Drivers warned over common car misunderstanding that could lead to £1,000 fine

Experts are warning drivers they risk making a perilous - and potentially expensive - error with their vehicle lighting as most motorists don't understand how they function. Since 2011 all new vehicles in the UK are legally obliged to have 'daytime running lights', or DRLs, that activate automatically when the engine is ignited.

These low-wattage bulbs are engineered to enhance visibility and decrease vehicle collisions during daylight hours. However, in numerous instances the DRL system does NOT automatically illuminate rear lighting. And if you're depending on DRLs on carriageways with poor visibility, saturated with water and spray, or during darkness instead of using your dipped headlights, which do automatically trigger the rear lights to activate, you're asking for trouble, reports Wales Online.

In the worst case scenario, if you mistakenly depend on your daytime running lights rather than your proper headlights, you could face a £1,000 fine if stopped by the police.

Graham Conway, Managing Director at Select Car Leasing, says: "DRLs have been helping to improve road safety for more than a decade now.

"But I'd urge motorists to understand precisely how they work and what job they're supposed to do. Here at Select, we've heard countless reports of people failing to illuminate their headlights and taillights while driving in poor visibility, and there's a fear motorists might mistakenly believe that their DRLs are sufficient in those sorts of conditions. They're not!

"The most important thing to remember is that many DRL systems don't automatically light the rear lights. If you want to be seen by the cars who are following you, be sure to click your headlights on. According to the Highway Code, you must use headlights when visibility is 'seriously reduced' - either through light conditions, rain or fog - and generally when you can't see for more than 100 metres (328 feet).

"Failure to illuminate properly can lead to a £1,000 fine if spotted by the police. Taking proactive control of the different lights you use will increase your safety and reduce any risk on winter journeys."