Expert warns of £1,000 fine for making dangerous headlight mistake

Car on road
-Credit: (Image: Derby Telegraph)


Motorists across the country are at risk of being fined £1,000 for a simple headlight mistake. All cars within the UK have been legally acquired to contain daytime running lights (DRL) since 2011.

These special headlights switch on automatically whenever a vehicle's engine is started. The low-wattage lamps are designed to help increase visibility and reduced vehicle accidents during the daytime.

It's important to note though that DRL systems do not automatically turn on lights at the rear of the vehicle. Therefore, conditions where visibility is at its lowest, such as heavy rain or in the dark, it's important to not rely on your DRLs alone.

Instead, motorists are being advised by experts to switch on their dipped headlights which automatically force the rear lights to switch on. Graham Conway, Managing Director at Select Car Leasing says: “DRLs have been helping to improve road safety for more than a decade now. But I’d urge motorists to understand precisely how they work and what job they’re supposed to do.

“Here at Select, we’ve heard countless reports of people failing to illuminate their headlights and taillights while driving in poor visibility in recent weeks, and there’s a fear motorists might mistakenly believe that their DRLs are sufficient in those sorts of conditions. They’re not!

“We had a rash of reports during last week’s rain storms, with drivers taking to spray-engulfed motorways with just their DRLs lit - which is obviously incredibly dangerous. And it would clearly be extremely foolish to rely on DRLs when the sun goes down, too.

“The most important thing to remember is that many DRL systems don’t automatically light the rear lights. If you want to be seen by the cars who are following you, be sure to click your headlights on.

“According to the Highway Code, you must use headlights when visibility is ‘seriously reduced’ - either through light conditions, rain or fog - and generally when you can’t see for more than 100 metres (328 feet).

“Failure to illuminate properly can lead to a £1,000 fine if spotted by the police. Taking proactive control of the different lights you use will increase your safety and reduce any risk on winter journeys.”