Mandatory lights during daytime
How to use lights correctly during the day and avoid common mistakes with daytime running lights, dipped headlights and auxiliary lights.
Many people think lights are only about darkness. But mandatory daytime lights are about making the car visible and easy to read even when visibility seems straightforward.
What you need to know
- Correct use of lights in daylight makes the car clearer for oncoming and crossing traffic.
- Automatic systems help, but you still carry the responsibility.
- Weather, tunnels and changing light conditions may require different choices than a dry summer day.
Typical situations
| Situation | What you should do | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Clear day on a rural road | Check that the car is actually using approved daytime running lights or dipped headlights. | Assuming automatic lights always choose correctly. |
| Overcast day with rain | Consider dipped headlights if the daytime running lights give too little rear visibility. | Driving with a poorly visible rear end in bad weather. |
| Changing light in tunnels or forest stretches | Pay attention to rapid changes and control the lights actively. | Trusting blindly that the car reacts in time. |
Common mistakes
- Forgetting that many cars do not show rear lights in every daytime-light setting.
- Using auxiliary lights incorrectly in daylight.
- Overlooking light use when the windscreen is dirty or the sun is glaring.
How to practice
Link this with Lights and light types , Using lights and signals and The traffic system - lights .