With the fact that daytime running lights able to increase the safety of movement is already agreed by most of the experts. The statistics of European countries is indisputable, therefore, since 2011, they have made it mandatory to install navigation lights on cars intended for sale in the European Union.
But why exactly are daytime running lights mandatory, because you can just drive with low beam, and besides, the rules allow it? There are three answers:
1. During the day, drivers may forget to turn on the dipped beam, as the road is normally visible.
2. Turning on the head light during the day is unprofitable in all respects. therefore vehicles for the European Union and are equipped with daytime running lights that, compared to halogen lamps consume electricity 10-20 times less and last much longer.
3. Dipped beam is a compromise measure, because it is hard to see during the day. As for the daytime running lights, although they do not shine so much, they have a greater brightness, which means they are better seen.
What happens if, in an attempt to save money "for show", install daytime running lights of a Chinese unnamed manufacturer? Although they shine weakly, but if you do not break the rules road traffic, then there is no special need for warning at the intersection about its appearance. But it will not be possible to achieve the desired savings in this way, and if we talk about security, then any compromises here in general will be inappropriate. But first things first.
Probably, it is inappropriate to talk about saving, when barely noticeable cheap lights cannot meet their intended purpose, in such cases you will be forced to talk with inspectors.
And now about security issues. Why buy high-quality bright daytime running lights that are visible only at a high angle of the sun and from a distance, because the driver's safety mainly depends on whether he sees other vehicles or not? The motorist who is used to not breaking the traffic rules under any circumstances is interested in seeing all potential offenders. How important is it that other road users can see this driver when making safe and correct maneuvers? After all, if anyone gets into an accident, then for this there are different types insurance. In general, this is a logical theory, but it is immensely distant from real life for several reasons:
1. The illusion of full compliance with all the rules is created. Even in the event that the driver has not previously violated the traffic rules, this does not mean that he did not do it unintentionally.
2. It is better to remain intact than right, because even in the event of a positive outcome of an accident on the part of the insurance proceeding, the motorist still loses time and nerves.
3. Controversial situations. In practice, there are many controversial situationswhen both drivers are right from certain points of view. After all, not all traffic accidents will fit into strict prosecutorial wording. In addition, in the process of driving, there are many "adjacent zones" and "transitional moments" when there is a change in the mode of crossing intersections, a change in the priority right to travel, and so on.
It should also be borne in mind that daytime running lights are not only intended to make the vehicle more visible, they also help motorists correctly estimate the distance. Human vision is arranged in such a way that it is easier for him to "focus" on a brighter point than on a blurred silhouette.
The conclusion from this suggests itself: to ensure safe traffic, the driver is not enough to be observant and disciplined in relation to other road users. The chances of such attention, that is, of being noticed by others, should be increased. It should also be borne in mind that the more vehicles on the street equipped with bright running lights, the less noticeable among them are cars with “nominal” weak lights, since drivers are guided by the light during the day in about the same way as at night. Although now we are still very far from the night mode, where, in the presence of light, there is also a car, but if there is no light, then there is no car either.
So what kind of daytime running lights to put? Most manufacturers advise installing mortise structures, but their installation is considered a rather complicated process, and it also requires some skills. Today, you can also find hinged monoblocks on sale, they can be built into the bumper grille, only their size is a problem, which makes it almost impossible to install them correctly. As for those navigation lights that suit you in size, they usually do not fit according to the norms due to the weak aperture ratio. But in today's market, many of the lights on offer do not have the necessary certification at all, which means that you can slip the usual Christmas tree decoration under the guise of daytime running lights. Selected household LED manufacturers seeing new market, decided to install their products in plastic cases, passing off as running lights.
Against this background, the daytime running lights released famous companies, for example, by Philips, which developed the first such products back in 1992, and it was installed on a Ford Thunberbird car.
But daytime running lights must not only be correct, but also must be connected correctly. According to the rules, motorists should be aware that daytime running lights must turn on when starting. power unit, and turn off automatically when the headlights are turned on, the only exceptions were cases of "winking", that is, when the headlights are turned on for short intervals.
The conclusion from all of the above is simple - it is necessary to install daytime running lights, and from the very beginning it is necessary to install high-quality daytime lights so that they do not have to be changed over time. And do not forget that the price of even the highest quality daytime lights pays off due to their economy, and their safety and comfort are invaluable in general.
As all drivers of Ukraine know, according to the latest changes in the traffic rules (introduced on April 15, 2013), in the period from October 1 to May 1, in the daytime, daytime running lights should be on on all vehicles if they are is in the design of the car, or dipped beam (clause 9.8 of the SDA). For violation of this rule, the traffic police threaten punishment under Article 122, part 2 (violation of the rules for using external light devices) in the form of a fine from 425 to 510 UAH.
