8 Different Lights on a Car and Their Uses

All of your car lights are critical. Whether you are driving in the night or through fog, having working headlights and fog lights is essential. You need a working indicator and brake lights to warn other drivers of your intentions. If you are stuck in the middle of the road, it helps to have your car’s hazards on to alert oncoming drivers that you have stalled.

Check out these eight different types of lights on a car:

1. Headlights

Headlights are the most popular types of lights on a car. Also known as headlamps, headlights are affixed to the front of your car to light ahead as you drive. The performance of headlights has improved greatly over the years. The main drive towards the improvements in the headlights technology has been nighttime fatalities, which have sometimes been attributed to poor visibility.

The majority of traffic accidents and arising fatalities take place during the night or in environments with poor visibility. This is quite serious since only about 25% of vehicles can be found on roads at night.

2. Brake Lights

Brake lights warn the driver behind you that you’re coming to a halt, sometimes abruptly, or that you are slowing down. The main work of brake lights is to keep you and the driver behind you safe. Brake lights are usually automatic. Once you hit the brakes, they come on automatically. Always make sure they are functioning properly, which means you need to inspect them regularly.

3. Tail Lights

Do you see those red lights at the rear of your car? They are known as taillights. Every time the headlights go on, they light up as well. This is because the taillights are wired to the same switch.

If your car has automatic lights, the tail lights activate immediately as you switch the vehicle on. However, if you have a manual switch for the lights, they light up once the headlights go on. As you bring the car to a halt, the taillights assume a bright red appearance as opposed to their dim red lighting when your car is moving.

4. Fog Lights

If you are driving in the fog, you need fog lights, which operate manually. However, even in such conditions, only use them when the headlights are not effective, especially where visibility is extremely low. Fog lights are affixed under the headlights, a strategic positioning that makes sure they don’t decrease visibility by bouncing back light from the fog.

Their key function is to enhance the visibility of the bottom half of the windscreen to give you a rough idea of where you’re headed. You must make sure they work by checking them regularly. You don’t want to be stuck in the middle of fog with fused-out fog lights.

5. Indicator Lights

Most people underestimate the importance of indicators. Nonetheless, they’re some of your car’s most critical lights. A working indicator light could mean the difference between staying safe on the road and causing an accident. Indicators are sometimes known as blinkers. They are located at the side and back of your car.

Every time you want to turn, they blink or indicate your intention. They operate manually to indicate to motorists behind where you plan to turn. This informs the drivers of your intention, allowing them to react appropriately.

6. Driving Lamps

Also referred to as LED interior lights, driving lamps are designed for the interior of your car. Operated by hand, they are key when you want to find something you have dropped inside the car. Instead of groping in the dark, they light up your car to reveal items.

They are also critical when a passenger wants to use a map at night to establish the current location and where you are headed. Of course, with Google maps and sophisticated navigation systems ruling the day and night, this particular use is almost obsolete. Experts recommend that you should use driving lights sparingly since they can easily deplete your car’s battery after prolonged use.

7. High Beam

This car light is situated in your car’s headlight. It’s difficult to distinguish them from normal lights unless you are extremely keen. They emit a centre-focused, intense light beam. Never use high beam lights if there are oncoming vehicles since they might blind the drivers and hamper their vision due to how they reflect on mirrors. Direct exposure to high beam lights can cause a temporary loss of sight, which could precipitate fatal crashes.

8. Hazard Lights

If you need assistance, or for some reason something is wrong with your car and you have stopped, hazard lights communicate that message effectively. Don’t just pull off the road or stop in the middle of the road without warning other motorists that something is wrong with your car. Switch the hazard lights on and they will get the message.

Always check your vehicle’s lights to make sure they are functioning as they should.