Daytime Running Lights

Your car’s visibility is an important component of safety. Many vehicle manufacturers offer daytime running lights (DRLs) as a standard feature of safety, but at least one study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2008 claims that DRLs do not have a statistically significant overall effect on safety.

Whether or not DRLs contribute to safety, we do know they increase fuel consumption. To save a small amount on gas and reduce your car's climate impacts, look up your vehicle’s headlamp wattage and research alternative options such as low-beam 160-watt bulbs, or even better, LED-based lamps that use only 16 watts. In addition, switching off DRLs where their safety contribution is minimal (like a controlled-access highway) will save small amounts of fuel.