2014: Daytime Headlights now Mandatory

for those of you driving in Switzerland, be aware that from 1.1.14 it is now mandatory to have your headlights on during the daytime. Although there's a 2-month 'grace' period where the police will be sympathetic, it's probably better not to be stopped by the Swiss police if you can avoid it. For typical coverage see:

http://www.lenouvelliste.ch/fr/en-continu/articles/index.php?idContent=1248735

The article indicates that a significant minority haven't yet got the message. So despite the grace period, sooner or later I imagine there will be a police blitz on drivers not conforming.

Whatever your individual view about the value or otherwise of daytime headlights, when in Switzerland I recommend conforming to local laws and just have your lights on all the time. For many of the routes anyway, it's easier than switching them on and off every time you come across a tunnel. My understanding from the article is that automatic DRLs conform.

Thanks..good to know..got to go to Geneva airport nest week

Personally, I cannot understand why we have not made this the law in Ireland/UK. It has been mandatory in Scandanavia for years. Given our dark and dreary winters, it would be a significant safety measure on our roads as well.

Actually, I agree on two counts: First, I hate it when you have the majority of cars with their lights on, but a minority with them off - it's so easy to miss a car that's blending in with the background. Second, now that the majority of cars have automatic lights anyway, those with them off are usually in a minority in poor light conditions and ideally, should conform just to make things consistent.

Wanderer wrote:Personally, I cannot understand why we have not made this the law in Ireland/UK. It has been mandatory in Scandanavia for years. Given our dark and dreary winters, it would be a significant safety measure on our roads as well.

Top shout that Wanderer. I drive for a living and cannot believe the number of idiots who drive when its wet, raining, foggy, misty, or just generally murky and dark without any lights on. Can they not see the vast majority of others are using theirs? Does their dashboard light up without turning their headlights on?

As for these ridiculous daytime running lights that seem to be the fashion at the moment....people clearly think they have got automatic lights when in fact they only have front side or LEDs and no rear lights!

Nearly as bad are people who leave fog lights on at the back when its not foggy any more, or those who think they can be seen better by using rear fogs when its raining hard - NO, you're just making it harder for everyone behind you!!!!

I think its a good idea to make anywhere known for inclement weather obligatory for headlights and I am surprised we have not done it in this country yet, just so we can do something about the muppets who don't know how to use the features on their own car properly!!!!

Rant over.

Driving this am at 8.15 couldn't believe how many drivers were without lights. It was only just getting light, I could barely see them. It's a genuine issue.