Driving with sidelights, turning on your fog light in the rain… What different types of car lights are there? What are the rules regarding them? And how high are the fines? We shed light in the darkness. Not an unnecessary luxury, now that the days are beginning to shorten.
Types of lighting
Low beam
When you think of dim lights, you might think of dimmed lights (parking lights), but it's actually the name for standard lighting in the dark and in poor visibility. For example, due to dense fog or heavy rain or snowfall. Driving with defective lights could result in a fine of 90 (within built-up areas) to 140 euros (outside built-up areas).
Streetlight
The name ‘stadslicht’ stems from a bygone era when lighting was only provided within built-up areas. Nowadays, the term ‘parkeerlicht’ would be more appropriate, as the lighting is now only intended to make a parked vehicle more visible in the dark or in poor visibility. It is even compulsory when parking on the carriageway or outside built-up areas. In principle, you may also use the lighting while driving during the day, in clear visibility, for better visibility. Although you might be better off using your dipped headlights then.
Main beam
Where dipped headlights only illuminate the area directly in front of and to the right of the car (the verge), high beams provide a much wider and larger beam of light. High beams are brighter than dipped headlights, and dazzle oncoming traffic (and, via the mirrors, people driving in front of you). This type of lighting may therefore only be used at night when no one else is around. In heavy snow and dense fog, using high beams is counterproductive, as the light is reflected and creates a ’wall‘. High beams are also incorrectly used as a ’communication tool‘. For example, to point out defective lighting or their road behaviour to other road users. Signalling like this can cost you a fine of 90 euros...
Daytime running lights
On newer cars (from 2011 onwards), daytime running lights are mandatory. Daytime running lights, often in the form of LED lights around the headlights, are intended for better visibility during the day. In poor visibility during the day and in tunnels, you must ‘simply’ switch on your dipped headlights. LED lighting fitted as decorative lighting is prohibited and can result in a fine of 140 euros.
Fog light
Fog lights provide better visibility in fog, while the rear fog light makes you more visible to traffic behind you. You may only switch on your rear fog light if visibility is less than fifty metres due to fog or snow. You must not use the rear fog light in heavy rainfall. Incorrectly using fog lights can result in a fine of 140 euros.
Cornering light
Cornering lights illuminate on one side of the car when taking a bend (including roundabouts). This type of lighting is intended to make the inside of the bend more visible.
Do you have questions about car lighting and the relevant rules? Leave them in a comment and our employee and driving school owner, Ersan, will be happy to answer them for you! Car hire in the Sittard region With safe lights? You do that, of course, at Adrem Car Hire.
