Daytime running lights
‘Daytime running lights’ refers to the white lighting systems on the front of a vehicle which generally operate automatically when the engine is running. These are to increase its visibility and are only suitable for daylight hours. Unlike head lights, daytime running lights are not designed to illuminate the road ahead.
Make sure to turn on your dipped head lights at lighting up time as daytime running lights are not suitable or safe to use at night time.
If your vehicle is not fitted with daytime running lights, you should drive with your dipped headlights on during the daytime.
When to use headlights
If conditions require you to use headlights to drive safely, you must use them. Use dipped headlights at night or main beam headlights as appropriate. When in doubt, turn them on. Make sure that the red lights and number plate lighting at the back of your vehicle are working.
Use dipped headlights:
- just after the beginning (dusk) and before the end (dawn) of lighting-up hours;
as long as they are needed to let you see clearly; when stopped in traffic; when meeting other traffic; in built-up areas where there is good street lighting; on continuously lit roads outside built-up areas; when following behind another vehicle; where there is dense fog, falling snow or heavy rain; when daylight is fading; and generally to avoid inconveniencing other traffic.
It is good practice to use dipped headlights or to dim or dip your lights instead of using only sidelights in built-up areas where there is good street lighting.
Use main beam headlights in situations, places and times outside of
those listed above.
Use fog lights only during dense fog or falling snow. You must turn them off at all other times.