What lights should be turned on during daytime driving?

[DiBrantley]

During daytime driving, turn signals should be activated as required when making turns, and headlights should be turned on in advance when entering tunnels. In conditions of low visibility such as fog, rain, snow, dust, or hail, front headlights, clearance lights, and rear position lights should be turned on. Motor vehicles must use turn signals as stipulated by regulations: the left turn signal should be activated in advance when turning left, changing lanes to the left, preparing to overtake, leaving a parking spot, or making a U-turn; the right turn signal should be activated in advance when turning right, changing lanes to the right, returning to the original lane after overtaking, or pulling over to the roadside. Article 47 of the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China" states: When overtaking, a motor vehicle should activate the left turn signal in advance and switch between high and low beams or sound the horn. On roads without a central dividing line or with only one lane in the same direction, the vehicle ahead should reduce speed and move to the right to yield when conditions permit, upon receiving an overtaking signal from the vehicle behind. The overtaking vehicle should pass from the left side of the vehicle ahead only after ensuring a sufficient safe distance, and after establishing the necessary safe distance from the overtaken vehicle, activate the right turn signal and return to the original lane.

[DelDakota]

To be honest, I was also puzzled about daytime lighting when I first started driving. After a few highway trips, I noticed most new cars now come with daytime running lights that automatically emit white light to make your vehicle more visible to oncoming traffic. For older cars without this feature, I turn on low beams during glaring daylight conditions. The key is to never use high beams - they're extremely annoying and illegal. In tunnels or mountain roads, I keep my lights on throughout for safety. During rain or fog, don't hesitate - low beams plus fog lights are the safest bet. Developing a habit of checking your lights is crucial; I always ask mechanics to inspect lens cleanliness during maintenance since dust accumulation reduces brightness.

[Jimmy]

Last year's drive into Tibet left a deep impression on me. During the day on National Highway 318, the reflective snow-capped mountains made it impossible to see oncoming vehicles clearly. Our team leader reminded us that all vehicles in the convoy must keep their daytime running lights or width indicators on. Later, we found this trick extremely effective - silver cars became virtually invisible under the strong light, but with lights on, recognition distance increased by at least 200 meters. After checking traffic regulations, I learned that keeping low beams on highways with poor visibility does indeed reduce accident rates. Now I instinctively turn on my lights when passing through shaded areas. Last time on a county road during cloudy weather, an oncoming truck started slowing down early to give way, clearly having spotted me well in advance.

[ClaireAnn]

I just replaced the LED daytime running light strips for my old Passat a few days ago. The auto repair shop owner mentioned that many car owners nowadays overlook the importance of daytime lighting. Vehicles driving with low beams under overpass shadows can reduce accident rates by 30%. On city roads, I adjust my lights based on sunlight intensity: using daytime running lights in strong sunlight and switching to position lights in shaded areas. A special reminder for new drivers: don’t drive with hazard lights alone in rainy weather. The correct approach is to use low beams along with front and rear fog lights. Last week during heavy rain on the highway, a car behind me with fog lights on was particularly noticeable in waterlogged sections—this visual contrast can be life-saving in critical moments. Remember, standard brightness for rear fog lights should be as red as candied hawthorns.

[Mia]

After ten years in auto repair, I've seen too many accident vehicles, with collisions at the headlight positions accounting for 70%. Many car owners don't realize that daytime running lights can actually prevent scratches. Especially for silver-gray vehicles on concrete roads, keeping the daytime running lights on is like carrying a reflector with you. There are three things I always do when driving: check the dashboard light indicators before starting, turn on the lights two seconds before entering a tunnel, and press the fog light button immediately when encountering patchy fog. What I most want to remind people about is the dusk period, when streetlights aren't on yet but the sky is getting dark - low beams react faster than automatic headlights. Last time on the expressway, turning on my lights early made an SUV that suddenly changed lanes brake in time.