law on additional lights for cars

[john.errington]

I have a Skoda Octavia.  Often during daylight I need to turn on the sidelights to make the car more visible, and because this lights up the dash and makes it easier to see the gauges speedo etc.
However the existing sidelights are poor.  I'd like to fit some additional front position lights.

However as I understand:
DRLs (ECE R87) must switch on with the vehicle ignition and switch off when the vehicle sidelights are switched on.

They can also be made to function as front position (side) lights, which operate at a reduced intensity when the vehicle sidelights are switched on.

There also seems to be a distinction between DRL's and "daytime styling lights"

RING claim their daytime styling lamps are E marked to ECE R7 - Road Legal and state "there are no legal requirements if the front position lights are to be wired into the vehicles sidelight circuit and operated with the sidelights"

Could you please clarify this for me, and tell me whether the law allows me to fit additional "front position lights" wired into the sidelight circuit?

[TIMMY]

To be honest, that's probably too technical a question for  on here. Even most Traffic Rats would struggle with that one (me included!) Try finding a VOSA forum, they may be ore helpful.

And no, you don't need to turn the sidelights on to make your car more visible during daylight. Skoda spent an awful lot of money making sure your lights are up to the job.
You want to, and have tried to justify it. Badly!

[Enduro]

DRL lenses will be marked with an 'RL' if they are approved format and depedning on vehicle age they will either be optional or obligatory (about last Nov to be obligatory AFAIR).  So it sounds like you simply want to add additional lamps to those you have as oblig position lamps (side lights).  As long as they do not obscure or obstruct the other lamps then the RVLR (Sch2) only requires them to be white in colour.  Don't forget that DRLs are LED and low power, others may increase the power demand on other wiring and cause other aspects to be considered - whilst your car may be more visible, it may have a short or elec fire easier if you don't take that into account.  As you plan to wire them with the side lights, the bit about dual role DRLs is not an issue.

[john.errington]

Thanks Timmy I was asking for informed advice not childish criticism.  Clearly my reasons for wanting better front position lights were too difficult for you to read all the way through.  I*'ll try to make it easier for you.

In certain daylight conditions (eg overcast) I find the dash difficult to read unless the dash lights are on.

They only come on when the sidelights are switched on.

Clearly (I hope) it would be beneficial for the car to be better lit in these conditions. 

However I find some drivers react badly to vehicles with headlights on as it can appear aggressive, whereas sidelights dont seem to have this effect.

The front position lights on the Skoda are IMO not very good.
Have you ever seen a Skoda Octavia 2 sidelights in daylight? NO.

So I intend to fit additional front position lights.

Who was it said sarcasm is the lowest form of wit?

Thanks for your clear and informative answer Enduro.  May I quote you on the Briskoda forum?

[TIMMY]

One man's childish criticism is another man's opinion..... ho hum.

If you can't see the dash, then turn the sidelights on. You can then see the dash, and there's still no need for extra lights on the front of your car. If you want to drive with your headlights on all day, that is absolutely fine.

Have I seen an Octavia with sidelights on in daylight? Yes. I'm in the Police. The Police have Octavias.

More importantly from my point of view, and this is a matter which I accept has different viewpoints, is that DRL's benefit motorcyclists much more than cars. Personally I'd rather you coud see your dash and weren't diluting the traffic around you with extra headliughts when it could be the difference between a motorcyclist being spotted or not.

So I stand by my earlier childish criticism. You don't need to turn the sidelights on to make your car more visible. You want to. Unless of course you've forgotten to mention the chameleon-like paint job, in which case I concede.

[Enduro]

You d know that the front obligatory position lamps (sidelights) are only there to show where the vehicle extremities are.  Difficult to understand how they are failing in their job on your car.  How afr away do you want to be 'highlighted'?  They comply with the regulations so what is their limitation or are your expectations out of sync with the rest of the car manufacturing world?
You can quote who you like, but far easier to find and then quote the legislation.