Dark early in autumn and winter: ADAC tips for car lights
Summer is over, it’s getting dark earlier and getting colder. The result is fog. In autumn and winter, visibility is anything but optimal. You can find tips on the various light options in your vehicle in this guide.
Daytime running lights, high beams, fog lights and rear fog lights: If the light does not automatically adapt to the weather and time of day, good advice is expensive. The ADAC has summarized when you can and should use which light.
Daytime running lights & low beams: when to use them
That daytime running lights turns on automatically in most cars when you turn on the ignition. It is not precisely definedwhen you need to use the daytime running lights. However, it is advisable to use it to make yourself more visible – regardless of the weather. However, if visibility continues to deteriorate, the daytime running lights are no longer sufficient and you should switch on the low beams.
In most cases it activates itself, in fog you probably have to help and that dimmed headlights activate manually. If visibility is poor even in the early afternoon, the use of the low beam is even possible dictated by law.
A notice: The high beam doesn’t do you any good in thick fog or snowfall, it’s more likely to dazzle you. With the normal low beam you are better advised.
Use fog lights & rear fog lights correctly: penalties may apply
Some information that you learned in driving school is not always present – especially since it rarely gets really foggy, especially in the city. As the name suggests, you should fog lights use only when visibility is poor. It doesn’t matter why. Heavy rain, a blizzard or dense fog are equally impeding. Fog lights offer a remedy because they shine the light beams flatter across the road. However, you may do not use continuously. You can use the headlights together with the low beam. As soon as you can see better again, you have to switch to the low beam.
You may only use rear fog lights if you can see less than 50 meters in the fog, so as not to dazzle oncoming traffic. This is exactly the distance between two roadside posts. In addition, you are not allowed to drive faster than 50 kilometers per hour. the rear fog light You can also use it in town, but be careful when using it: If used incorrectly, there is a risk of a fine from 20 euros. If you blind an oncoming driver and an accident occurs, you will be fined 25 to 35 euros. Therefore, you should turn off the headlights as soon as possible. It can be more expensive if you drive through a yellow traffic light.
