Legislation Requires All Vehicles to Use Daytime Running Lights

The province will take another step to improve road safety when all vehicles on Nova Scotia roads will be required to use daytime running lights starting Monday, April 13.

"We know that daytime running lights have been shown to reduce daytime injury crashes by three to 10 per cent," said Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Brooke Taylor. "This law will help ensure everyone on our roads will benefit from the added safety that daytime running lights provide."

Passed in the fall session of the legislature, the new law will require drivers to use low-beam headlights during daylight hours if they do not have automatic daytime running lights.

While daytime running lights are mandatory on all vehicles manufactured and sold in Canada after 1990, there are a number of vehicles on Nova Scotia's roads that predate the change. Antique cars are exempt.

The fines, including court costs, will range from $164.50 for the first offence to $337 for the third and subsequent offences.

The legislation is part of the province's legislative, enforcement and awareness initiatives to improve road safety. The initiatives include a ban on hand-held cellphones, stronger and expanded penalties for street racing, legislation and funding to improve crosswalk safety, and an integrated impaired driving enforcement unit.