Using Different Car Lights for Safety & Visibility

Many drivers are unaware of the different lights that come with their vehicles, but it’s essential to know these features pertain to safety and communication. Knowing what car lights exist and when to use them can prevent accidents and injuries by increasing visibility and making it less challenging to drive in bad weather or late at night. Below, the car insurance experts from Altra Insurance Services discuss some things to consider when figuring out which lights to use on a car and when to put them to work.

Hazard Lights

When your hazard lights are flashing, other drivers will know an emergency could be happening with your car or other vehicles and situations ahead. Some of the troubles that warrant the use of hazard lights include your car breaking down, an officer pulling you over, driving in a funeral procession, fixing a flat tire, running out of fuel, or other reasons that require you to slow down and pull to the side of the road or exit the highway.

Fog Lights

People must travel to work, handle emergencies, ensure their children attend school, and more. To aid visibility in bad weather conditions, such as rain, mist, and fog, these lights come in handy because they boost visibility, allowing you to see down the road with less difficulty. Remember the bulbs are incredibly bright and can cause a glare in a driver’s vision when misused. Therefore, it’s best to use the lights only when heavy mist and fogginess exist.

Tail Lights

These bulbs are on the rear of your vehicle above the bumper. In most cases, their color is red, but they tend to have an accompanying white light to the side, which indicates to other drivers and pedestrians that your vehicle is in reverse. The objective of tail lights is to ensure other people are aware of your presence, allowing you to travel with more safety in the dark.

When using these lights correctly, other drivers recognize your presence and know how far ahead you are at the time. These are a must-have light feature for all vehicles, and you should always use them when operating your car at night or in dark and poorly lit areas. If you’re driving an automobile during the day and traveling through fog or while it’s raining or snowing, use the tail lights.

Full-Beam Lights

This is the brightest type of headlight you’ll find on traditional vehicles. Their position, higher than a dipped headlight, allows you to see more of the road due to their high beams.

You only need to use these lights when driving on unlit streets at night. However, even during these instances, you’ll meet oncoming traffic, go around bends, or follow another vehicle for personal or professional reasons, requiring you to turn off your full-beam lights to avoid a dazzling effect that could lead to an accident. In addition to when you’re driving on unlit roads at night, you may need to use your full-beam lights when you experience poor visibility.

Along with knowing how to operate the lights and other components of your car correctly, it’s important to protect it with reliable auto insurance, so reach out to the trustworthy agents at Altra Insurance Services. In addition to auto coverage, we also offer homeowners, commercial, and motorcycle insurance. San Diego residents are urged to give us a call today for a free quote.