In this article, we would like to tell you why you need to turn on the light in the daytime, what is DRL and whether the traffic police should really issue such a large fine for violating traffic rules clause 9.8
So, DRL (DRL) - external lighting devicesdesigned to improve front visibility of the vehicle during daylight hours. They should not be confused with parking or side lights, which have a lower brightness and are intended to indicate the size of the car in the dark and in poor visibility. The purpose of DRL is to be noted in the eyes of the driver of an oncoming vehicle (or pedestrian), while not blinding him. Formally, this means that the DRL should shine in the eyes of oncoming vehicles and pedestrians (even higher).
There are several options for the implementation of DRL in different countries the world. For example, in the UK, low beam headlights are used as DRLs, but their voltage must be lowered. Headlights are used in the USA high beam, again at reduced voltage. Separate running lights are mandatory in Scandinavian countries. Moreover, all cars produced in these countries come with such lights installed. In Russia, the use of fog lights is provided as DRL.
Why did the world's leading countries decide to use the reduced capacity? The main fact is the ecological problem. When the headlight is on, the power consumption of the generator increases, respectively, by approximately 5% (according to experts' calculations), gasoline consumption increases and hence the emission into the atmosphere increases.
Let's take a look at a few options.
1. Use of fog lights (PTF). The main direction of the fog lights glow is at the bottom of the road so that you can see something in the fog. Therefore, as DRLs, they are not very effective. Typical power of a light bulb in PTF (H11) is 55W, i.e. driving during the day will cost you an extra 110 watts of generator energy, in addition, do not forget that PTFs work with the dimensions turned on. Full power will be about 150-160W. This will result in gasoline costs (if you count the figure per year, it will become quite scary). In addition, the PTF lamp resource will decrease at a price
H
11 about UAH 90 apiece.
2. The use of low beam headlights, which we must turn on, according to traffic rules during the day when driving in the city. If you look closely at this option, then in terms of efficiency it does not differ much from the PTF. For efficiency, the running light must shine into the eyes of oncoming traffic, and the dipped beam is specially adjusted to glow on the road (so as not to dazzle drivers at night). In terms of power, it also does not differ much from the PTF. The power of the dipped-beam lamps is 55W, the total power with the included dimensions is the same 150W of additional round-the-clock load on the generator. Such a load often results in undercharging the battery (especially in winter time), the load on the wiring and contact group ignition lock. According to information from the Russian Federation, by cars, especially russian assembly, very often they began to change the contact ignition group, along with the dipped headlights.
3. We will not consider the main beam, although this is one of the most effective methods using it as DRL. To do this, it is done in full and is the most effective, but unfortunately, it has not been accepted by our edition of the traffic rules.
4. DRL - daytime running lights. These are separately sold headlights with white LED lights, which are installed in front of the vehicle in accordance with DSTU UN / ECE R 48-02: 2002. The usual power of one DRL headlight is 5-10 W and does not cause a special load and increase in fuel consumption.
IN modern cars DRL is already installed by the manufacturer. DSTU UN / ECER 48-02: 2002 allows the optional installation of daytime running lights if they meet the requirements described in the DSTU. Position - Width: The point on the apparent surface in the direction of the reference axis which is farthest from the vehicle's median longitudinal plane shall not be more than 400 mm from the extreme outer edge of the vehicle. The distance between the inner edges of the two visible surfaces must be at least 600 mm. This distance may be reduced to 400 mm if the overall width of the vehicle is less than 1300 mm. In height - at a distance of 250 to 1500 mm above the ground; In length - at the front of the vehicle. This requirement is deemed to be met if the emitted light does not interfere with the driver directly or indirectly as a result of reflection from the rear-view mirrors and / or other reflective surfaces of the vehicle. Geometric visibility: horizontal angle beta \u003d 20 ° outward and inward. Vertical angle alpha \u003d 10 ° up and down from the horizontal. Functional electrical circuit... If installed, the daytime running lights should turn on automatically when the engine start / stop control is in the on position. It must be possible to activate and deactivate the operation automatic activation daytime running lights without the aid of a tool. Daytime running lights should turn off automatically when the headlights are turned on, except when the headlights are turned on for a short period of time to signal road users. At the same time, I would like to note that the luminous intensity of each daylight on the output axis should not be below 400 cd and above 1200 cd.
