Road safety and breakdown cover specialist GEM Motoring Assist is urging drivers of cars equipped with daytime running lights to ensure their rear lights are on when it’s dark. The warning follows a spate of calls to GEM’s customer service team from members concerned about cars without rear lights.
GEM chief executive David Williams MBE comments: “Daytime running lights (DRL) ensure cars are more easily seen from the front. But DRL is for front lights only, so by relying exclusively on your car’s automatic DRL setting, you will find yourself in the hazardous situation of having no rear lights on when it’s dark, or visibility is reduced because of poor weather.
“Not only is this illegal, it is also very dangerous and the risk of a collision is increased significantly. Someone could go into the back of you, it would be your fault, and they could claim off your insurance.”
GEM is advising everyone driving a car fitted with DRL to be sure they switch their dipped headlights on as soon as dusk approaches or visibility deteriorates, and not to assume that DRL removes the requirement for them to touch the lighting stalk on their car.
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