Sponsored feature: What kind of light exists In a car?
There’s a lot of things to think about when you step into your very own car for the first time.
Even after you’ve passed your driving test, the dashboard in front of you can feel a little alien, like you’ve just stepped into the jumpseat of a high-tech spacecraft.
Of course, once you’ve got going, all of those concerns soon go to the back of your mind – but there is one concern which must remain at the forefront.Lights.
Even for experienced drivers, knowing exactly what each light does – and when to apply them – can be a little tricky, and it takes time and effort to really get it all into your head. Thankfully for you, we’re going to condense all of the important lights down and tell you exactly when is the right time to use them.
For newtime drivers, it can be easy to get overwhelmed by all the lights in your car. Click here to read a complete guide and summary.
Why Are Lights Important?
First off, you might be wondering why this is so important. Surely all the lights and their purpose are self-evident, right? Well, yes, but only when you’ve got them into your head.
Knowing about your car lights is crucial if you want to drive safely and protect other people when you’re on the road.
You need to know exactly what types of lights you have, which ones you should use at night, which ones you should use when it’s foggy, and make sure you’ve done everything you can to spot every potential hazard.
(The photo source of the below car headlights can be found at autodoc.co.uk)
With this in mind, here’s a list of significant lights in your car:
● Headlights
● Sidelights
● DRLs (Daytime Running Lights)
● Front Fog Lights
● Rear Fog Lights
Headlights
The most important of all these lights are the headlights. You know where the headlights are, of course. They are the two front beams on the left and right of your car, and they are there to illuminate the roadway and facilitate safe, responsible driving.
The first thing to note is that these lights – like so many others in your car – need to be working all of the time.
Even if you notice just a slight dimming, it’s best to be safe and immediately get replacement lights that work at 100%.
It’s also important that you use these lights whenever there is decreased visibility on the road – this involves not only darkness but heavy rain and mist too.
Best brands for headlights include:
● Alkar
● Hella
● Abakus
● TYC
● Diederichs
Sidelights
Sidelights might be a little confusing, seeing as they’re not actually placed in the side of your car!
Instead, they’re located in the headlight unit, or on the front corners of the car.
These are typically 5W bulbs that should be used whenever you are parking, especially if it is on the side of a busy road.
During the daytime, these lights should also be used to make yourself visible to traffic when it’s not quite dark enough for the headlights.
DRLs
The best thing about DRLs is that you don’t really have to think about them – at least, not unless you are carrying out a car maintenance check.
These are lights that are designed to make your car more visible during the daytime, and they come on as soon as the engine is started.
The only issue is that, because you don’t have to turn them on yourself, it can be easy to forget about them.
But it is important to keep doing regular maintenance checks and know about fines for non-working lighting – when it comes to DRLs, the front-facing ones are required by law.
For all other lights, fines can go up to £1,000, with points taken off your licence.
Front And Rear Fog Lights
You would have thought that fog lights are pretty literal when considering when you should use them.
But the law is rightly picky about when you should use them.
For drivers on the road, fog lights should be used when visibility is less than 100 metres.
Nearly every rulebook will tell you that these lights must not be used under any circumstances unless your visibility is greatly reduced like this, due to the potential to dazzle other drivers – they are far brighter than headlights – and obscure your brake lights too.
Replacing Your Lights
As mentioned before, you should regularly carry out maintenance checks and replace any lights that are not working as well.
In the UK, there are two particularly common bulbs, so you also need to ensure you know the difference between xenon and LED lights and which ones are appropriate for your own vehicle.
Remember, this isn’t just about being law-abiding, it’s about keeping yourself and every other driver on the road safe.
