Daytime running lights

Making vehicles more conspicuous to other road users

Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) are bright, white forward-facing lights that improve the forward conspicuousness of vehicles in the daytime.

Overseas studies have shown that daytime running lights reduce daytime accidents by making vehicles more conspicuous to other road users. 

The greatest benefits are with the more severe accidents, including head-on and intersection crashes and collisions with pedestrians and cyclists.

In 2002, the National Roads and Motorists' Association Limited (NRMA) commissioned research on the use of DRL´s.  Daytime running lights (PDF 2,272 KB/45 Pages)

What NRMA wants...

NRMA believes dedicated Daytime Running Lights are the best way forward because they shine in the best direction for improving the vehicle's chances of being seen.

However, NRMA would like to see improvements to DRLs before they are widely used in Australia.

They should be brighter than the current Australian Design Rule, which is based on a European regulation. Europe is now looking at a 50 per cent increase in brightness which will make DRLs more effective on bright days in Australia.

A light sensing system should be combined with DRLs to ensure that the system automatically switches over to low beam headlights when light levels are low. This will eliminate concerns about bright DRLs causing uncomfortable glare at dawn or dusk.