I would especially like to note the fact that traffic rules do not clearly prohibit the installation of DRLs in the design of the vehicle. CDDD - issued their letter in which they insist that DRLs should only be installed by the car manufacturer. But there is another letter that Ukraine has a DSTU, which permits the optional installation of DRL. The only requirement is compliance with this standard, i.e. the Christmas tree diodes glued to the bumper, of course, do not meet the standard requirement. Therefore, if you are not sure that the DRLs you purchased and installed comply with DSTU, we advise you not to install them, but to use the dipped beam outside the city.
I would also like to talk about the punishment for "not turned on" on the highway outside the city in the daytime dipped beam. With DRL it is clear - if they are installed, they are always on. But what to do with the fact that someone forgot to turn on the dipped beam. And so the traffic police regards this as a violation of the rules for using lighting devices, which is punishable in accordance with Art. 122 part 2 KUpAP. Is it correct?
Requirements to turn on dipped headlights during daytime are described in clause 9.8 of these traffic rules. Section 9 of the SDA is devoted to WARNING signals. And this is understandable, since the dipped beam in the daytime is clearly not turned on in order to illuminate, but only to warn the driver of an oncoming vehicle. External lighting devices, as well as the rules for their use, are described in section 19 of the SDA. Therefore, based on this, the use of the wording "violation of the rules for the use of external lighting devices" to describe traffic violations p. 9.8 - clearly does not fit. But KUpAP Art. 122 part 2 also provides for punishment for violation of the rules for using warning signals when starting a movement or changing its direction. In this case, everyone understands that we are talking about using turn signals, but not DRL or low beam outside the city in the daytime. Thus, Art. 122 part 2 is not suitable for classifying such a violation. Therefore, in our opinion, the only correct interpretation of this violation is Art. 125 КУпАП - other traffic violations not provided for by other articles. And punishment is a warning.
But all the same, despite this, the editors appeal to all drivers! Daytime running lights or dipped headlights turned on outside the city are your personal passive safety... Due to the fact that your vehicle is visible from a distance by another driver, he will be able to prepare in advance for a dangerous maneuver, turn, overtake, etc. or wait not to commit it. The culture of drivers on the road means road safety and saved human lives! Do not violate traffic rules.
Human rights activist Petr Morugin.
19.10.2015
The popularity of DRLs (Daytime Running Lights) in recent years is increasingly undeniable. For example, many manufacturers have already made it a rule to install DRLs on the entire product line. Car enthusiasts, who actively buy external devices and mount them in a car, also caught fire with a new idea. Traffic rules are also added to the fire, according to which movement outside the city must be carried out with the DRL turned on (or dipped beam). But, despite its popularity among the masses, few know about the features, design principles and advantages of DRLs. In this article we will try to explain the most important points and close knowledge gaps.
What it is?
DRL - lighting devices that are actively used in the automotive industry. Daytime running lights are categorized as external lighting and carry the task of selecting a car from traffic flow... At the same time, there is confidence that in a few years the installation of DRL will become mandatory on all car models. Meanwhile additional system is not mounted everywhere. The owners of cars without daytime running lights, as a rule, have to be content with low beam.
Many people confuse DRL and parking lights... But this is a gross mistake. The task of dimensions is to highlight the car at night so that other road users can determine the parameters of the car. In turn, the purpose of DRL is to make the car catchy in the daytime. In this case, the road is additionally illuminated with bright light with a white tint.
Classification of daytime running lights
Today, there are several types of DRLs that every motorist should know about. They can be classified:
1. By type of execution:
- Low beam. In practice, standard headlights installed in every car are increasingly acting as DRLs. At night, the dipped beam is used to illuminate the road, and during the day - to indicate the car;
- High beam. As in the previous version, standard headlights are used to highlight traffic on the road. Only the low beam is used, but the high beam;
- Fog lights. In some cases, PTFs are used to designate a car on the road (if they are installed on a car);
- Special LED kits. Increasingly, the owner of the car is installing special LED modules on the headlights. Their task is to make more visible car in the daytime.
2. According to the features of installation, there are two options for DRL:
- Basic (factory, standard). As a rule, running lights are mounted on relatively new cars. Moreover, the first "swallows" were "launched" in 2011. Prior to this, built-in running lights were not provided in the factory versions. After a while, special (standard) headlights appeared on sale, which are sold immediately with the body. An important point is the performance features. Standard version can be made in the form of a separate device or in another form, for example, a high-beam (low-beam) light;
- Universal - systems that are mounted on a car independently (they do not have a standard (factory) version of DRL).
What to give preference to?
