Buzz
To ensure safety and improve visibility, especially at night, warning other vehicles, etc., car lights are equipped with the following types:
- Hazard warning lights
- Brake lights
- Fog lights
- Side lights
- Low beam lights
- High beam lights
1. How to use hazard warning lights.
2. How to use brake lights.
3. How to use fog lights.
4. How to use side lights.
5. How to use low beam lights.
6. How to use high beam lights.
1. How to use hazard warning lights
While driving:
- Use hazard lights while driving on highways or two-way roads to warn other vehicles of upcoming hazards
- Do not use in any other situation while your vehicle is in motion, even if it's being towed by another vehicle!
While stopped:
- Activate hazard lights if you're stopping your vehicle causing temporary traffic congestion
- Do not illegally park while using hazard lights as you will still be fined according to traffic laws
When experiencing vehicle breakdown:
- Use hazard lights to alert other vehicles if your vehicle breaks down in a dangerous location that may affect traffic of other vehicles or on highways where you're forced to stop.
- Do not overuse lights to ensure safety for yourself as it can lead to accidents for other vehicles
2. How to use brake lights
It's not uncommon to see a car with brake lights off, but as the driver of your vehicle, you need to regularly check the functionality of your brake lights. Brake lights are crucial because they signal to vehicles behind you that you are slowing down, especially if you have to stop suddenly. So, you need to:
- Have someone check if your brake lights are functioning properly by standing behind the car and you sitting inside the car, starting the car, and activating the brake lights. You should do this once a week.
- Replace any faulty brake lights immediately upon detection
3. How to use fog lights
Driving in foggy conditions is very dangerous, especially for new drivers with limited driving experience due to restricted visibility. Therefore, you need to know when and how to use fog lights correctly. Accordingly, you should:
- Turn on fog lights if you encounter foggy weather. While not legally mandatory, it will help ensure safety for you and other road users. Fog lights can make your vehicle more visible to others.
- Avoid using fog lights when visibility is already good because they may dazzle other drivers, especially at night.
4. How to use side lights
Side lights, also known as indicator lights or blinkers, are lights located at the front corners of the vehicle, and when activated, they illuminate the rear lights and license plate. While these lights may not provide clear visibility, they are still crucial. You need to note:
- Activate side lights if one of your headlights is faulty. This will let other road users know you're driving a car rather than a motorcycle. With both lights on, other drivers can estimate the width of your vehicle more easily to avoid it.
- Use side lights when visibility is limited (but not to the extent that you need to use headlights)
- Use side lights if you need to park at night on roads with speed limits higher than 30mph.
5. How to Use Dipped Headlights
When driving at night, it's essential to use dipped headlights to improve visibility of nearby objects and prevent blinding other drivers. Remember:
- Use dipped headlights for night driving. This not only helps you see better but also makes you more visible to oncoming traffic.
- Turn on dipped headlights during daytime if visibility is reduced due to fog, heavy rain, or snow.
- Activate dipped headlights when overtaking other vehicles (you can switch to full beam if necessary)
- Regularly check and replace dipped headlights if one of them stops working.
6. How to Use Full Beam Headlights
Full beam headlights provide the brightest illumination on the road, enhancing visibility of distant objects at night. However, they can dazzle oncoming drivers, posing a safety risk. Here are some tips:
- Use full beam headlights at night on deserted roads or highways. However, remember to switch to dipped headlights when encountering oncoming vehicles.
- Avoid using full beam headlights during daytime, even in reduced visibility conditions. Instead, opt for dipped headlights or sidelights.
- Do not use full beam headlights when one of the dipped headlights is faulty. This can be extremely dangerous.
Additionally, consider checking out Safe Night Driving Tips and Safe Driving in Rainy Conditions to ensure the safety of yourself and your family when traveling in challenging weather and time conditions.
