What Lights Should Be Turned On When Driving in Heavy Rain?
3 Answers
When driving in heavy rain, turn on the fog lights. Only use the rear fog lights when the rain is extremely heavy. Fog lights emit a particularly penetrating beam that can not only illuminate the road ahead over a longer distance in rainy or foggy conditions, but also enhance visibility, making your vehicle more noticeable to others from a greater distance. Use the parking lights in light rain: The use of lights is crucial when driving in the rain. At the onset of rain when the sky gradually darkens but visibility remains relatively good, you should use the parking lights. Turn on the headlights or fog lights in heavy rain: In heavier rain where visibility is low, the rain itself can obstruct your view. Using headlights or fog lights can improve your visibility of the traffic conditions ahead. Additionally, in foggy conditions or when the side mirrors of the car are obscured by water, the clarity of the view can be reduced. If the vehicle behind you has its fog lights on, your car will be more easily noticed in the mirrors, thus enhancing safety. Do not use hazard lights while driving: Hazard lights are meant for emergency situations only. They should be used in very dangerous circumstances, such as when parking on the roadside, experiencing vehicle malfunctions or being involved in a traffic accident on urban roads, when towing a malfunctioning vehicle (both the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle should turn on the hazard lights), or when driving on highways in low-visibility weather conditions like fog, rain, snow, sandstorms, or hail with visibility below 100 meters.
With over 20 years of driving experience, the most common mistake I see during heavy rain is incorrect light usage. When encountering heavy rain, I immediately turn on the low beams and front fog lights if the vehicle has them. Never use high beams - raindrops and water will reflect the light, creating a blinding whiteout that makes the road invisible. Last time on the highway when I didn't turn on lights promptly, a semi-truck almost sideswiped me. Fortunately, my rear fog lights made my position visible. The key is that using lights isn't just about seeing better yourself, but also about being recognized by other vehicles to avoid rear-end collisions. I recommend combining this with slow driving and maintaining safe distance - this combination significantly reduces accident rates. Remember, while automatic headlights are convenient, manual operation should also be mastered, especially in extreme weather. Safe driving leaves no room for negligence. I remind myself of this every heavy rain - protecting both myself and others.
I just got my driver's license not long ago, and I vividly remember my driving instructor repeatedly emphasizing the rules for using lights during heavy rain. During the simulated heavy rain scenario in driving school, he said you must first turn on the low beam headlights and rear fog lights to make the car more visible. I tried driving without lights, and the visibility was terrible—the road almost disappeared. Turning on the low beams made it much safer. The instructor also reminded me not to drive with hazard lights on, as they can interfere with turn signals and should only be used for emergency stops. Now that I'm actually driving, I follow this routine every time it rains heavily: start the engine, turn on the automatic lights or manually switch to low beams, and if there are fog lights, activate them too. I also learned to reduce speed and maintain a following distance of at least 30 meters. These small tips make driving much safer, especially when transporting family members. Developing good habits is crucial, and I recommend that new drivers practice familiarizing themselves with the button locations as well.
