What to Do When All Vehicle Lights Suddenly Go Out During Night Driving?
3 Answers
When all vehicle lights suddenly go out during night driving, you should turn on the hazard warning flashers, gradually slow down, and pull over to the side of the road. Headlights must be turned on at night. When overtaking at night, it is advisable to increase the distance between vehicles appropriately. When driving at speeds above 30 km/h at night, high beams should be used.
As a driver who frequently takes long-distance trips, I encountered a situation last year where all the vehicle lights suddenly went out during night driving. At that moment, I immediately steadied the steering wheel, turned on the hazard lights, and then slowly pulled over to the emergency lane on the roadside. Remember not to brake suddenly; use the reflective road markers to judge your position. After stopping safely, first turn on your phone's flashlight and place the triangular warning sign 150 meters behind the car. If you're on the highway, move outside the guardrail immediately before calling for assistance. This situation is mostly caused by a generator or main fuse failure leading to a power outage. Later, I found out it was due to a broken alternator belt, so now I always check the belt condition before setting off. Safety comes first during night driving, and panic is the most dangerous reaction.
After working in the auto repair industry for a long time, I've found that complete light failure usually indicates an electrical system collapse. In this situation, follow three steps: immediately release the throttle to decelerate and turn on the hazard lights using residual power; gradually steer away from the main lane to the roadside, avoiding lane changes since tail lights aren't working; finally, stop without turning off the engine to check the dashboard. A generator failure can drain the battery within minutes. In emergencies, use your phone for lighting, but never attempt to inspect under the hood yourself, especially on highways. I recommend replacing the battery every two years and keeping a portable jump starter in the car. Remember, when lighting fails, maintaining straight vehicle movement is crucial - sudden turns may cause rear-end collisions.
