Daytime running lamp

The daytime running lights (English: Daytime Running Light ), also called the light day, is a vehicle lighting, which may only be used for trips in good visibility conditions on the day, provided he uses other light is not required (such as the low beam motorcycle). For daytime running lights are used to complement the vehicle headlights or headlight circuits.

• 2.1 Europe
• 2.2 North America
• 2.3 Other Countries

Technology

Headlight circuits

Headlight circuits are electric circuits with which the existing headlights with reduced light intensity is automatically activated when the ignition is in conjunction with corner and tail light and number plate and dashboard lights (Scandinavian version) or headlights and marker lights forward after releasing the handbrake ( North American version ). The light intensity should however not be dimmed to the ECE -87 value of 400 candela, but only within the narrow tolerances for low beam. Most car manufacturers such as Audi, Volkswagen and BMW, are equipping their cars with such a driving light circuits, and specialized workshops they offer as a retrofit solution.

When driving light circuits, the low beam headlights are switched on automatically by a relay when the engine is running. The disadvantage of this solution is the high power consumption of the main headlights. In addition, the halogen light bulbs are quite expensive, also very difficult to change in some vehicle models, in addition, also the lamp wear for dashboard lighting and marker lights lamps is substantial.

As an alternative to driving light circuits, there is "modified DRL circuits ". This variant switches such as car dashboard lighting, marker lights and license plate lights off or exclusively supplied the headlights with power during the daytime running light function. The technique of pulse-width modulation, it also allows the current consumption of the headlights used, which should serve as Tagfahrlampenersatz, slightly reduce ( for low beam or fog lights) (reduction shall not cause a reduction of the light intensity within the tolerances of ECE). In Canada, for example, beyond the high beam is supplied with a much stronger current reduction to 70 %, this reduction causes a luminosity which approximate those of daytime running lamps in accordance with ECE than 87.

In the possibility of xenon lamps life extension are significantly limited, xenon lamps are arc lamps and always need the full power required in order to prevent a " tearing " of the arc. This can only be drastically reduced by a sophisticated circuit logic the number of ignitions. The shortest-lived component with xenon lamps are not the lamps themselves, but the control modules with the high voltage generator. These components usually have half the life of a xenon lamp.

Daytime running lights

Daytime running lights are faint, fuel-efficient and durable lights, the less luminous than the low beam, but four times as intense shine like the front white outline marker lamps (which is often also the parking lights ). The Technical Standard No. 87 of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (ECE ) provides a light intensity of at least 400 candelas per light for daytime running lights. Thus the vehicle is better visible, the road can not be illuminated but. Daytime running lights are directed only to the front. On the German market, Audi, Mercedes, Fiat, Ford, Lancia, Daihatsu, Opel, VW, BMW, Citroen, Renault, Porsche, since June 2008, Seat and Skoda are currently the car manufacturers who offer daytime running lights for some of their car models from the factory. For other markets (eg Scandinavia), other manufacturers equip their vehicles already from the factory with daytime running lights. The daytime running lights used by BMW since 2006 also allows - in contrast to the daytime running lights from other manufacturers - illuminate the taillights with reduced strength. From model year 2012, the taillights are disabled for daytime running lights.

Daytime running lights can be used universally or designed so that they are only suitable for retrofitting of certain vehicles. Be used either incandescent ( with outputs between five watts and 21 watts) or LEDs.

The maximum power thus lies in the use of such a retrofit solution 10-42 watts for both daytime running lights. Parking lights, tail lights, dash lights and rear registration plate lights remain dark and not wear out therefore. When switching on the normal headlights daytime running lights must be turned off automatically.

• Halogen lamps for daytime running lights are available in special versions with an extended service life of 1,000 hours or more.
• LEDs have a lifespan of up to 100,000 hours.

Daytime running lights that meet the requirements of the ECE Directive No. 87, provide for the desired road traffic signaling effect. Low beam would certainly lighter, but is not necessary. With the use of daytime running lights is not about maximum, but optimal signal effect.

The known issues in the assembly of additional high beam and fog lights are not transferable to ( LED ) daytime running lights. Although found on modern cars often have no suitable locations for accommodating additional remote or front fog lamps, modern LED daytime running lights, however, are much smaller, the size of the illuminating surface must be in accordance with ECE R87 only 25 cm ² and must not exceed 200 cm ². Retrofitting is not that difficult, especially as LED daytime running lights need through the use of lightweight plastics no mechanically strong -duty mounting brackets and often easier to or can be screwed under the plastic bumper.

