How to turn on car lights safely and avoid being fined by traffic police?

Using headlights at night and in bad weather is extremely important because it helps drivers see the road and control the vehicle more easily. How to turn on and off headlights is taught in every driving training facility, but not everyone applies it correctly.

Turning on the wrong headlights when driving at night or in bad weather will greatly affect the visibility of other vehicles, endanger yourself, and may also result in a fine from the traffic police.

The 2008 Road Traffic Law stipulates that motor vehicle drivers must use headlights when it is dark or foggy, or when bad weather affects visibility when traveling in road tunnels.

According to Clause 3, Article 5 of Decree 100/2019/ND-CP on administrative sanctions in the field of road and railway traffic, the act of driving a car without using or not using enough headlights from 7:00 p.m. the previous day to 5:00 a.m. the next day, when fog or bad weather limits visibility; using high beams when avoiding oncoming vehicles... will be fined from 800,000 to 1 million VND.

Thus, drivers are required to turn on their headlights from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. the next day. In addition, when encountering bad weather that affects visibility or entering a tunnel, drivers are required to turn on their lights to ensure safety.

Currently, all cars and motorbikes have two lighting modes: high beam (headlights) and low beam (dipped beams). Therefore, knowing how to turn on the lights is not enough, but you also have to choose the right type of light when participating in traffic.

Clause 12, Article 8 of the 2008 Road Traffic Law stipulates that it is strictly forbidden to honk or rev the engine continuously; honk from 10pm to 5am the following day; honk or use high beams in urban areas and densely populated areas, except for priority vehicles on duty.

For the violation of not turning on headlights or using high beams in urban areas, car drivers will also be fined from VND 800,000 to VND 1,000,000 (according to Clause 3, Article 5 of Decree 100/2019/ND-CP).

Therefore, to ensure safety and avoid being fined by traffic police, drivers should pay attention to the following issues when using car lights:

- Turn on the car lights when the weather is good, not necessarily at the specified time.

- When moving in urban areas, only turn on low beam lights.

- On highways with median strips, headlights can be used to observe from a distance, for the best visibility.

- Do not use headlights when there is an oncoming vehicle or when driving close behind another vehicle while traveling on the highway.

- You can overtake the car in front by flashing your high-beams.

- In case of bad weather, fog or heavy rain, drivers can use headlights or emergency lights to ensure safety.