What is a driving beam?

Driving beam

Unlike low beam or city light, which is aimed lower so as not to dazzle oncoming traffic, the driving beam is brighter and aims higher. It often combines a narrow spot beam for extremely long range (hundreds of metres) with a wide flood beam for good lateral lighting. This makes it ideal for driving in the dark, at higher speeds or in open terrain. You use a driving beam just like ordinary high beam: turn it on when it is safe, and dim or turn it off in oncoming traffic or in built-up areas.

Driving beams are mainly used for LED lightbars and driving lights.

Driving beams are mainly found in supplementary vehicle lighting such as LED lightbars and driving lights (spotlights ). These products are fitted to vehicle bumpers, roofs or grilles to supplement the standard high beam. You’ll regularly see them on trucks and trailers, 4x4s and pick-ups, commercial vehicles, construction vehicles and heavy machinery. They’re perfect for night-time journeys on dark roads, off-road tracks or manoeuvring in dark harbours and on building sites.

All TRALERT® LED lightbars and driving lights are equipped with a driving beam pattern. This makes them versatile for both long-range and wide-angle illumination.

LED lightbars with driving beam

• Nemesis lightbar - Single-row LEDs, up to 15,120 lumen, dynamic DRL start-up.
• Nemesis XL lightbar - Double row of LEDs, up to 30,240 lumen, the most powerful driving beam for maximum range.
• Vulcan lightbar bar - Ultra-slim with glow effect, up to 19,400 lumen, ideal for discreet flush mounting.
• Stratos lightbar - Multifunctional with built-in R65 warning lights, up to 25,500 lumen.

View all lightbars with driving beam

driving beam lights with driving beam

• Nova Series - Round driving lights, up to 13,600 lumen, duo-color DRL.
• Graveler - Round driving lights, 12,000 lumen, with position lights.
• OZZ XO 1 - Oval driving lights, 8,160 lumen, robust driving beam pattern.
• Atlas Series - Versatile driving lights with driving beam for heavy-duty applications.

View all driving beam lights with driving beam

A driving beam provides additional safety and comfort on vehicles where standard lighting does not provide enough range or width.

Practical situations where a driving beam is used:

Trucks and trailers Perfect for long night-time journeys, manoeuvring in dark harbours or loading/unloading in the dark. The Stratos 1270 mm and Nemesis XL 1000 mm, in particular, provide superior visibility.

4×4s and pick-ups Ideal for off-road or rural roads. The Vulcan fits discreetly into the grill, while the Nemesis gives an eye-catching look.

Commercial vehicles Additional light in the grill or bumper for better visibility in urban or rural traffic. The Nova or Graveler are popular here.

Construction vehicles and heavy equipment For night work in dust and mud. The brutal Nemesis XL provides far reach and wide coverage.

Wherever you need to see far ahead while driving, a driving beam is a huge upgrade.

Law and regulations

For legal use on public roads, a driving beam must comply with strict European regulations. At TRALERT®, all lightbars and driving beam lights are certified to ECE R149. This standard replaces older regulations such as R112 and sets requirements for light intensity, beam distribution and anti-glare.

Additional certifications you will always find at TRALERT®:

• ECE R10 - EMC (no interference with on-board electronics).
• ECE R148 - For signal lighting (such as DRL).
• ECE R65 - Only for Stratos (for the built-in warning lights).

These approvals allow the driving beams to be used legally as additional high beams on public roads without risk of fines or MOT rejection. Without E-approval, road use is not permitted.