Different Lights Your Vehicle Needs When Driving Long Distances

The severity of motor vehicle accidents also evolved as automobiles became widely used as the leading global transportation. According to the World Health Organization, over 1.25 million people die in traffic accidents every year globally, whereas 50 million are injured or disabled. The majority of these occur in developing countries that lack proper road infrastructure or enforcement of traffic safety rules.

Human errors cause the majority of these accidents; thus, there is a greater need to reduce their number. One way to dramatically decrease the number of deaths and injuries is to use high-quality headlamps that increase the visibility distance, allowing drivers to spot other vehicles on the road before an accident occurs.

Different vehicle lights are especially helpful when driving long distances. However, there are many different types of lamps that can be used to improve visibility during night, foggy, or stormy weather conditions.

This article discusses the most common ones you should use to stay safe while traveling on highways.

Headlights

Headlights should be used even during the day because it is difficult to see the road far away. Thus, headlights make objects visible at a greater distance and help you assess any obstacle or danger on time. Different kinds of headlamps can be used depending on the vehicle you have.

Daytime Running Lights

It is not recommended to use high beam headlights during the day to blind other drivers, so using “running lights” is a safe option for many countries with developed traffic regulations. This kind of headlamps emits sufficient light to make all objects visible, but not too much to dazzle other drivers.

Fog lamps

Fog lamps are also useful in both poor weather conditions and at night. They can be used when heavy fog is blocking the vision for a long distance, and due to their reduced illumination angle, they will make it possible for you to see only at a short distance. However, such beams won’t bother other drivers as much as the high beam headlights.

High Beam Headlights

High-beam headlights can be used during nighttime and in foggy weather conditions due to their improved illumination angle. Their light will cover a greater distance, so you’ll have a chance to spot any obstacles before it is too late. Nonetheless, one has to remember that in many countries, it is illegal to use high beam headlights during the day or when facing oncoming traffic because their light will blind other drivers making the situation dangerous for both parties.

Automatic Headlights

Many modern vehicles feature automatic headlamps that independently detect lighting conditions and adjust their beams accordingly. Thus, one of the lights mentioned above is usually enough for any weather conditions. Nevertheless, automatic headlights are not very reliable and may fail to work properly in some situations.

Light Bars

Although they can add auxiliary lights, one does not use them in every vehicle. One of the major benefits of using a light bar is the increased number of their beams which can make it easier for you to see when driving on a foggy road or at night.

Lightbars can be considered accessories if you already own auxiliary driving lamps. Many cars come with at least two lights, so using an additional light bar is unnecessary for most drivers.

However, if you don’t have any other extra lighting devices, adding a light bar or amber lights to your vehicle can be useful, especially in poor weather conditions when heavy fog blocks your vision and makes it difficult.

Turn signals and brake lights

Another important thing to keep in mind is turn signals and brake lights. They can warn other drivers about your intentions, so you shouldn’t forget to use them whenever it is advisable or required by traffic regulations.

Emergency lights

Emergency lights should be used only when your vehicle is stopped on the side of the road because if you drive with them switched on, it can confuse other drivers and cause accidents.

Emergency lights for trucks must be available at all times for truck drivers. It must comply with visibility requirements and be visible both from the front and behind. Such lights are an important accessory to have, especially if you regularly drive long distances, as you would be able to spot such a vehicle from a greater distance and anticipate any possible dangers.

Conclusion

Driving a vehicle requires both attention and concentration from a driver to maintain safety at all times. Using additional lighting devices enables one to identify possible dangers on time and prevent possible accidents.

Different kinds of lights, like headlights, fog lamps, or brake lights, can help you improve your driving experience during the day or night time significantly. Automatic lighting systems are also useful for many drivers because they do not require much effort to use them. However, it is important to remember that automatic lights can fail once you need them most, so it is better to be safe than sorry.

If you are looking for some auxiliary lighting options, using light bars or emergency lights will help you out in poor weather conditions. When choosing the type of headlamps, fog lamps, or turn signals, look up your local traffic regulations so that you can use them according to legal requirements.