Increased Accidents with Rear Day-Time Running Lights?

For decades, Young Drivers of Canada has taught their drivers to turn on their low-beams during the day, even if they have rear day-time running lights.

Angelo DiCicco, the GTA general manager of Young Drivers of Canada says, “If you’re driving during the day with your low beams on and your taillights on, you’ll get a better following distance from the people behind… Having your taillights on makes you more visible to the other vehicles around you.”

It is no secret that front daytime running lights make cars more visible from the front and reduce the chance of getting into a head-on collision. However, since those lights are only placed at the front of the car, there is no added visibility from the rear. This is problematic because over a third of all car accidents occur when a car is rear-ended.
In Canada, it is the law to drive with front daytime running lights. It is not the law, however, to have rear day-time running lights.

An argument could be made that rear day-time running lights should be mandatory. Many daytime running lights are LED lights. LED lights are thought to be safer and more visible. Moreover, LEDs light up almost instantly, whereas incandescent bulbs take slightly longer to light up. Although the difference is minor, it can prove significant at high speeds.

However, others argue that these rear daytime running lights – which are always on – desensitize drivers to the brake lights of the car in front of them, or may cause confusion with brake lights.

As lawyers, we are in favour of any and all mechanisms that will prevent collisions. Rear daytime running lights seem to be a possible answer, but they are not yet ubiquitous. Until then, if you find yourself in a car accident, please don’t hesitate to speak to a personal injury lawyer to understand your rights.