When to Turn on the Width Lights While Driving?
3 Answers
Width lights should be turned on in the following situations: 1. When driving at night; 2. When driving at dusk; 3. When visibility is poor during rainy days; 4. When visibility is low in foggy conditions. Width lights: These lights mark the outline of the vehicle, such as its width, height, and length, and are installed at the four corners of the front and rear of the vehicle, as well as on the edges of the cargo compartment. Width lights are similar to clearance lights, but clearance lights are mostly found on large vehicles, such as buses, coaches, and trucks. Each side of these vehicles has multiple clearance lights that illuminate at night, allowing other vehicles to see how long and wide the vehicle is to avoid traffic accidents. This is especially important for trailers, as their cargo area is dark at night, and passing vehicles might collide if they don't notice them. With clearance lights, other drivers can recognize that the vehicle is a long one.
When I first learned to drive, I couldn't figure out when to turn on the parking lights, just like how I was always afraid of falling when learning to ride a bike. The instructor taught me that you should turn them on as soon as it gets dark, like half an hour before sunset or when driving to work on a foggy morning. Once, I drove home in the evening without turning on the lights, and a car behind me almost hit me—that's when I truly understood the importance of lights: not just for seeing the road yourself, but also for making sure others can see you. On rainy or overcast days, even if it's not completely dark yet, turning on the parking lights can increase your car's visibility on the road and reduce accidents. Don't forget to turn on the lights before entering a tunnel—it's a legal requirement. To build this habit, beginners can start by checking the vehicle manual and practicing the switch operation a few times until it becomes second nature. When it comes to safety, it's always better to be early than to regret being late, especially in congested urban areas—turning on the lights a step earlier reduces the risk by a notch.
I've been driving for over twenty years, and experience has taught me that parking lights should be turned on immediately when visibility is poor. For example, when there's light fog in the morning, or during dusk when the sun is setting and the light changes rapidly, I make it a habit to check the lights as soon as I get in the car. Seasoned drivers know that parking lights save some electricity when strong lighting isn't necessary while ensuring safety; especially on highways during long trips, turning on the lights early allows vehicles behind to spot you from a distance, significantly reducing the chance of rear-end collisions. It's also essential to turn on parking lights in rainy or foggy weather, just like wearing bright-colored clothes to alert others. Nowadays, many cars come with automatic headlight functions, which make things much easier, but drivers of manual control vehicles still have to rely on their own memory. Driving safety depends on the details, and developing good habits can help avoid a lot of trouble.