Retrofitting by R87/R48

In accordance with the ECE R48 regulation certain provisions relating to the installation location and operation are in the assembly separate daytime running lights to consider:

• Mounting location: vehicle front
• Distance from the ground: minimum 250 mm, maximum 1500 mm
• Distance between the lamps less than 600 mm
• Distance between the vehicle exterior and driving lights: a maximum of 400 mm
• Daytime running lights must turn off automatically upon activation of the low beam only and may not together with the state, low beam or high beam lights (except headlight flasher ).
• The lights must wear a (E) Number and the name RL.

Retrofitting by R7

Daytime running lights can also carry a R7 - labeling, then there is a difference in the function to normal driving lights with a R87 - marking:

• Combined daytime running lights and clearance lights must be dimmed automatically in their power upon activation of the dipped beam and not be mixed with the low beam or high beam lights at full brightness (except headlight flasher ).
• As clearance lights (or standing lamps ) they must be as far mounted outside the vehicle and not too deep.
• Do not forward to many state and clearance lights are attached.

Important according to traffic regulations: The ECE Regulation 48, which is also recognized by Austria, sets the mounting of the daytime running lights on the front of the vehicle height, width, longitudinal direction, geometric visibility, alignment and circuit, as amended in 1995 under point 6.19.4 fixed.

Daytime running lights have to ECE Regulation no more than 87 and the letters RL ( stands for " Running Light" ) wear, otherwise this counts for a main study to be a significant deficiency and may occur in the insurance for the reduction of compensation, if in an accident, a causal relationship can be demonstrated. The approval of LED strip daytime running lights, the upgrading easier, as there are matching mounting holes in many front panels. When LED daytime running lights some very inexpensive offered must be paid to the approval by R87, as commercially also known as non-compliant LED daytime running lights are available " for show ".

Legislation

Europe

In general, daytime running lights may only be used alone or connected to the parking light. A combination with the low beam is not permitted. This means that daytime running lights and low beams must never shine together.

A small exception to this would, inter alia, the Audi and the original built at the VW Phaeton from GP1 adaptive daytime running lights. Here, the daytime running lights with 100 percent intensity. If the low beam is turned on, the DRL will dim from to parking light level and shall legally then as parking light and marker light. In the meantime, this solution is also for retrofitting. Retrofitted daytime running lights must be at least 25 inches off the ground and not more than 40 inches away from the outer edge of the vehicle. The distance between the lamps must be at least 60 centimeters in vehicles with a width of more than 1.30 meters.

The daytime running provisions vary greatly across European countries. Some countries such as Belarus, Great Britain, Ireland, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Turkey and Cyprus give no light provisions before or have such a provision now even canceled ( Austria, see below). In some countries daytime running lights is mandatory and banned in others, only recommended in yet another. Sometimes there are different rules for motorcycles and for multi- vehicles.

Even in countries with light duty driving with lights is regulated differently in the day. For example, write Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Slovenia, Spain and the Czech Republic, the carry spare bulbs before.

According to the Directive 2008/89/EC of 24 September 2008 amending Council Directive 76/756/EEC and to adapt to the UN / ECE Regulation No 48 shall from 7 February 2011 all new types of vehicles and new in traffic coming vehicles used for passenger transportation with four wheels and a maximum of 8 seats ( excluding the driver ) ( M1) and motor vehicles for transport of goods with at least four wheels and a gross vehicle weight up to 3.5 t ( N1 ) equipped in the European Union with daytime running lights be to get an operating license or a European type approval ( homologation ECE ). From 7th February 2012, the obligation for fitting with daytime running lights for all new vehicles including buses and light trucks is true, later changed beginning from August 2012.

Regulations in the respective countries:

In Germany and France there is only the recommendation for motorists to drive on the day with light. Thus, on 31 October 2003 in § 49a para 5, the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations ( Road Traffic Licensing Regulations ) added to daytime running lights. Activated fog lights are, however, illegal in Germany, France and Switzerland without a compelling reason power-up, such as fog, rain or snowfall. Motorcycles must be in accordance with § 17 paragraph 2a, traffic regulations during the day go with the low beam or with activated DRLs. From February 2011 to within the European Union, all newly typed passenger car and transporter models (not all new cars, as is often incorrectly asserted ) be equipped with daytime running lights. A mandatory use does not exist.