It is very difficult for motorists to decide which of the existing options should be used in the form of DRL. Let's consider all the options separately:
1. Dipped beam as running lights. Today, this particular option is one of the most popular among motorists. This is due traffic regulations and the lack of standard daytime running lights on the vast majority of cars.
The main advantages of low beam (when used instead of running lights) include:
- Practical and economical. No need to buy additional devices - low beam is provided in every car;
- If desired, you can set up automatic headlight ignition. All that is required is simple wiring manipulations;
- High efficiency, because the included dipped beam perfectly distinguishes the car on the road (also during the day).
Minuses:
- Increased energy consumption, which leads to greater "gluttony" of the car;
- Increasing the wear rate of the generator, which has to withstand heavy loads;
- With absence automatic mode you can forget to turn on the dipped beam, thereby running into a fine from a traffic police officer;
- Need frequent replacement lamps, because due to regular operation they will quickly deteriorate.
2. High beam in the role of DRL. In most countries of the world, this type of navigation light is prohibited due to the high risk of dazzling the oncoming driver.
Pros:
- Throwingness of the car on the road (high beam is visible in any weather);
- No need for rework.
Disadvantages:
- Rapid failure of high beam lamps;
- Prohibition of use.
3. The use of "fog lights" as DRL - another trick of many motorists. This way you can avoid the need to turn on the dipped or main beam.
Pros:
- Ease of use (no need to purchase additional devices);
- Less power consumption (provided that xenon lights are installed);
- Applicability in our country.
Minuses:
- In the case of using standard halogen headlights, the use of PTF as DRL does not provide normal visibility of the car in bad weather conditions;
- Increased energy consumption (in the case of using standard halogen lamps);
- Ban on the use of PTF in normal weather conditions.
4. Use of separate systems as DRL becomes more and more popular. In this case, both universal options and standard (factory) devices are used.
Pros:
- Excellent visibility of the machine due to the use of bright LEDs in the device;
- Minimum power consumption of energy. As a result, the service life of the generator and car battery is extended. In addition, the power unit wears out less and fuel costs do not increase;
- The service life can reach 50 thousand hours;
- The modern look allows you to decorate the car;
- A number of modern DRLs are multifunctional, so they can be used not only as navigation lights, but also as standard dimensions;
- The presence of an automatic on and off function.
Minuses:
- If we are not talking about a factory installation, then you will have to carry out alterations, which is prohibited by law;
- Not all motorists can afford the price of high-quality DRLs.
As a consequence, of the above options, it is more preferable to use remote daytime running lights. Their competitive advantage is efficiency and practicality.
Should you use DRL at all?
Against the background of the growing popularity and the emergence of obligations to use DRLs when driving during daylight hours, more and more questions arise regarding these systems. In particular, it is not entirely clear how daytime running lights appeared and what caused their so active introduction in recent years.
The emergence of DRL is not as spontaneous as many people think. Research into the effectiveness of these lights has been going on since 1970. The results obtained show that the use of daytime running lights improves road safety.
It is no secret that most of the road accidents occur during the day. The included headlights can reduce accidents by 8-10%. At the same time, the total number of victims in road accidents decreases by 20-25%. Similar studies were carried out in the USA (in 2008). The only thing is that the results were different. Here, scientists were able to prove that the use of DRL does not have a significant effect on reducing the frequency or severity of road accidents. Paradoxically, despite this evidence, the use of DRL is mandatory in the United States.
In 2011, the European Economic Commission decided that daytime running lights should be installed on all cars in the world. At the same time, their use in the daytime became mandatory (in particular, in autumn and winter).
Good afternoon, dear readers.
I think that you have already heard many times that from November 20, 2010 they come into force and that from this 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 lighting devices before November 20, how - after this date.
Those. we'll talk about the best way to switch from driving with low beam off to driving with it on. Let me remind you that there are less than three months left before these changes to the rules come into force, so it's time to think about their study and implementation.
I warn you right away that in this article we will consider the use of lighting devices only in daylight hours.
Use of lighting devices before November 20, 2010
Currently, when driving during daylight hours, some categories of vehicles must include 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 turned on:
- on motorcycles and mopeds;
- when moving in an organized transport convoy;
- on route vehicles moving along a specially designated lane towards the main traffic flow;
- at organized transportation groups of children;
- when transporting dangerous, bulky and heavy cargo;
- when towing motor vehicles (on a towing vehicle);
- when driving outside settlements.
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 a near or high beam headlights;
- instead of the dipped headlights under the conditions provided for in paragraph 19.5 of the Regulation.
