Can You Turn on the Reading Light While Driving at Night?
4 Answers
You should not turn on the reading light while driving at night. Introduction to Reading Lights: The interior reading light is installed inside the car, typically above the driver's seat and in the middle of the rear seats, to facilitate reading inside the vehicle. Obstructed Vision: At night, due to the dim external light, turning on the interior light can cause the windshield to act like a mirror, obstructing the driver's view. This phenomenon occurs based on the principle of optical imaging: the darkness outside functions like the back of a mirror, while the bright interior light illuminates the front of the mirror, effectively turning the windshield into a reflective surface. LED Interior Reading Lights: These are made using LED materials. LED interior reading lights are characterized by being pollution-free, radiation-free, and having a long lifespan, with a theoretical operational life of over 50,000 hours.
I absolutely do not recommend turning on the reading light while driving at night, as it poses significant safety hazards. When the interior light is on, it reflects off the windshield and windows, creating a glare effect that makes it difficult for my eyes to adjust to the dark outside environment. Vision is crucial for survival while driving, especially in areas with heavy traffic or numerous curves—even a slight distraction can lead to an accident. I only dare to turn on the reading light when parked, such as at a red light or when stopping briefly to handle urgent matters. It's best to develop good habits, like checking all items before departure to avoid needing light while driving. If passengers must read something, advise them to use their phone screen at low brightness or wait until later. Such details are critical in automotive design; ignoring them is essentially gambling with your life.
From my experience, one night while driving with my family, they turned on the reading light to look for snacks. In that instant, my vision was flooded with glare, and I almost hit the guardrail! Since then, I only allow the lights to be turned on when the car is completely stopped. The truth is, bright interior lights cause the pupils to contract, reducing my perception of the outside environment, which is even more dangerous at high speeds or in rainy conditions. I've trained myself to drive without any interior lights on. If lighting is needed, I ask passengers in the back to use the small light on the sun visor or their phone light, directing it at themselves without interfering with the front view. Safety is no small matter. Before every trip, I remind everyone to follow the rules. These small habits, accumulated over time, can save lives.
Turning on the reading light can affect my driving visibility due to a simple principle: the interior light reflects off the windows, creating glare that obscures road details. I only use it when parked, such as waiting for a friend or reading during a short break. At other times, I try to keep the interior dim to adapt to external lighting. If not careful, the nighttime accident rate can increase.
