The Swiss BPA has mandated as of January 1, 2014 that all cars must have headlights on during the daytime as well as at night. This is part of the Via Sicura program that aims to reduce the number of accidents on Swiss roads (notably by significantly increasing speeding fines).

There will be a fine for those people who do not have their lights on. For the moment, the exact amount of the fine has not been given.

Currently 70% of drivers in the Swiss German area drive with lights on, 67% in the Tessin and of course only 52% in the Swiss Romande (we are the bad boys of CH).

Anyhow, if you don't already have your lights on, you might want to start practicing.

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Do or do not, there is no try(ing). Yoda

Thanks for the heads-up. I still think it doesn't make sense around here, but at least my car turns on the lights automatically.

I thought it was already mandatory specially considering the amount of tunnels here, the lighting in the tunnels is not enough...Anywho thanks for the info

Huh?!? Ever driven through a tunnel in Italy? You'll never complain about too little lighting in Swiss tunnels again.

BTW I find them often blindingly bright at night.

lol, never driven neither planning to drive in Italy...I live in the middle of nowhere...

Is it acceptable to have the modern "Driving Lights" on? Or must we drive with the main dipped headlights on?

The ones that come on automatically (often LED lights in the newest models) are fine. These automatic lights have been mandatory on all cars produced in Europe since January 2011.

In order for your eyes to accommodate the sudden change of lumen while entering a tunnel during daytime, most Swiss tunnels have powerful yellowish spotlighting the very first 200 yards inside the tunnel. God forbid, if the timer fails to turn it off at nighttime: the tunnel becomes way too bright and that can really hurt your eyes!

I feel bad for owners of older cars: those overpriced H7 bulbs don't last very long and replacing them is a pain in the a...

Driving with headlight since ever. I do not know when was the last time I had to replace it. Approx 5 years ago? But it is very simple in my car.

I have a Volvo. No difference for me!

It as been for 2 yrs, i thought it was Odd to Drive with my Lights on during the Day, but they say it as prevented alot of accidents Since

I don't drive. No difference for me either.

But seriously if you can't spot a moving car in daylight without some form of lighting on the car then I'd suggest an opticians. Immediately.

Is this new rule due to research carried out by car bulb manufacturers?

Well, our new Qashqai, built in Sunderland, doesn't have them and we bought it last year. I see the new Note has them though. Have you got a link for that Verbier?

Yes, that's my feeling too Slaphead. I don't think having lights on in the daytime does anything to improve visibility. As you say, if you can't spot car in broad daylight without it having lights on then a mandatory visit to an optician would be a better idea.

Our cars both have them so at least I don't have to worry about this new rule although like you I can't see how having the lights on in daylight makes much difference. If you can't see a car in broad daylight then a visit to Specsavers is definitely called for.

Here's a link in French. The last line of the article says lights become mandatory from January 2014.

http://www.bfu.ch/French/medien/Pages/2013_08_13.aspx

My bicycle has daylight running LEDs too. Wheel dynamo permanently running. Love it.

Yeah, "if you can't spot a car..." etc etc. So, turn your lights off. Also turn them off at night in cities - streets are lit after all.

Come on. Are you just talking crap and don't drive?

Got it

Of course we can see cars whilst cycling/driving, but when the sun's low in the sky, and you're squinting, and you suddenly hit shade or go under a bridge and the eyes don't adjust, seeing the cars having their lights on really makes a difference.

cheers
SC

give me back my Saab!

oh and I must talk to the guy that's updating my car software to set my lights to be on all the time when on auto. If that's possible.

otherwise.....I don't care.

We bought a Volvo when we first moved here in 1998 and the garage disconnected the auto-daylight function before we got it.