Notice 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 the daytime running lights, they are not mentioned at all in the current edition of the traffic rules. Well, since this type of lighting devices turns on simultaneously with the start of the car engine, then you do not need to remember about it at all.
Let's summarize. At present, during daylight hours, lighting devices should only be turned on on the vehicles listed in paragraph 19.5. The rest of the vehicles can also turn them on as needed.
Use of lighting fixtures after 20 November 2010
After November 20, 2010, the text of paragraph 19.5 of the road traffic regulations will be significantly reduced, however, the group of vehicles that it will cover will significantly increase:
19.5. During daylight hours, dipped-beam headlamps or daytime running lights must be switched on on all vehicles in motion for the purpose of their identification.
The dipped headlights should now be on on all vehicles and always. He also had an alternative - the use of daytime running lights, which are always on.
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 beam or high beam headlights;
- at night on unlit sections of the road, together with low or high beam headlights;
- instead of dipped headlights in accordance with paragraph 19.5 of the Regulation.
Therefore, fog lights are also an alternative to dipped beam.
Let's summarize. After November 20, 2010, at least one of the listed lighting devices must be switched on on each vehicle: low beam, daytime running lights, fog lights.
Moving to new traffic rules
In this part of the article, we will consider how best to switch to the new traffic rules for drivers of various cars.
Most lucky owners cars with daytime running lights... They don't need to think about anything at all. They can ride under the same rules both before and after November 20.
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, in such a car, you can just get behind the wheel and go without thinking about using 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. On November 5-10, you need to start using the dipped headlights when driving during the day. Fog lights can also be used. The choice depends on your preferences.
If there are those willing, they can start using dipped headlights or PTF right now, the existing rules do not prohibit this.
Well, if someone wants, on the contrary, to pull to the last, then no one forbids waiting right until November 20, and only then start using the low beam.
Let's summarize. Owners of cars with daytime running lights do not need to think about changing paragraphs 19.4 and 19.5 of the traffic rules at all, while the rest should prepare themselves for the fact that starting from November 20, 2010, they will have to constantly keep the dipped beam on. You can turn on the dipped beam during the day and before this date.
But I found that I was looking for a long time :))) what are these "Daytime Running Lights"? :)))
Daytime running lights orLEDDRL - external lighting devices designed to improve front visibility of a moving vehicle during daylight hours.
“19.5. During daylight hours, all moving vehicles must include dipped-beam headlights or daytime running lights for the purpose of identifying them, ”says DRL in a new amendment to the traffic rules.
Many people have a counter question about the legality of using such DRLs when passing a vehicle inspection, since it is forbidden to use additional. lighting devices, not provided by design TS. There is an answer to this from the SDA:
According to GOST R 41.48-2004 "Uniform regulations concerning the certification of vehicles for the installation of lighting and light signaling devices", the installation of such devices on a car is allowed. Clause 6.19 of this GOST allows the optional installation of a daytime running lamp, provided that the placement is in accordance with the standards (see figure) and the functional electrical diagram is correct. “If installed, the daytime running lights should turn on automatically when the engine start / stop control is in the on position. It must be possible to activate and deactivate the automatic activation of daytime running lights without the aid of a tool (without the participation of additional keys - editor's note). Daytime running lights should turn off automatically when the headlights are turned on, except when the headlights are turned on for a short period of time to signal road users. "
At night they ( led daytime running lights) should automatically turn off, otherwise the glare effect will be even higher than from xenon.
