fact that the car on the road is clearly marked with lights. Therefore, transport with non-burning lighting equipment is perceived as a kind of ghost, which may not be noticed.

And further. switch DRL to low beam. Repeatedly I saw how the drivers who were too lazy to do this were waiting for the traffic police crew at the exit from the tunnel. And remember that you can’t drive around the clock with DRLs on, because after dark your car will become a ghost for those who drive behind - the parking lights in the lamps don’t burn. And the light from the DRLs themselves at night will not be enough to illuminate the path.

Good afternoon, dear readers.

I think that you have already heard many times that from November 20, 2010 come into force and that from that moment it will be necessary to use Daytime Running Lights.

However, in this article I will not consider the changes in the rules for the use of lighting devices themselves. It will be about how you can use light fixtures before November 20, how - after this date.

Those. we'll talk about how the best way switch from driving with low beam off to driving with it on. Let me remind you that less than three months are left before these changes to the rules come into force, so it's time to think about the issue of their study and implementation.

I immediately warn you that in this article we will consider the use of lighting devices only in daylight hours.

Use of lighting fixtures until November 20, 2010

Currently, when driving during daylight hours, some categories of vehicles must turn on the dipped headlights. This is evidenced by the paragraph:

19.5. When driving during daylight hours, in order to indicate a moving vehicle, the dipped headlights must be switched on:
on motorcycles and mopeds;
when moving in an organized transport convoy;
on route vehicles moving along a specially allocated lane towards the main traffic flow;
with organized transportation of groups of children;
when transporting dangerous, bulky and heavy cargo;
when towing motor vehicles (on a towing vehicle);
when driving outside built-up areas.

I note that the listed vehicles must use dipped headlights. However, this does not mean that other vehicles cannot do the same.

The use of fog lights is described in:

19.4.
in conditions of insufficient visibility, both separately and with dipped or main beam headlights;
instead of dipped headlights under the conditions provided for in clause 19.5 of the Rules.

Notice the fog lights can be used. Those. may or may not be used. Accordingly, even if your car is equipped with fog lights, you can never turn them on. Conversely, you can always drive with the fog lights on.

As for daytime running lights, they are not mentioned at all in the current version of the traffic rules. Well, since this type of lighting device turns on simultaneously with the start of the car engine, you don’t need to remember about it at all.

Let's summarize. At present, during daylight hours, only the vehicles listed in paragraph 19.5 shall have their lights switched on. The rest of the vehicles can also turn them on as needed.

Use of lighting fixtures after November 20, 2010

After November 20, 2010, the text of paragraph 19.5 of the rules of the road will be significantly reduced, however, the group of vehicles that it will cover will increase significantly:

19.5. During daylight hours, all moving vehicles must turn on dipped beam headlights or daytime running lights to identify them.

Now low beam headlights should be on on all vehicles and always. He also had an alternative - the use of daytime running lights, which are always on anyway.

With regard to fog lamps, paragraph 19.4 has undergone minor changes:

19.4. Fog lights can be used:
in conditions of insufficient visibility with low or high beam headlights;
at night on unlit sections of roads together with dipped or main beam headlights;
instead of dipped headlights in accordance with clause 19.5 of the Rules.

Therefore, fog lights are also an alternative to low beams.

Let's summarize. After November 20, 2010, each vehicle must have at least one of the following lighting devices switched on: dipped beam, daytime running lights, fog lights.

Transition to new rules of the road

In this part of the article, we will consider how it is better to switch to the new rules of the road for drivers of various cars.

Owners are the luckiest cars with daytime running lights. They don't need to think about anything at all. They can ride before and after November 20 according to the same rules.

Although in fact the situation of such cars will even improve, because. they will no longer be required to turn on the dipped beam outside the city, when towing, etc.

That is, on such a car it will be possible to simply get behind the wheel and go without thinking about the use of lighting devices.

The same drivers whose cars not equipped with daytime running lights, it is recommended to switch to new ones as follows.

Approximately 10-15 days before November 20, 2010 i.e. November 5-10, you need to start using dipped headlights when driving during the day. Fog lights can also be used. The choice depends on your preference.

If there are those who wish, they can start using dipped headlights or PTF right now, the existing rules do not prohibit this.

I am glad to welcome everyone to our site! Today, under the heading "" let's talk about this: is not traffic violation the use of fog lights (PTF) instead of daytime running lights (DRL) as well as low beam headlights.

You all know that according to paragraph 19.5 of the traffic rules Russian Federation"During daylight hours, all vehicles in motion shall have dipped-beam headlamps or daytime running lamps switched on for the purpose of identifying them." In this regard, many motorists have counter questions, namely: is it possible to use dimensions or PTF instead of DRL and whether this will not be a violation of the rules, which may entail a protocol and a corresponding fine.

Some motorists were not just confused, they were outraged and puzzled by the question of why turn on running lights during daylight hours, and even more so dipped beam? The fact is that studies have shown that, moving along the highway at high speeds, drivers respond better to vehicles with DRLs or dipped beam headlights on. This allows you to notice the approaching transport in time and perform the maneuver in time. In general, in a word, turning on the light during the day is aimed at reducing accidents that occur during the daytime.

This seems to have been sorted out, but what about the differences between DRLs or parking lights?

