by The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine proposed to require drivers to drive with low beam headlights on at all times, regardless of the season and time of day. Currently, let us remind you, low beam headlights or daytime running lights must be turned on when driving outside the city from October 1 to May 1.
Our colleagues from the “Jedi” program learned about the innovation. The corresponding bill is already under consideration in parliament, in which it is stated that:
“All mechanical vehicles must have daytime running lights on while driving, and in the absence of such lights in the vehicle’s design – low beam headlights”
It should be noted that in many European countries, the use of low beam headlights during the daytime is mandatory. They serve as daytime running lights if none are present. How does “low beam” affect road safety and does it increase fuel consumption? Let’s look into some myths and facts about driving with headlights on during the day.
· According to 13 studies conducted in European and Scandinavian countries, using
headlights during the day reduces the risk of head-on collisions by almost 10 percent!
· The risk of hitting a pedestrian decreases by 15 percent and by 10 percent for a scooterist or
cyclist. This is because pedestrians and cyclists notice cars with headlights much earlier than cars without low beam.
· The danger during overtaking is reduced by 7 percent – the car is more visible in the side
mirror.
There is also a myth that keeping low beams constantly on leads to premature wear. This is partly true, but in reality, lamps more frequently burn out due to voltage fluctuations and, incidentally, the quality of our roads, which cause excessive vibrations.
There is a separate category of people who prefer not to turn on headlights during the day for reasons of economy. Yes, indeed, they do increase fuel consumption. By how much? It all depends on the car model and the headlights themselves. When it comes to LED headlights or LED daytime running lights, the increase in consumption is minimal. Talking about ordinary halogens, they increase fuel consumption by an average of 1-2 percent, no more. On average – about 0.1 liters per hour (mileage is not important in this case)