Strange as it may seem, but one of the reasons for the appearance of daytime running lights in Russia will be the prohibition of non-standard, or, as the people say, "collective farm" xenon. What's on him? Everything is very simple. It's no secret that in due time, when xenon light just registered on cars, he was the personification of wealth and luxury. Such a car enjoyed priority on the road and universal reverence from the side of halogen road users. Xenon was fabulously expensive, and not everyone could afford to buy a car with such optics. But many wanted something like that. Then the first ersatz kits began to appear, consisting of halogen bulbs with painted in blue color cones. They shone, of course, so-so, but like xenon, chilling those around and warming the soul of the owner with a bluish tint. For a while, the status quo was restored. But suddenly thunder struck. The traffic police began a fight against blue light, whose appearance in the optics of the car went against the traffic rules. Cars stopped in batches during raids, and their owners were fined. And although it was not so large, a lot could have come in a day. The sadness of the people became unreasonable. BMW and Mercedes again became especially noticeable on the roads, and in order to further emphasize their status, their owners did not extinguish xenon even during the day. And thus, by the way, without knowing it, they increased the safety of road traffic. It is impossible not to see a car driving with low xenon light during the day. Consequently - lower percentage getting such cars in an accident during the day. And the people were waiting. And finally he waited. Help came from the Middle Kingdom. A huge amount of cheap xenon literally flooded the shelves of our stores, thereby opening the way for the population to a bright status future. They began to put xenon on literally everything that moves. 4300 Kelvin, 6000 Kelvin, 7500 Kelvin - literally everything has begun to understand the color temperature, from the owners of expensive SUVs to the owners of "kopecks" killed by roads and life. At the same time, it was not at all taken into account that the xenon lamp should work in tandem with the optics calculated specifically for it, be it a lens or a reflective reflector. Otherwise, it not only shines poorly, sometimes worse than a halogen, but also blinds. In this connection, the ban has become a well-founded measure. Of course, they went too far with the sanctions. Taking away the rights for this would not be worth it. The car, in the end, can be driven by a person who does not know about the xenon installed on it. Let's say you took a friend's car to the airport for your family to hit the road, and you are at the traffic police post - hop! - and deprived of his rights. A fine twice the cost of an average statistical kit would be enough. This is to make it unprofitable to bargain with a traffic cop even for half the amount.
And where does the daytime running lights, you ask. Bright, heavy-duty LEDs are what suddenly became status on the car. Have you noticed how many cars with optics that mimic the optics of the latest Audi or Opel have appeared? Inexpensive led strip literally surround the headlights of many far from new cars. However, few of the owners of these cars thought about the fact that these luminous stripes or check marks in branded optics are nothing more than daytime running lights. Heavy duty LEDs installed in the headlights latest models European cars emit pure white light, which is equally well visible in both cloudy and sunny weather. The latter makes the car more visible on the road, and thus increases the safety of both the driver and his passengers, as well as third-party road users. Plus, LED daytime running lights reduce energy consumption by 80 percent. They consume only 14 watts instead of 110 watts of low beam and another 20 watts of side lights that burn with it. And the service life of a conventional lighting system, due to the absence of the need to use it during the day, increases. The very same service life of such LEDs, as a rule, is equal to the service life of the entire car, which is about 10,000 hours. Provided that they will only be used during the daytime. By the way, this is one of mandatory conditions... At night, they should automatically turn off, otherwise the glare effect will be even higher than from xenon. So far, there is not a word in our traffic rules about these navigation lights, but in the near future they will most likely be amended accordingly. “This innovation is a requirement of the times.
On modern cars, daytime running lights are used, which start working immediately after starting the engine. Thus, it is no longer necessary to turn on the dipped headlights. Accordingly, the rules need to provide for an alternative - either the dipped beam or daytime running lights are on, ”said Viktor Kiryanov, Chief Inspector of Traffic Safety of the Russian Federation.
So what happens, today, such running lights are prohibited? Not at all. According to GOST R 41.48-2004 "Uniform regulations concerning the certification of vehicles for the installation of lighting and light signaling devices", the installation of such devices on a car is allowed. Clause 6.19 of this GOST allows the optional installation of a daytime running light, provided that the placement is in accordance with the standards (see figure) and the functional electrical circuit is correct. “If installed, the daytime running lights should turn on automatically when the engine start / stop control is in the on position. It must be possible to activate and deactivate the automatic activation of daytime running lights without the aid of a tool (without the participation of additional keys - editor's note). Daytime running lights should turn off automatically when the headlights are turned on, except when the headlights are turned on for a short period of time to signal road users. "
The market for additional navigation lights is still small. And those that are offered are very expensive. Typically, the cost of such kits is twice the cost of Chinese xenon. Plus, for the most part, they require a fairly qualified installation. Not everyone will dare to cut the bumper, and then climb with the wiring into the fuse box. After conducting market research, we came to the conclusion that only the Philips LED Daytime Lights set stood out favorably against this background. According to the manufacturer, the kit can be installed on almost any modern european car in less than two hours. Tempting, isn't it? We contacted the company and received a sample kit.