In Austria, from November 15, 2005 to 31 December 2007 either the daytime running lights or headlights required (from April 15, 2006 alternatively the fog lights, if they are integrated into the front of the vehicle and were not retrofitted ). Also the dimming according to ECE Regulation No. 87 was allowed. After the accident rate in Austria increased rapidly in 2007, massive doubts about the usefulness of a commitment to the daytime running lights were expressed both by some experts, politicians and traffic clubs as well as by many motorists and discussed the abolition or amendment of the Ordinance. Since 1 January 2008, the light duty for daytime driving is lifted. Unchanged the light duty applies in poor visibility and darkness. Driving only with clearance light ( parking light ) is allowed in Austria in good visibility.

In Hungary, the legislature is sufficient that in good visibility only the parking light ( parking light ) will be used.

In Greece, driving with headlights is not explicitly prohibited in the day in the cities, but there incorrectly set and blinding headlights will be prosecuted. Thus, a very bright daytime running lights classified with scattering light cone, where appropriate, of the Greek traffic law enforcement agencies as unconstitutional and a penalty will be applied. However there is no legal provision that light during the day in Greece prohibits in absolute terms.

In Italy, Romania and Hungary, a light duty applies out of town all year round.

In Croatia, since 2004 all year round valid light duty was abolished in 2009. Light during the day is only for the winter period, prescribed by the last Sunday in October to the last Sunday in March of the following year.

In many other countries, special daytime running lights are allowed on the front of the vehicle based on the current legal situation: the valid European ECE regulations In accordance with § 19 Section 1 of the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations follows Installation of lighting and light signaling devices on motor vehicles.

For lights or daytime running lights here the ECE R48/R87 in force since 1995, as amended. It allows two lamps on motor vehicles and shall, in point 6.19.4 the arrangement on the vehicle front fixed ( width, height, longitudinal direction, geometric visibility and orientation). This rule applies in all European countries, which recognize the ECE regulations. The ECE Regulation No. 87 requires, inter alia:

• Strength between 400-800 candelas per headlamp
• White light
• Automatic switch with the ignition
• It must be possible, the automatic activation of the driving lights without the use of tools and off.
• Automatic power off when the parking lights or headlights are turned on ( this does not apply when using the headlight flasher ).

In addition, 31 October 2003, the amendment to § 49a traffic regulations became effective (Federal Law Gazette Part I, Section G 5702, No. 52, page 2085 ). Under the newly added item 5 is now solely operated daytime running lights (without simultaneously switched on rear light ), but also on the basis of national law permitted.

Special daytime running lights must be approved in accordance with the technical regulation ECE - R87 and bear the letters " RL " in the approval mark on the lens.

North America

In Canada, on January 1, 1990, the licensing requirements were changed, which requires a Taglicht for all newly registered vehicles. Originally, the technical requirements should be based on the Scandinavian provisions which would have allowed a maximum of 1500 candelas. Vehicle manufacturers complained, however, that the additional equipment with its own lamp sets would be too expensive. Was finally introduced permission to operate the normal light with a lower voltage in a Taglichtschaltung which may then be up to 7000 Candela. In addition, the Daylight may be yellowish, which allows the use of turn signals and marker lights for the purpose of daytime running lights.

After the Daylight had been enforced for all vehicle registrations in Canada, General Motors has asked the Department of Transportation of the United States to allow the same regulations also ensure that only one model range for the North American market must be produced. Originally this scheme was rejected because the ( bright ) daytime running lights, a dazzling effect is attributed to, but eventually the Daylight according to Canadian regulations in 1995 allowed. After it came to complaints, including the glare of vehicle headlights and the possibility of confusion when using Blinklichten concerning the regulations have been revised since 1997, and thereby proposed to reduce the light density at 1500 Candela - so according to just the original Canadian proposal and at a comparable level with the European regulations. This proposal was withdrawn in 2004.

Other countries

In Australia Taglichtleuchten are allowed, but there is no mandatory daytime running lights - this was abolished for reasons of protection of vulnerable road users again.

