Canada introduces mandatory automatic lighting: an end to flying blind

Canada introduces mandatory automatic lighting
An end to the blind flight

It is not uncommon, especially in autumn and winter, to come across vehicles that are on the road in the late afternoon, evening or night without the headlights switched on. The problem is not new, but has got worse in recent years as more and more vehicles are equipped with LED daytime running lights. This sometimes radiates the area in front of the vehicle so brightly when the vehicle is started that inattentive drivers think that the normal headlights are switched on. You can see the switched-off headlights particularly often in the city centers of the metropolises in car sharing vehicles. The reason for this is obvious, because the drivers often do not know the car in question and are not familiar with the driving functions. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that most modern car cockpits are brightly illuminated. This means that when you get into the vehicle, the instruments behind the steering wheel shine in a bright light. This also increases the impression, especially with inattentive or inexperienced drivers, that the headlights or dipped headlights are switched on at the same time. Accordingly, the subsequent journey can sometimes be a dangerous game, because the daytime running lights are no longer a marker light at the front and usually nothing at the rear lights up. Some drivers do not notice this, especially in the brightly lit city centers, even on long journeys.

An end to the blind flight

Back
Continue

In September 2021, Canada introduced the Canada Vehicle Lighting Regulation under the motto “see and be seen”, a long overdue regulation according to which all newly registered vehicles must have an automatic light system. In other words, when it gets dark, the low beam switches on automatically. This automatic light system has also been installed in new vehicles in the USA and Europe for many years. However, the automatic light is only one of the various light functions and can be switched on or off accordingly. This is no longer possible in Canada – the light function is mandatory on the new models when you start the car.

But the Canadian regulation goes one step further with the new regulation. Because the instruments have been lighting up here for many years when the ignition key is turned or the starter button is pressed, many drove through Canada and did not notice that the dipped headlights were not switched on at all. The new regulation states that the instruments must remain dark as long as the headlights are not switched on. This applies at least to those vehicles that are not equipped with a fully animated cockpit, because that would otherwise remain completely black without driving lights. In Canada, the regulation applies not only to all cars registered after September 1, 2021, but also to vans, trucks, pick-ups and motorcycles.

There is currently a lot going on in vehicle lighting in North America. Matrix LED headlights have only been approved in Canada for almost a year, which disengage oncoming traffic and adapt their own light to their surroundings. In the USA, too, after numerous delays, consideration is being given to whether this function, which has been available in Europe for years, can be released and thus a light control for vehicles that has been in force since 1968.

press release