Driver fined €200 for not using his lights in broad daylight

Road traffic accident in Almeria province leaves two dead after a vehicle left the road

Image of a Guardia Civil Traffic Officer. Credit: Guardia Civil

A driver has been fined €200 for not using his lights in broad daylight

A driver who received a fine from the DGT for driving during the daytime without having his lights on, has shared an image of that fine on social networks. When the sky is blue and the sun is shining, the last thing we think of is to turn our lights on. But in certain situations, even during daylight hours, it is a traffic law in Spain to drive with the lights turned on.

In this instance, the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) has fined the driver €200 for not having his lights on, while driving in the extra lane. In the DGT’s opinion, lights are considered a key element to ensuring safety on the road, whether during the day. or at night.

There are certain stretches of road where it is mandatory to turn on the lights. One of these is the additional lane in the opposite direction, where, in addition to having the lights on, it is necessary to drive at a limited speed, either 60 or 80kph.

Faced with the indignation of the people, the DGT has been forced to make it clear that, “Since February 2011, all vehicles leaving the factory must be equipped with LCD systems, energy-saving lamps, and automatic start-up. If your vehicle does not have daytime running lights as standard, having the low beam on during the day when driving on the road allows you to be visible to other road users”.

They justified this by adding that having the lights on increases the contrast between the car and its surroundings, thus increasing the detection distance. It also allows for a better estimation of speed, and the driver’s belief that the other vehicle is closer.

As the Guardia Civil wrote in their Twitter account, “It has been proven that cars that circulate with their lights on – be they crossing or DRL – are seen much earlier (+ 100 m), even in the best visibility conditions”, as reported by laopiniondemalaga.es.

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Written by

Chris King

Originally from Wales, Chris spent years on the Costa del Sol before moving to the Algarve where he is a web reporter for The Euro Weekly News covering international and Spanish national news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com

Comments


    • John

      11 October 2021 • 11:05

      Personally I find it really annoying when cars have lights on during the day. Facing dozens of lights coming towards you, I don’t think it helps perception of road danger at all. Large 4 x 4s on low beam can often dazzle you. I wonder how many drivers have actually not seen a car coming towards them in broad daylight which they would have seen if it had its lights on. Not many, I’d wager. This seems like a triumph of academic paperwork over common sense.

    • John

      11 October 2021 • 11:05

      Personally I find it really annoying when cars have lights on during the day. Facing dozens of lights coming towards you, I don’t think it helps perception of road danger at all. Large 4 x 4s on low beam can often dazzle you. I wonder how many drivers have actually not seen a car coming towards them in broad daylight which they would have seen if it had its lights on. Not many, I’d wager. This seems like a triumph of academic paperwork over common sense.

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