The kit really turned out to be self-sufficient; to install it, only a Phillips screwdriver, pliers and a 10-ring spanner were required. However, another problem surfaced here. As it turned out, this kit cannot be installed on every European car. If you strictly follow the installation drawing, then there will not be many such machines. In the end, from the entire editorial galaxy, only the budget one came up to the installation requirements Renault Logan... (The irony of fate, isn't it? The thing is not cheap, and you can only put it on a budget foreign car.) In the other cars, there was either no space of the appropriate size, or their location was contrary to GOST. However, lED installation Daytime Lights on Logan didn't go very smoothly either. In order to drown the headlights flush with the bumper, the grille had to be cut out at the installation site. But there were no problems with the electrical part. It was only necessary to stretch the wiring to the control unit for switching on, energize the unit to the battery terminals and "throw" one wiring in parallel with the plus of the side lights. In this case, smart electronics monitors the moment when the engine is started by increasing the voltage on the battery and after starting it turns on the lights. As soon as you turn on the side lights, the LED Daytime Lights turn off instantly, thereby preventing the possibility of using these optics in the dark. And, to be honest, I don't want to do this at all, because the daytime running lights, although bright, shine disgustingly. The maximum they can illuminate the road is - a meter and a half. But during the day, the car is really much more noticeable, especially in inclement weather. Moreover, the further it is, the greater the flow intensity. We can only hope that soon the cost of these useful devices will decrease, and they will go from the status category to the public one. After all, road safety is our common concern.
Not so simple
For two decades, the debate about whether light is needed during the day has not subsided. And there is still no answer.
Back in 1993, General Motors first approached the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with a proposal to mandatory installation daytime running lights (DRL - Daytime Running Lights) on all newly produced cars. And he gets the first refusal. The latter dates from last year. Based on both the analysis of data provided by GM and numerous independent and independent studies, the report of the chief US expert on road safety says: “The research methods used do not allow us to claim that DRLs actually improve road safety. It is likely that in some situations positive effect takes place, but the negative in others is not excluded. " NHTSA Conclusion: DRLs can be used as optional additional equipment... And in Canada and Europe, daylight took root. And in some places it even became a requirement of the law. The list of countries "running in front of the locomotive" includes all Scandinavian plus so-called. former countries the eastern block. With the latter, everything is clear: most of the laws adopted by our ex-allies and ex-fellow citizens are designed to prove that they are holier than the Pope and greater Europeans than the Germans.
and the French.
But with the Scandinavians and Finns, the matter is more serious. The Nordic countries cannot boast of an abundance of light. Twilight stretches for six months: it is simply necessary to allocate transport on the road.
Opponents of the DRL in Europe (more on them later) argue that other road users - motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians - lose from daylight. Motorcyclists lose their exclusive right to distinguish themselves on the road, and those who move with their strength are completely lost. The argument is serious, but not very relevant for the North, where they try not to walk on foot. Yes, and on two wheels it is comfortable here for a couple of months a year.
How Italy got into the camp of supporters remains a mystery.
Meanwhile, the anti-DRL movement has spread to almost all of Europe. But since laws in a number of countries have already been adopted, authoritative bodies turn to experts with a question: are the conditions for “unlit” traffic participants worsening? And they, just like their American counterparts, answer about the lack of precise methods and clear evidence. But this time not the benefits of the DRL, but the harm from them. For details of the controversy, visit the websites of the national organizations Drivers against DRL ("Drivers against daytime running lights").
Technically, the obligation to drive with light during the day is also criticized. If you simply turn on the dipped beam of standard headlights, fuel consumption (by 1-3%) and CO2 emissions (by 0.6-1.4%) will increase. If instead of dipped beam (55 W) it was possible to use brake light bulbs (21 W) or similar in power, then the energy consumption would be reduced by 62%. And such lamps have already been created specifically for DRL. But since, like all other incandescent lamps, they have a limited lifespan and are used longer than "night" lamps, they cannot be expected to be widespread.
LED daytime running lights look much more interesting. They use significantly less energy, last as much as the car itself, and give designers a free hand. Unlike the "dimmed" standard headlights, LED DRLs practically do not blind oncoming ones. The price just bites.
Should I install DRL or not? Decide for yourself. Fortunately, we do not have a binding law. Glowing "eyelashes" are becoming fashionable, and the harm from them, in any case, is much less than from self-made or unregulated xenon. And the benefits? Benefit is a relative concept.
Good luck on the road!
The movement of vehicles with the headlights on in the daytime became the norm after the approval of amendments to the RF SDA of 2010. However, the lack of standard daytime running lights (DRL) forces drivers to use other legally permitted car lights as illumination. These can be low beam headlights or foglights (PTF).
What shortcomings have been identified among the permitted types of headlights over the past 6 years of the law? How to get rid of them without violating the provisions of the current traffic rules?
Why is it undesirable to use low beam?
The name "Dipped Beam" testifies to its direct purpose - illumination of the roadway at night directly in front of the car, without dazzling oncoming traffic. The decision to use it as a navigation light was a forced measure that did not require structural redevelopment and additional investment. As a result: we wanted the best (to increase the level of safety on the roads), but it turned out as always (the load on the car increased).