Impact on road safety

The safety effects of daytime running lights were by and discussed among experts. In part, significant positive effects on traffic safety are derived from studies on the other hand is a danger to vulnerable road users - particularly motorcyclists - feared. Most of the previous studies on daytime running lights do not provide reliable data. This applies both to the pro- as well as for the Contra studies and is inter alia due to the complexity of the topic and the associated high test effort to obtain statistically significant results. Especially the transfer of knowledge from other countries and deriving prospective security effects on Germany remains questionable in most cases.

The Federal Highway Research Institute ( Federal Highway Research Institute ) has determined in a conservative statement that the benefits of a general introduction of daytime running lights in Germany at 1.6 times the cost would be. When using special daytime running lights he would even at three times. With the introduction of LED daytime running lights, the value rises to four times. The study includes data from various foreign examinations. The then Federal Transport Minister Manfred Stolpe spent the recommendation to generally run from October 1, 2005 with light.

However, not the intangible damage of vulnerable road users in the study were considered ( pain caused by injury, suffering through disability).

The ADAC initially held a car light duty a day for superfluous. In the ADAC motor world 1/2006, the club but says, citing the study by the Federal Highway Research Institute expressly for the general introduction of daytime running lights and calls for the transitional period until all vehicles are equipped with such headlights, as a duty, their headlights.

A long-term statistics of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe from 1970 to 1988 does not detect advantages of light duty.

A 2000 created for Switzerland summarizing examined 24 independent studies that have been carried out 1960-1996 in nine countries, on the other hand showed a positive impact on road safety, particularly in Norway, Sweden and Finland. This is mainly because that the long twilight hours were formerly very accident prone in the Nordic countries.

In Austria, the Parliament was concerned with the abolition of the November 2005 ruling obligation to " light day " in the fall of 2007. It was abolished on 1 January 2008, with the use but was not expressly prohibited. Studies have shown that the measure in total profit yielded no security " light day ", CO2 emissions increased and loaded the drivers with an average of 50 euros per year. The ultimate reason for this action but was a perception physiological study, which demonstrated for the first time on the basis of eye movement measurements, which many light - a-day opponents claim, and what was also earlier argued by eye specialists: namely, that by the light of a fixation on for the immediate run-up to the own vehicle information is insignificant, and thus the response to sudden threats is deteriorated.

A study by the Insurers Accident Research ( UDV ) from the year 2011 could not detect any significant positive effects on traffic safety through daytime running lights. However, could be registered after extensive trials in the light channel, in a driving simulator and in real traffic to any adverse safety effects on vulnerable road users.

Often ignored is the impact on unlit road users, such as cyclists and pedestrians. Their perception threshold is reduced when motorists are so conditioned to rely on active daytime running lights. The risk for unlit road users will therefore be clear.

The controversial introduction of daytime running lights was also at the motorcyclist associations, since motorcycles prior to its emergence as a kind of USP were out for the day with low beam. Since the silhouette of a motorcycle rider from the front in relation significantly worse perceived his approach speed than that of a two-track vehicle, it is useful to employ the switched-on lamps as " cognition enhancers ", especially since there are not so many motorcyclists on the roads that a faster Abstumpfungseffekt this perception would be expected. Motorcyclists fear concretely that they are disadvantaged at the latest with the widespread introduction of daytime running light and their share will rise again to the number of accidents.

Energy consumption and maintenance costs

When using the normal lighting system, the performance of headlamps, license plate and instrument lights sums depending on the vehicle model to 150 to 200 watts. Since the generator must supply this power additionally, the fuel consumption increases. The extent of the additional consumption depends heavily on the driving profile. As mean here the TÜV Rheinland call and the Federal Highway Research Institute for passenger cars with petrol engine of 0.2 liters per 100 km for diesel passenger cars and 0.14 liters per 100 km. A modern diesel engine used in adverse operating conditions, about 300 g / kWh, which would therefore be 60 g / h, the optimum operation of only 40 g / h, ie about 0.05 l / h With an efficiency between diesel engine and light source ( ie especially loss of the generator) of 75% and an average speed of 50 km / h, comes in the best case (0.05 l / h * 1/ 50 km / h * 1/ 0, 75 * 100 km = ) 0.133 l/100 km, with a not optimal operating point and for gasoline engines correspondingly higher ( the annual mileage of a passenger car in Germany is on average around 16,500 miles).

Currently available LED daytime running lights have less than 10 watts, ie 95 % less fuel consumption compared to conventional lighting after deduction of unnecessary lighting equipment. The fuel equivalent decreases so to a value of 0.01 l/100 km to 0.02 l/100 km.