The problem is that the design of modern headlights sometimes confuses car owners very seriously, who themselves do not fully understand that they have turned on running lights or dimensions. Why is this so critical? Yes, because DRL is allowed to be used as a light source, this will not be a violation and will not entail penalties. What can not be said about the "dimensions" you can not use them instead of daytime running lights, as well as low beam headlights! That is why this moment is very important.

Why are side lights banned, what is wrong with them? The fact is that "dimensions", unlike DRLs, serve to designate a vehicle in the dark, while in the daytime they are of little use. The light that they emit is not enough in the daytime, because it is very weak and inconspicuous (power of the order of 5 watts), so it is forbidden to use them instead of low beam, as well as daytime running lights. Brightness according to GOST (GOST R 41.48-2004) should be in the range from 400 to 800 candela.

It would seem that there are simply no daytime running lights - turn on the dipped one and live in peace ... But, not everything is so simple. The fact is that the constantly on dipped beam leads to premature failure of the lamps, the price of which can reach several hundred dollars. In addition, it has been proven that headlights increase fuel consumption (approximately 0.5 liters per 100 km), the cost of which has not pleased anyone lately ... In short, whatever one may say, it is not profitable to drive with the neighbor constantly on.

What about foglights, can they be used instead of low beam and DRL?

This question, as it turned out, worries many, and here's why. The fact is that not everyone has daytime running lights; But everyone has mail for fogs, and besides, they are less voracious in terms of energy consumption. But the question is, is it possible to use PTF instead of DRL? The answer to this question can be found in the SDA.

clause 9.4. Fog lights can be used:

in conditions of insufficient visibility with low or high beam headlights;
at night on unlit sections of roads together with dipped or main beam headlights;
instead of dipped headlights in accordance with clause 19.5 of the Rules.

The only caveat is that on some cars, fog lights work exclusively with low beam headlights, so many refuse such an alternative to daytime running lights.

Summing up

As you can see, there is a way out. You can drive close as long as you don't worry too much about fuel consumption and bulb life crushing. You can also use PTF if they are installed on your car, this will not be a violation of the rules and there will be no questions from the inspectors for you. The third option is to install daytime running lights. DRL consumes significantly less energy compared to low beam headlights, as well as PTF, while they shine brighter than the dimensions and are clearly visible at any time of the day - therefore, they are the most profitable and acceptable option!

They tell us that on moving vehicles, according to the rules, daytime running lights or dipped headlights must be on, which will clearly indicate the car on the roadway.

allows drivers to use fog lights during the day instead of running lights or low beam headlights.

The Code of Administrative Offenses establishes in two articles penalties for lack of daylight:

It says that if the driver simply broke the rules, then he will receive warning or fine.
This includes the situation when the driver forgot to turn on the light.
says that the same fine can be received if the running lights or dipped beam are faulty, this is another violation in which vehicle is prohibited.
Malfunctions include, for example, broken bulbs or too dirty headlights.

The Rules of the Road indicate that, subject to safety measures, it is possible to drive with these malfunctions to the place of repair or parking. On this issue, the SDA and the Code of Administrative Offenses contradict each other.

Penalty for violation

A car moving without light is hit by two articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses. For driving with the headlights off, the employee has the right to issue a written warning and release the negligent motorist, or may issue a fine in the amount of 500 rubles.

If the running lights or dipped beam are faulty, then driving on such a vehicle is prohibited. The code provides for the same type of punishment: a warning or a fine of 500 rubles.

There are also several nuances associated with running lights:

You can get a penalty if drive with running lights in the evening and at night- You should switch to low beam.
If fog lights were switched on instead of running lights, you should also remember to switch to low beam when evening comes, otherwise a fine cannot be avoided.
The penalty is inevitable if a traffic police officer sees homemade running lights. In vehicles where they are not provided, daytime running lights may be fitted, but this must first be approved.
If the running lights are not installed correctly and blind other drivers, this also falls under the article. There is a standard that describes exactly how these lights should be configured - GOST R 41.48-2004.

Who determines the degree of responsibility?

The traffic police officer on the spot decides whether to issue a fine or limit himself to a warning. He looking at the situation how the driver behaves, how often he had violations, other mitigating or aggravating circumstances.

Rather the human factor. But at the first such violation, you can count on a written warning.

If the car gets in with the outside lights not on, it automatically becomes the culprit of the accident! Even if he complied with all other traffic rules and was not actually to blame.

Driving without running lights or daytime running lights on automatically creates emergency on road, because the car becomes less visible to other road users.

If the traffic police officer is going to issue a fine, and the driver does not agree, then protocol is written first and then a decision is made.

The driver has the right to challenge the decision of the traffic police officer in the traffic police department or in judicial order if he has arguments in his defense. To do this, in the protocol it is necessary to describe as accurately as possible what the driver does not agree with, what the road conditions were.

It is desirable to provide a photo or video confirming the absence of a violation. In special cases, even a dictaphone recording of a conversation with a traffic police officer can help the driver! The driver has only 10 days to appeal.

Penalties for non-included running lights are small - this is the minimum fine for. But the importance of switched on, and most importantly, correctly switched on lights is very often underestimated by road users.

If the car is without a designating backlight, it can simply be overlooked or misleading other drivers. Such carelessness can lead to serious accidents.

Therefore, for your own safety, never forget to turn on the daytime running lights or low beam- declare your presence on the road!