Unlike standard DRLs, which begin to glow when the engine is started, the dipped beam headlights (FBS) must not be forgotten to turn on and off. Forgot to turn on - fine, forgot to turn off - dead battery. In both cases, the consequences are not rosy. The luminous flux emitted by the dipped beam headlamps is mainly directed downwards to avoid missing imperfections in the asphalt. At a relatively large distance between oncoming cars, the effect of such a glow is practically absent. It turns out that, moving at a speed of about 100 km / h, it is difficult for drivers to react in a timely manner to vehicles that move or go to overtake on oncoming lane and pose a potential emergency threat. This is perhaps main drawback the use of low beam instead of DRL, requiring increased concentration of attention from drivers.
In some brands of cars, not only the FBS, but also other lighting devices, for example, backlighting, are powered from one switch dashboard... There is no benefit from this in the daytime, but additional energy and fuel consumption is provided. Trips around the city with frequent downtime in traffic jams and at traffic lights also have a negative effect. In such cases, the generator does not have time to replenish the battery with energy.
Regular use of dipped beam headlights during the daytime negatively affects the reliability of all elements of the electrical circuit: the lamp life is reduced and battery... As a result, at night, when one simply cannot do without the FBS, one of the lamps may simply fail.
What's wrong with custom LED DRLs?
Despite the wide range of advantages, LED daytime running lights (led-drl) are not without their disadvantages. For obvious reasons chinese manufacturers carefully hide " back side medals ”, trying to impose an advertised product for little money on an inexperienced buyer. Practice sometimes proves complete absence efficiency from cheap DIY mounted DRLs, which manifests itself as follows:
- the luminous intensity is much less than the minimum value set by the rules of 400 cd;
- the angle of propagation of the light flux does not meet the standards;
- poor build quality leads to crashes and rapid failure of the DRL.
Of course, you can buy high-quality LED DRLs, pay for their connection and installation according to all the rules, and then enjoy the ride. However, the cost of a branded kit with installation services will result in about 7 thousand rubles.
Full beam instead of DRL
There is another way to implement running lights, devoid of the above disadvantages. Its essence lies in the use of high-beam headlamps included in the glow plug and used instead of DRL. This method of inclusion has long been proposed by the Americans. However, in the European car market, this option has not become widespread.
The essence of the method consists in sequentially switching on two high beam lamps, which leads to a twofold decrease in the voltage across them. Since the spiral of a light bulb is a resistive load, the current decreases in proportion to the voltage. As a result, power consumption and light output are reduced by 4 times. Oddly enough, the effect of such DRLs is higher than that of the included dipped beam. The light from them is softer and it is directed at the drivers of oncoming traffic.
Implementation option
The design features of most cars do not allow you to quickly remake the parallel connection of the main beam headlights into a serial connection, while leaving both options in working order. The reason for this is the need to reconnect the relay, errors on-board computer and other difficulties.
Nevertheless, there are craftsmen who make practical diagrams for adjusting the brightness of powerful lamps with their own hands. They are based on the operation of MOSFET transistors in the PWM modulation mode, which allows you to effectively control the luminous flux without affecting the other actuators. One of such schemes is presented below. The simplest and most acceptable way for many car enthusiasts to convert the long-range into full heat is to install a ready-made DRL controller. This miniature device, the size of a matchbox, is highly reliable and easy to connect. DRL controllers are serially produced for different brands cars with various functionalities. 
In the simplest case, the DRL-controller reduces the lamp power by about 3 times from 100 to a fixed 30-35% and has 5 pins for connection:
- (+ 12V) - connected through a 10A fuse to the battery;
- body - connects to the car body;
- (+ turn on) - goes to the terminal after ignition;
- output - connects to the high beam headlamp wire;
- dimensions - connects to the parking lights wire.
DRLs from the high beam based on the controller can have several connection methods. The best option their automatic start is considered at the moment of ignition with a delay of several seconds. To avoid malfunctions in the operation of other lighting devices, sometimes you have to modify the circuit by adding a relay to it. You can place the DRL controller in any convenient place by fixing it with a tie. To ensure reliable contact, the wires are soldered to each other, and end fittings or lugs are used in the terminal connections.
An important parameter of the DRL controller is the maximum load capacity. Before using for the first time, make sure that the power of the lamps does not exceed this parameter.
After making several test turns, you can hit the road and enjoy all the advantages of high beam in full heat, namely:
- well-chosen brightness and direction of the light flux;
- automatic switching on and off;
- no costs for LED DRLs;
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