Side lights in a car - what are they for? How are they different from parking lights?

If you want to stay safe on the side of the road, you need to make sure your vehicle is visible. That's what marker lights are for. If they don't work in your car, you will need to get them fixed before you get back on the road. Sometimes low beam headlights can be used, which will do the trick. Find out how they differ from parking lights and why car parking lights are needed according to Polish law. Our article is worthy ... highlight the topic!

What are marker lights? What are they for?

These are lights that are installed not only in cars. They are also used by other vehicles, not just land vehicles (such as ships). They are used to:

• after dark it was possible to maintain sufficient visibility of the machine;
• inform other road users about the dimensions of the vehicle. 

Marker lights must be installed on every vehicle, including motorcycle. However, for your safety, they should also be installed, for example, on a bicycle. After dark, visibility decreases very quickly, so you should take care of it.

Rear lights - how many?

Since 2010 cars Passenger cars must be equipped with marker lights only in white and red. Previously, yellows were still allowed, but their visibility was too poor. A pair of white lights should be in front and a pair of red lights in the back. However, it is worth noting that there are more rear lights than front ones, as there are usually two on each side. Vehicles may also have parking lights to help determine the vehicle's width in the dark. Thanks to this, you do not risk that someone will hook your car. Buses and minibuses (over 6 m long) side marker lights must be installed.

Marker Lights vs Marker Lights - What's the Difference?

Parking lights should only be used when stationary. This is a significant difference as parking lights cannot be used while driving.

When should you use parking lights in a car?

You should use your parking lights in two main situations:

• when stopped (also due to a car breakdown when it is already dark outside). This is especially true if the emergency lights are broken;
• when the car needs to be towed. Then you need to hang a special triangle on the car. If the conditions outside are not the best, you should also turn on the appropriate light.

Side lights - the indicator that is responsible for them

You already know what car marker lights are for, but how do you find them? Like many other features built into your car, you can also find this feature using the appropriate control. The symbol of side lights, of course, owes its execution. It depicts two lamps in the form of halves of a circle, where three lines denoting light diverge. Normally, the indicator in the cab is green. You shouldn't have any problems recognizing it.

Side lights - how to turn them on effectively?

Side lights may turn on differently depending on the model of the car, so a general description in this case is not always helpful. They can usually be engaged from the right or left side using a lever. How you have to turn it depends on the car model. Just check where the marker light symbol is. You don't need to start the car for this. It's very simple! Not sure what you got? Get out of the car and make sure everything works. If you still can't ignite them, check where the igniter is located on your model.

Marker lights - how much does it cost to replace them?

Every part of a car can break, and tail lights are no exception.. If you notice that your headlights are not turning on, you may need to replace the bulb. You can do it yourself if you have the basic workshop tools on hand. This is the cheapest and very fast repair. Worse, if the vehicle has been in an accident or collision and you need to replace a large part of the body. Then the cost can increase significantly and will depend on the scale of losses. However, if nothing like this happened, you should not expect high costs for replacing lamps.

What kind of light should be kept on all the time?

Polish law says that if you go outside, your car cannot be without light. However, it should be noted that positional ones are too weak to adequately illuminate a moving vehicle. If you want to move the car, do not forget to turn on the dipped headlights. They will give you the level of visibility you need while driving. Turn on your parking lights as soon as possible in an emergency in which you have to pull over for some reason. Do not use low beam headlights because they can blind people who are trying to check what is wrong with the car, for example.

As you can see, parking lights are an indispensable element not only in cars. You already know when to turn them on. Finding them should also be easy after reading the article. Remember that these lights are for safety purposes and don't forget to turn them on when needed.