Types of lights in the car - find out the symbols of the lights in the car! Do you know how to turn on car headlights?

Each car is equipped with several types of lights. The need to include or change them depends on the current legislation in our country and throughout the European Union. But it's not just about compliance. After all, your road safety is critical. Therefore, one of the most important issues for the driver is knowledge of the types and designations of the lights in the car. Check out what you need to know about car headlights!

Dipped beam, alarm and much more - what are the headlights in a car?

We distinguish light in cars: daytime, parking, marker, road, dipped and fog.. The most important types are: hazard lights, brake lights, reversing lights and reflectors. Each type of car headlight has a characteristic and specific symbol. You need to know which ones should be on all the time and which ones to use in certain situations. The ones that should always be on are, of course, the dipped headlights front and rear. Remember them at any time of the day or night. Polish law stipulates that these headlights in a car must be on around the clock in order to increase good visibility of the vehicle. Our law stipulates that you may use daytime running lights or low beams. The main thing is that they are not used at the same time. Therefore, remember the low beam symbols in the car well and use them immediately after getting into the vehicle.

Automatic and manual car headlights

Some vehicles are equipped with automatic headlights. If you have a car with this technology, the light will switch to low beam when the air transparency is poor. 

You need to know that in cars with an automatic transmission, the parking lights do not turn on. This is not against the law, but can be dangerous, especially in conditions of limited visibility. This happens during heavy rain or fog. 

Vehicle lighting and regulations - mandatory daytime running lights

A very important rule regarding vehicle lighting is the February 2011 rule. From now on, all cars sold in the EU weighing up to 3,5 tons must be equipped with daytime running lights. You can install them yourself, but keep in mind the distance of the individual lamps in the car from each other. It must be at least 600 mm. In turn, the height at which the vehicle lighting should be located is in the range from 250 to 1500 mm.

When do we use traffic lights?

As for the high beam, it can be used from dusk to dawn when you are driving on unlit roads. In this situation, it does not matter whether you will be driving in a built-up or undeveloped area. 

The rules clearly state that the high beam can be switched on instead of the low beam. Both types of car lighting can be used at the same time. While driving, the safety of you and other road users is always of the utmost importance. When it comes to high beams, remember that it shouldn't dazzle. This may apply to pedestrians who will walk in the convoy, as well as other drivers. 

Light in the car - adjustment

It should be noted that it will be very important to adjust the settings of all types of lighting in the car. Today, all cars have corresponding buttons with which you can adjust these parameters. The setting of the headlights in the car is also checked during the technical inspection of the car. The diagnostician can then detect irregularities and adjust the lighting accordingly. This is very important as strong headlights can dazzle oncoming vehicles. Then it is easy to allow an accident, which can end tragically. 

As for the dipped beam itself, the lights in the car do not have to be changed when another car is approaching from the opposite direction. However, this obligation falls on you if a driver coming from the opposite direction switches the headlights to dipped beam. These are some nuances in the regulations that will not always be obvious even to experienced drivers.

Fog lights come in handy too!

Which headlights you use will also depend on weather conditions. As an experienced driver, you are sure to recognize situations perfectly and, depending on your needs, turn on, for example, fog lights. Now they are on most cars. You will easily recognize them because the fog lamp symbols are characteristic. You will use this type of headlight in a car when the transparency of the air is limited by fog or other weather conditions and when conventional light bulbs are unable to illuminate the road.

Poor visibility is usually caused by rain or snowfall. Sometimes your field of vision will be so limited that you'll have to turn on your low beams, fog lights, or both at the same time. As a driver, he must know the symbols of the lights in the car and use them correctly. Note that you can turn on the rear fog lights when conditions limit visibility to less than 50m. 

Knowing the symbols of lights in the car is essential!

Even if you do not travel very often or are not a professional driver, you should be familiar with the types and designations of the lights in the car. If you have bought a new car and do not quite understand what the individual light symbols in the car mean, then before setting off on a journey, even on the shortest route, take a look at the car's owner's manual. There you will find information about the types of headlights in this car model.

Adaptation to visibility - when to turn on the high beam and when the foglights?

As a driver, you must get used to instinctively turning on the right type of light depending on the situation and the prevailing conditions. An example is the moment when we, without a moment of doubt and reflection, turn on the high beam, when it is very dark and the road is not visible.

As for fog lights, remember that you can use them even when the air is clear. There is one condition. You can only do this if you are on a winding road that is properly signposted. You can use this solution from dusk to dawn.

Clearance and parking lights are also important!

Remember that the markings of the lights in the car refer to the position and parking lights. As for the parking lights, they are always mandatory for every car. They will consist of two white lights that are attached to the front of the car and two red ones at the back. New parking lights will not be mandatory. We can turn them on the left or right side. Remember that you will use both types of lamps described in a situation where visibility is not limited, and the car is stationary or the driver presses the brakes. 

In order not to break the rules, know that if the car does not have a trailer, you can use the parking lights only from the center of the road. So if you are in a car that is on the right, you can turn on the light on the left. 

Additional provisions 

Information about how to turn on the high beam or parking, you will always find in the manual of your car. It is worth figuring out when you can completely turn off the lights in the car. You can do this while stopped or parked, as long as the car is in a well-lit area, off the road or shoulder. The exception here will be vehicles with a protruding load, which will require additional headlights. 

If you have stopped the car for more than a minute, you can also turn off the car's exterior lights. Here, in turn, the condition will be the situation when there are other vehicles in front of your car and behind it in your lane.

Use of turn signals

You probably use them often, but statistics show that drivers do not always understand their purpose. You will use your turn signals when you change lanes or direction, and when you merge into traffic. On the other hand, at a roundabout, you will only use your turn signal to signal a lane change and before exiting the roundabout.

Each car is equipped with a complete set of headlights. They differ in application. An experienced driver should be able to adjust the light depending on road conditions. Without a doubt, logic and a good knowledge of the rules will help. Remember to always make sure that the lights in the car are working before setting out on the road.