When out and about on British roads, it is quite startling to see the range of different approaches drivers take to using car lights. Some seem to feel fog lights are a must-have for everyday driving, whilst others seem reluctant to use any lights at all, perhaps only stretching to some side lights when it gets dark.
In some countries, things are done very simply. In Estonia and Sweden, for example, car headlights must be used whatever the time or the weather conditions. This makes it easy for motorists to understand the law and therefore comply with it.
In the UK things are not so straightforward. Although there are clear guidelines outlined in the Highway Code, many motorists are either not aware of them or implement their own "improved" version instead. This leads to some overenthusiastic motorists blinding other road users by using lights too bright for the situation, whilst others go unseen altogether, causing a considerable hazard.
Either way, if drivers aren't clear about how and when to use the lights on our cars, they risk accidents, prosecution and even their cheap car insurance every time they get in the car.
The law states that every car must use parking lights when a car is parked at night at the side of a road with a speed limit of more than 30mph. This is a largely ignored law and there is only one person I have heard of in recent years who actually follows it.
A few years ago, a young woman called Sarah who was hoping to get into the army was out for an evening run whilst at her friend Danielle's house. She had nearly finished her run when – BANG! She ran full pelt into the front of Danielle's very new, very expensive Mercedes, cracking her chin on the bonnet as she did so.
A particularly unfortunate collision, it left Sarah with a broken jaw and Danielle's woman car insurance company responsible for paying a £1,000 repair bill to fix the horribly dented bonnet. Since this incident, whenever she parks her Mercedes at night in places where there are no street lights, she leaves her parking lights on. (Names in this story were changed to protect individuals from embarrassment.)
Most accidents with parked cars do not involve people out for an evening jog, but this case does highlight the point of legislation regarding car lights. These laws are there for a reason and motorists really should try to follow them more closely, in order to prevent freak accidents such as this, as well as less unusual ones that are caused by poor visibility.
Most daytime visibility issues are either caused by rain or fog and the Highway Code states that drivers must use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced (less than 100m). When visibility is 100m or less, motorists may also turn on their fog lights, although these must be turned off immediately that conditions improve.
Night time is the other major visibility issue. UK regulations state that motorists must have their headlights on at night. Dipped beams should be used in towns and on non-urban roads where there is oncoming traffic, whilst full beams should be used only when there is no chance of dazzling other traffic.
Although there are no UK statistics relating to accidents caused by incorrect car lighting, New Zealand researchers claim that this is the cause of approximately seven road deaths and 88 injuries each year on their roads. It is likely that car lighting problems cause even more injuries and deaths in the UK, where we have more than 10 times the amount of cars on our roads.
So, when you next get in your car, think a bit more about the lights you are using and avoid a nasty accident that could just cost you more than your
cheap car insurance.
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