Is it possible to drive with xenon in the headlights according to the rules of the pdp

Incorrect xenon is a violation forbidden by the rules of road traffic and most often leads to deprivation of driving license. The minimum penalty for this is a fine, but, as practice shows, traffic police inspectors rarely use this option. So it is worth to understand the peculiarities of installing xenon, the situations when it can be used legally and other aspects relating to this topic.

Why do they install xenon

Xenon lamps are a special type of equipment, different from the halogen versions used on most cars. They are installed as standard on many modern models, but in this case the design of the headlights is different from the usual. As for the reasons for installation, most often they are as follows:

1. The brightness of the light increases by 2-3 times and sometimes more. Due to this increases the comfort of driving and safety when driving around town and on the highway.
2. Service life of high-quality light bulbs is at least 3 years. This is more than the standard, so despite the higher price for xenon the costs are about the same.
3. The color temperature is an order of magnitude higher and is close to natural daylight. This not only improves illumination, but also reduces the burden on the driver's vision, which is especially noticeable on a long trip. Visibility is much better, you can see even small irregularities in the road, and pedestrians on the side of the road can be seen from afar.
   The quality of illumination in xenon lamps is much higher.
4. Xenon is more energy efficient. If the ignition requires a large expenditure of energy (so a special unit is always provided in the design), then during operation the consumption of electricity is lower by about one and a half to two times.
5. The lamps are much better able to withstand vibration. Due to the ignition unit, which controls the supply of electricity, voltage spikes in the on-board network do not cause much damage to the lamps. Even with excessive voltage Xenon service life is not reduced, as in the halogen bulbs.

Due to the fact that the light sources during operation are much less heated, the reflector and other elements of the design last longer.

Read also: Rating of H4 head light bulbs

Why xenon is banned

We should start with the fact that only xenon, installed by yourself and not provided by the manufacturer of the car, is prohibited. If it was factory installed, there are no bans, although there are also some requirements for its operation. As for the ban, it was introduced for the following reasons:

1. When installing xenon lamps in the headlights, designed for halogen, the light distribution is violated because of the shorter spiral. Because of this, the light flux is distributed incorrectly and does not meet the requirements of technical regulations. And you can not adjust it, as it is impossible to change the position of the luminous element.
2. OEM xenon must be equipped with an automatic headlight corrector and washer. The fact is that the light flux strongly blinds oncoming drivers, especially on wet roads and during precipitation, which often leads to accidents. And when the glass is dirty, the light distribution is disturbed, which not only causes discomfort to other traffic participants, but also worsens visibility.

Improperly installed xenon can cause an accident.

With all its advantages, xenon can be used only if the safety of other traffic participants is ensured. And it is impossible to do this when installed in the headlights, designed for halogen lamps.

Punishment for xenon

It is worth noting right away that the penalty may be only in violation of the traffic code. In the paragraph 3.4, regulating the admission of vehicles to the operation of there is a remark concerning the light. It indicates that if the lights have no diffusers, or diffusers and lamps do not match the type of equipment, the operation of vehicles are prohibited.

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In headlights

If a traffic police officer found that the headlights, designed for halogen, have xenon lamps, a protocol on violation will be drawn up. But it is possible to qualify this violation in different ways:

1. Paragraph 1 of Article 12.5 The Code of administrative violations. There is a fine for violation of the operation of lighting equipment - for xenon or LED lamps in the headlights it is 500 rubles. But most often the representatives of the authorities do not use this point, although it fits the nature of the violation. Only individual inspectors are guided by this option when determining the penalty.
2. Part 3 of article 12.5 CAO prohibits the use of the car with the light sources, not corresponding to the technical regulations on the admittance of vehicles. In this case it is provided for Withdrawal of a driving license for xenon for the term from 6 to 12 months. In this case, all the elements that violate the Rules, must be confiscated. Simply put, the inspector is obliged to confiscate the lamps and present them during the court session as evidence.

If there are no lenses in the headlight, you can't put xenon in it.

The court decisions almost always deprive the driver of his license, and the term depends on the situation. That is why if the case is sent to court, most likely it will lead to deprivation of license. The cases with fines are very rare and can be considered as an exception.

Video-explanation: The penalty for xenon and LEDs in 2021.

Fog lights.

Fog lights are a separate element, the operation of which is subject to the general rules concerning lighting equipment. Therefore, there is no particular difference with the main light. If a violation is detected and proven, a court hearing and deprivation of the right to drive will most likely follow. In the best case - a fine of 500 rubles.

But it is much harder to detect the problem, because fog lights are not always used and it is difficult to determine the presence of xenon in them with normal adjustment. Many halogen bulbs with increased brightness shine just as well. Therefore, if you want to avoid problems, you should not switch on fog lights unnecessarily. And when buying halogen lamps choose options with a yellowish light, they attract less attention and much more effectively light the way in poor visibility conditions.

The penalty for xenon in fog lights is not different from the standard.

When you can install xenon

There are several conditions that allow you to install xenon bulbs, even if originally there were none. First of all, you need to understand the headlight markingsAs they always indicate the necessary information. If the headlight is not dismantled, the data are applied to the glass, and if the unit is dismantled, then most often all the inscriptions are made on the body, sometimes a special sticker is used. Everything is simple here:

1. If there is a designation HC, HR or HCR, the design is intended for halogen lamps. Any other version will not work and will not provide the proper light quality.
2. When labeling is present DC, DR or DCR, the use of xenon is allowed. DC - Xenon lamp can be used in passing beam headlights, DR - high beam, DCR - dipped and high beam. If there is such a marking on the headlight, the traffic police inspector will not have a claim.
3. Also on the body or glass must be the letter "Е" in a circle. It confirms that the headlight has been certified and can be used for the car. There's also a cipher that tells you which country issued the approval.

Video test: Xenon 4300K VS 5000K.

In addition to the marking and design features, which are due to the specific operation of gas-discharge lamps, there are 3 main elements:

1. Automatic headlight corrector. When using a light with a brightness above 3000 Cd on the vehicle must be put on the correcting device, which adjusts the light output depending on the load on the car. All the headlights, originally designed for xenon, have this unit. It should be automatic, not manual.
   Here is an example why you need automatic headlights corrector.
2. Headlight washer. Another obligatory element, without which you can not operate xenon. When dirt gets on the glass the directed beam of light begins to scatter and the light deteriorates, plus the glare blinds oncoming traffic. It is important that the washer hits the glass opposite the lens, it should definitely be adjusted.
3. Headlight glass must be smooth. The xenon lens does not need a diffuser, it distributes the light on its own. If you put a standard glass from a halogen headlight, the light flux will not be distributed correctly.

By the way! You can change the glass. If the headlamps are designed for different types of bulbs, the glasses are sold separately and simply glued over.

How to avoid deprivation of license

It was noted above that almost always when the case is sent to court, a ruling on the deprivation of the license is issued. But sometimes you can convince the judge and mitigate the punishment. There are no guarantees, but it is worth remembering the following:

1. If there is no DC, DR or DCR marking on the seized bulbs (and it often happens on cheap Chinese products), it is difficult to prove that the xenon was installed intentionally. According to the law, a state expert examination is required.Usually, they try not to use this option, and to simplify things, they can just write a fine.
2. The technical regulations say about the use of lights with an improper mode of operation. But the mode of xenon and halogen is the same - they shine all the time. But the strobe lights are really outside the law, as they have an intermittent mode. If you give a detailed argument, the judge may also meet the requirements.

Deprivation of the license for xenon is used as a measure to combat those who put it on their own and blinds the oncoming drivers. If you do everything correctly and pick up the right headlights, there will be no problems.