What color is the reverse light?
2 Answers
The reverse light is white, installed at the rear of the vehicle to illuminate the road behind when reversing and to alert vehicles and pedestrians behind. The colors with relatively strong light wave penetration are red, yellow, and white. Red is more eye-catching and is used for brake lights and small lights; yellow has relatively strong penetration in fog and is used for turn signals; since the speed is relatively slow when reversing, white with relatively weaker penetration is used. Common examples on cars include fog lights, which are installed at the front and rear of the vehicle to illuminate the road and provide safety warnings during rainy or foggy weather, improving visibility for the driver and surrounding traffic participants.
I've been driving for many years and noticed that reverse lights are almost always white. This is mainly because white light makes the surrounding environment clearer, especially at night when reversing, making it easier for people or vehicles behind to see. International standards like ISO also specify that reverse lights must be white or close to white to avoid confusion with red brake lights. In fact, white is chosen due to the wavelength of the light, which is better than yellow for reflecting ground light and helping drivers judge distance. Some older or modified cars might have a slight tint, but 99% are pure white. Don’t overlook this small detail in daily driving—if the light is the wrong color or not working, reversing at night can be very dangerous and prone to collisions. When checking the car, I usually put it in reverse to see if the light is on. Changing the bulb is simple—just buy an incandescent bulb for a few bucks, but make sure the voltage matches.
