Photo courtesy of BMW
Now that the winter weather has set in and the days are becoming darker earlier, RAA is reminding motorists that they need to light up to be seen on the roads.
RAA Senior Manager Road Safety Charles Mountain said there are many laws and common guidelines on when to use the appropriate lights during dark, rainy and foggy conditions.
“Our road rules state that a driver mustn’t drive at night or in hazardous weather conditions such as fog unless their headlights, tail lights and number plate light are all working,” said Mr Mountain.
“Dark, rainy or foggy weather conditions can be quite common at this time of year, so it’s important to drive with caution.
“Pedestrians and cyclists can be particularly harder to detect and wet roads means it also takes a longer distance to stop.
“In foggy conditions, turn your headlights on low beam or use fog lights if you have them. Don’t put headlights on high beam though, as the reflection from the fog actually makes it harder to see.”
Mr Mountain reminds motorists that you can only use your fog lights when you are experiencing the appropriate conditions. In other periods of low visibility, headlights should be used instead.
“The law states that the driver of a vehicle fitted with front or rear fog lights must only operate them if they are driving in fog or other hazardous weather conditions causing reduced visibility,” said Mr Mountain.
Headlights should also be used on low beam during darker mornings, days and evenings, and during rain.
Daytime running lights (DRL) is a term that is becoming a lot more common and this feature can be found in many new vehicles as standard equipment.
“The modern daytime running lights are Light Emitting Diodes (LED) which operate whenever the engine is running. They have a low energy consumption and are designed to minimise glare,” said Mr Mountain.
“DRL’s can make your vehicle more visible to approaching motorists and pedestrians.”
“Driving with headlights on at all times also increases vehicle visibility, but it does increase fuel consumption and reduces headlight life,” said Mr Mountain.
“Many vehicles activate headlights automatically in conditions of low visibility, but it’s important to remember that while these advances in technology are certainly helpful, you should not rely solely on them.
“Motorists should always monitor weather conditions and when necessary over-ride the automatic function either to use headlights or fog lights when the situation requires them.”
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