Decision on an EU-wide regulation

In view of the definite results of all studies and the experience made in many EU countries, the EU has decided that, in a first step, all new cars and vans must be fitted with daytime running lights as of February 2011*.
The first manufacturers do already offer some of their models with automatic daytime running lights as a standard equipment.
* as of August 2012 this regulation will include also trucks and buses

Here you can see the difference between lights off and lights on

	Simply click on one of the two buttons to turn the light on the car on or off

But what about older cars?

The simplest way to make a car safer during the day is to switch on the dipped beam. The problem: the life of standard bulbs is generally adapted to night use only. They would have to be replaced much more often when permanently used during daytime as well. This is why OSRAM has developed special bulbs with up to three times the lifetime which are ideal for daytime running lights: the ULTRA LIFE family (replaces the former LIGHT@DAY lamps). Even if used permanently day and night - these light sources offer the same replacement intervals as standard bulbs that are only used at night.

Overview of the legal requirements per country

Until the EU regulation comes into effect, there are different rules (and fines) in the different European countries.
The following overview offers information on the current status (June 2009, source: ADAC - no responsibility is taken for the correctness and completeness of this information):

All-season compulsory daytime running lights in:
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary*, Iceland, Italy*, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Romania*, Russia*, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden
* on motorways and outside towns

Winter half year compulsory daytime running lights in:
Bulgaria (1. November until 31. March), Croatia (last sunday in October until last sunday in March)

Limited duty of daytime running lights in:
Portugal - only on the IP5 from Vilar Formoso to Aveiro

Recommendation of daytime running lights in:
France, Germany and Switzerland

Prohibition of daytime running lights only in:
Greece (except vehicles with automatic DRL's)

In addition - in some countries like Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia and Spain - you have to carry replacement lamps with you. This is also recommended in Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Norway, Portugal and Slovenia. Also in that case, spare lamp kits with lamps for fundamental lighting functions are very convenient.