I think Daylight Running Lights were an EU directive. In France it had been law for many years that headlights should be turned on when driving on motorways in foul weather even in the daytime. I assume, but do not know, that DLRs were thought to reduce accidents.
I used to drive at night in areas with lit streetlights on sidelights only as I felt it "saved" my sealed beam headlight filaments and they would last longer. I was an impoverished student back then and a sealed beam unit was expensive. Now I find the new Highway Code quite confusing. In para 113 it seems to be the same as the old Highway Code. You must use headlights at night except where there is lit street lighting. But then in para 115 you must use headlights in built up areas at night. Well these are the areas that will have lit streetlights.....It's irrelevant to me really as I would not just drive on sidelights these days and would have dipped headlights switched on anyway.
Also of note para 115 regarding handbrake and brake lights annoying drivers behind. This was mentioned on here recently but I forget exactly which post.
Stephen
113
You MUST
ensure all sidelights and rear registration plate lights are lit between sunset and sunrise
use headlights at night, except on a road which has lit street lighting. These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h), or 20mph (32km/h) in Wales, unless otherwise specified
use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226).
Night (the hours of darkness) is defined as the period between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise).
Laws RVLR regs 3, 24, & 25, (In Scotland - RTRA 1984 sect 82 (as amended by NRSWA, para 59 of sched
)
114
You MUST NOT
use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders
use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves to avoid dazzling other road users (see Rule 226).
In stationary queues of traffic, drivers should apply the parking brake and, once the following traffic has stopped, take their foot off the footbrake to deactivate the vehicle brake lights. This will minimise glare to road users behind until the traffic moves again.
Law RVLR reg 27
115
You should also
use dipped headlights, or dim-dip if fitted, at night in built-up areas and in dull daytime weather, to ensure that you can be seen
keep your headlights dipped when overtaking until you are level with the other vehicle and then change to main beam if necessary, unless this would dazzle oncoming road users
slow down, and if necessary stop, if you are dazzled by oncoming headlights
