Seen the (daytime) light?
DAY TIME DRIVING LIGHTS
Over the past 5 years daytime driving lights are becoming more and more prevalent in heavy vehicle design as are many other design innovations. Many European vehicles fitted with day time driving lights are also fitted with a system known as a “CAN” based electrical system, basically the vehicle is fitted with a common wiring system connected to several devices at once for example the vehicle headlights, driving lights, brake lights, windscreen wipers and indicators may all be connected by one set of electrical wires, and when they turn on or off is governed by the vehicles computer.
This type of technology can make it extremely difficult to isolate a particular device like driving lights that are designed to be on at all times and only deactivated by the vehicle ignition being turned off, trying to fit an aftermarket switch that turns off the driving lights could also isolate power to many other devices on a common electrical feed. This could also cause problems with the vehicles on board computer.
SLP has made the decision to add daytime driving lights to the list of items to be exempt from “being isolated before entering a gantry” the current list of exempt items includes other safety related devices, like Windscreen wipers, brake lights, indicator lights, horn, electric windows, cabin step lighting, cabin fan (defrosting windscreen), interior lighting, ABS – EBS wheel sensors, etc. All these items are considered to be extremely low risk in the task of driving a vehicle into a fuel loading gantry.
The rules still remain in place that once the vehicle enters the gantry the driver is to stop the vehicle, apply the parking brake and turn the vehicle ignition to the off position; in doing this many of the above items will be isolated including driving lights. Other items like interior light and cab step lighting are only active for short periods of time while the vehicle door is open when the driver is exiting the vehicle.
Under the current load training program drivers are made aware they are not to open the vehicle cabin doors while the vehicle is loading.
The risk posed by daytime driving lights and headlights permanently wired to be on during the day must be kept in perspective, the greatest risk posed by electrical components is posed during loading, not while the vehicle entering or exiting the gantry.
The risk has been assessed across the industry and the risk posed by driving lights is seen as extremely low in comparison to other electrical risks like a vehicle starter motor and its relays while cranking under the high loads at engine start up.
If you require further information please contact
SLP manager
Lee Stringer [email protected]
0419 908 919
