What Lights to Use in Snowy Weather?
2 Answers
In snowy weather, use fog lights, low beams, marker lights, and hazard warning flashers—essentially all available vehicle lights. Avoid driving when visibility drops below 50 meters. Do not use high beams in snow as the reflection off snow can impair the vision of oncoming drivers. If you need to park temporarily in snowy conditions, activate the corresponding turn signal along with the hazard warning flashers. When driving in snow with visibility below 200 meters, maintain a speed no higher than 60 km/h; below 100 meters, keep it under 40 km/h; and in heavy snow with visibility under 50 meters, do not exceed 20 km/h.
When driving in snowy conditions, the choice of lights is directly related to safety. I always start by turning on the low beams to ensure I can see the road ahead clearly, especially during snowfall or dusk, as low beams help avoid glare caused by reflection. It's also essential to activate both front and rear fog lights—their yellow light has strong penetration, helping other drivers spot your vehicle in snowy or foggy conditions. If a snowstorm suddenly reduces visibility to less than 50 meters, I immediately turn on the hazard lights to alert vehicles behind me. The key thing to remember is: never use high beams! High beams reflecting off snowflakes create a 'light curtain' effect, making everything appear white and dangerously blinding. Lastly, always check that your lights are clean—snow-covered lenses can significantly reduce light effectiveness.
