What Ever Happened To Daytime Running Lights?

Thanks for the explanation! I had a 1997 GM vehicle that had them. I do remember that Canada required them, I thought the U.S. did as well.

In the EU DLRs were mandated for all new cars and small delivery vans from 2011, trucks and buses from 2012.

Volvo recognised that DLRs helped with safety decades ago. Maybe the need was accentuated because Sweden has an elongated twilight period during the summer months.

It is safer to drive with lights on. It is a requirement in some countries, such as Denmark, for example.

There are switches for these things. However, there is no accounting for the nut behind the wheel...

So why is headlights on mandated for motorcycles in the US??

That's a rhetorical question, as it's pretty much a given that when they group up politicians become idiots. Like the time Virginia almost mandated seat belts on 2 and 3 wheeler's.

Mandatory headlights for all motorcycles on public roads here in South Africa too. Makes a huge difference to the visibility of a small-ish object. In fact, most reputable motorbikes here don't even have the option of having the lights off when the ignition is on. There was a study that I read supporting this when introduced a two decades ago, also covered cars and the Canadian experience (couldn't be bothered to find it now).

An even bigger difference for motorcycles is to switch from incandescent to LED headlights, as I recently did on my Can-Am Ryker. I regularly see people do a double take as they sit at stop signs when I go by.

Many years before being mandated, in the '70's some utility companies required their drivers to run with low beams on in the daytime.It did not help the driver see any better in daytime,but it made them more visible to other drivers.

It would be nice to see a hologram image of a semi projected in front of a motorcycle,to make it more visible,but a colored strobe flasher would be a good start,and a horn like a freight rain instead of the tiny "Beep Beep".

https://www.ebay.com/itm/165507942765?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20200818143230%26meid%3D3dd8eb97950e430ca5dd3b7b7b30aaad%26pid%3D101224%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D275364974661%26itm%3D165507942765%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DDefaultOrganicWeb%26brand%3DUnbranded&_trksid=p2047675.c101224.m-1

I seldom ride motorcycles now, but I do occasionally ride on the street, and I have almost pulled out in front of another biker,and I am a very diligent and careful driver.Anything to make them more visible and present will help.
I used to ride motocross,and I prefer motocross anytime to highway driving.At least you are all going the same direction and are about the same mass.