the UNECE regs, which govern all of the world except the USA (the only country which has yet to accept ECE regs) has not provisioned for the use of DRLs on motorcycles.

Most countries have their own vehicle design rules, but since everyone apart from the US has signed up to the UNECE regs, they are valid everywhere except the US. And countries like the UK havent even bothered updating their own local design rules since 1991, when ECE regs became almost universally valid.

Techincally the UK regs dont even allow cars with HIDs, but since UK brands and UK manufactured vehicles such as Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin, Mini etc make almost every vehicle with HIDs it highlights the fact that local regulations are effectively meaningless these days.

ECE motorcycle regs have not gotten around to approving HID lighting on motorcycles nor DRLs for motorcycles. So technically they are illegal. But it is something thats under consideration. A 12 watt DRL shining straight ahead gives much more visibility than a 55 watt low beam shining on the road. The only reason they arent legal yet is because they havent gotten around to it, not because its a bad idea.

In terms of global harmonization of vehicle standards rules, recalcitrants like Australia are currently phasing out Australian design rules for ECE rules. And the US DOT is in talks to phase out the SAE standards for ECE standards.

So you see, in the end, the Germans always win. (since ECE standards are based on TUV standards)

__________________