What is the difference between position lights and daytime running lights?
4 Answers
Position lights are usually turned on after dusk and are mainly used to indicate the width and height of the car while driving. Typically, position lights are white in the front and red in the rear. Daytime running lights are designed to make the vehicle more noticeable during daytime driving. Their purpose is not to help the driver see the road, so they are not lighting fixtures but rather signal lights. Here are the detailed differences: 1. Position lights are located at all four corners of the vehicle, both front and rear, while daytime running lights are only at the front. 2. Position lights need to be turned on manually, whereas daytime running lights turn on automatically as soon as the car starts and turn off when the engine is shut off. 3. Position lights are usually tungsten filament bulbs (halogen lights) with a yellowish and dimmer light, while daytime running lights are typically LED lights. 4. However, many modern cars use the same light for both front position lights and daytime running lights, with the position light mode being dimmer than the daytime running light mode.
That day when I helped my cousin look at cars, I finally understood the difference between these two lights. The position light, also called the small light, is mainly manually turned on when it's dim or in the evening, allowing other vehicles to see the width and outline of your car. They are usually located on both sides of the front and rear of the car, not very bright, and mostly emit yellow light. The daytime running light is different. Nowadays, almost all new cars have them, and they automatically turn on as soon as the car starts. They are very noticeable during the day, much brighter than position lights, and mainly white, designed to make your car visible from a distance. Simply put, the position light is to remind others 'there's a car here,' while the daytime running light shouts 'Hey! Look at me, look at me.' However, in rain or fog, you can turn on the position light to assist with lighting.
I've replaced the lights on my old car a few times myself and noticed that the design concepts of parking lights and daytime running lights (DRLs) are completely different. Parking lights are positioned lower, like those small yellow lights on either side of the front bumper – they improve visibility in rainy weather. Nowadays, DRLs are integrated either above the headlight clusters or near the grille, with particularly sharp lines that make them highly visible during the day. The key thing is you can't even turn them off – they automatically illuminate as soon as you shift into Drive. EU regulations made them mandatory long ago, and they do reduce accidents by 30%. But if your old car doesn't have DRLs, never try substituting parking lights – the brightness difference is huge and they're completely ineffective.
Last time at the car enthusiasts' gathering, we discussed this and noted three key takeaways: First, they serve different scenarios - the position lights (width markers) are manually turned on in low-light conditions to assist in displaying the vehicle's outline, while daytime running lights (DRLs) automatically activate during daylight to enhance vehicle visibility. Second, there's a huge difference in brightness - DRLs start at a minimum of 150 candela, whereas position lights are typically under 30. Lastly, their placement and design differ - DRLs are positioned at visually higher locations, often using LED light strips, while position lights are usually standalone small bulbs. When parked, try turning on the position lights and you'll notice a faint glow along the sides of the car - that's exactly their intended function.
