DRLs, can they be turned off?...
Discussion
I understand that it is a legal requirement that all cars from a certain date must have Daytime Running Lights fitted.
I've read the DFT document (2010) about this but it is unclear to me whether it is a legal requirement to use them, especially as some cars have the option to switch them off.
My question is; if a car has DRLs is it illegal to switch them off?
I've read the DFT document (2010) about this but it is unclear to me whether it is a legal requirement to use them, especially as some cars have the option to switch them off.
My question is; if a car has DRLs is it illegal to switch them off?
I have a 2011 VW Scirocco and there is an option to switch them on and off in the lights menu within the convenience settings menu so that would suggest it's not illegal to turn them off.
I have had them switched off since I picked the car up and for every MOT and they have never been mentioned.
I have had them switched off since I picked the car up and for every MOT and they have never been mentioned.
It wasn’t an EU requirement for DRLs until (I think) cars type approved after Feb 2012. So any cars type approved from then had to have them under EU legislation. I think it was after then that the option to disable was removed.
My 2011 golf had an option in the menu, but my girlfriends 2013 fiesta doesn’t as doesn’t my current 3 series
My 2011 golf had an option in the menu, but my girlfriends 2013 fiesta doesn’t as doesn’t my current 3 series
I know some can be turned off, my Wife's old 2013 Citroen could as can my 2014 Audi, however I know many can't - my Wife's 2016 Qashqai for example and obviously many older cars don't have them at all and there is no requirement to fit them, but I'm curious as to whether it's legal to turn them off on a car that has them?
Shiv_P said:
Yeah run around in the middle of your day with your headlights on for no apparent reason 
Having gotten used to an '02 volvo and similar aged Saab where not doing that wasn't an option the headlights on my '10 bmw got turned off for the first time in a year by the MOT tester.SteBrown91 said:
It wasn’t an EU requirement for DRLs until (I think) cars type approved after Feb 2012. So any cars type approved from then had to have them under EU legislation. I think it was after then that the option to disable was removed.
My 2011 golf had an option in the menu, but my girlfriends 2013 fiesta doesn’t as doesn’t my current 3 series
The DRLs can be turned on/off on my 2014 Alfa Guilietta. My 2011 golf had an option in the menu, but my girlfriends 2013 fiesta doesn’t as doesn’t my current 3 series
mcdjl said:
Shiv_P said:
Yeah run around in the middle of your day with your headlights on for no apparent reason
Having gotten used to an '02 volvo and similar aged Saab where not doing that wasn't an option the headlights on my '10 bmw got turned off for the first time in a year by the MOT tester.Some folks still think its the 1960's where the dynamo can't cope with the load and cheap sealed beam headlights don't last very long
Helicopter123 said:
Why would you drive with headlights on during daytime instead of DRLs?
silentbrown said:
When it's raining?
Driving on M4/5 in torrential rain/heavy spray on Wednesday, the number of cars without any rear lights was shocking.......
And without DRL's, chances are those exact same drivers would be driving in the rain with no lights on at all, front or rear.Driving on M4/5 in torrential rain/heavy spray on Wednesday, the number of cars without any rear lights was shocking.......
This is why DRL's that cannot be turned off, and automatic headlights are becoming more and more common, because people simply do not have enough common sense to understand when to use their lights correctly!
silentbrown said:
.......DRLs are just at the front.
Hmmm......As I understand it, some manufacturer's only have front DRL's, and others run both front and rear lights as DRL's 
4rephill said:
Hmmm......As I understand it, some manufacturer's only have front DRL's, and others run both front and rear lights as DRL's
I've yet to see a car with tail lights illuminated when the front DRLs are illuminated.(Assuming the drive hasn't switched the side lights on)
And on my 2016 Yeti the DRLs can be deactivated via the vehicle settings in the multi-function display.
4rephill said:
And without DRL's, chances are those exact same drivers would be driving in the rain with no lights on at all, front or rear.
Not entirely sure. I expect there are plenty thinking that "I don't need headlights because I have DRLs", totally unaware that they're off at the rear.IMO DRL's front and rear should be compulsory, and not easily disabled. Modern LEDs use so little power that most of the old arguments go out of the window...
The law was that any vehicle requiring "type approval" post February 2011 would be required to have DRL's.
So that meant a number of vehicles still being produced many years after this date still did not require them.
The ability to "turn them off" is a little stranger. They are mandatory and a number of manufacturers have made them so they cannot be disabled (on vehicles post February 2011) which is the correct law.
I'm surprised by the Skoda comment, as the new Yeti did require approval after the date and VW/Audi are one of those that make it very difficult to disable them (fuses and bulb removal an the error warning that comes with that) being the only option.
As to why - I'd concur, why in gods name would you want to disable them?
Evidence suggested that daytime fatalities (once all vehicles are fitted with them) could be reduced by at least 7%. Anything that has the ability to save lives at no extra cost has to be a good thing.
The only menace on the roads are the "after market" ones that nobody seems to install legally. By law DRL's must either extinguish or reduce light output (I believe) to around 20% output at night so that they don't dazzle - like those chavs who must install aftermarket HID's, they also install these incorrectly and add further discomfort to other drivers.
So that meant a number of vehicles still being produced many years after this date still did not require them.
The ability to "turn them off" is a little stranger. They are mandatory and a number of manufacturers have made them so they cannot be disabled (on vehicles post February 2011) which is the correct law.
I'm surprised by the Skoda comment, as the new Yeti did require approval after the date and VW/Audi are one of those that make it very difficult to disable them (fuses and bulb removal an the error warning that comes with that) being the only option.
As to why - I'd concur, why in gods name would you want to disable them?
Evidence suggested that daytime fatalities (once all vehicles are fitted with them) could be reduced by at least 7%. Anything that has the ability to save lives at no extra cost has to be a good thing.
The only menace on the roads are the "after market" ones that nobody seems to install legally. By law DRL's must either extinguish or reduce light output (I believe) to around 20% output at night so that they don't dazzle - like those chavs who must install aftermarket HID's, they also install these incorrectly and add further discomfort to other drivers.
AFAIK, it's not illegal to turn them off.
BMW E9x series had DRL's switchable and illuminated front and rear.
SWMBO has a Fabia vRS of 2013 vintage. Switchable and illuminated rear lights.
I have a 2012 F*at Doblo (I know, please don't laugh) with switchable DRL's, but doesn't illuminate at the back.
My F36 BMW doesn't illuminate at the back and I'm 90% certain that I can switch them off.
No consistency.
BMW E9x series had DRL's switchable and illuminated front and rear.
SWMBO has a Fabia vRS of 2013 vintage. Switchable and illuminated rear lights.
I have a 2012 F*at Doblo (I know, please don't laugh) with switchable DRL's, but doesn't illuminate at the back.
My F36 BMW doesn't illuminate at the back and I'm 90% certain that I can switch them off.
No consistency.
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