Driving at night or in severe weather can be difficult without headlights. Keeping your car’s headlights in excellent condition will help you avoid trouble on the road in these conditions. Maintaining your vehicle’s headlights in good working order is a legal requirement of traffic laws.

According to clause 19.5 of the Traffic Regulations, all vehicles moving during daylight hours are required to use low beam headlights. In this case, it is allowed to alternatively use both daytime running lights and fog lights. Failure to comply with these rules may result in a fine.

However, performing simple regular checks will help keep your headlights in working order. Here are simple tips for maintaining your car’s headlights:

• Always make sure the headlight housings are clean;
• Check your brake lights and indicators. This can be easily checked by having a friend inspect the car from the outside while you operate the controls inside;
• Keep in mind, you may not notice a burnt out headlight. You will usually notice a decrease in brightness, or see other road users flashing their lights at you;
• If the indicator light flashes faster than it should, it may indicate that it is not working properly;
• If you replace light bulbs, always do it in pairs. There is a good chance that you won’t find another light bulb for a long time.

If in doubt, contact your nearest garage for advice.

Instrument panel signals and their meaning

Signal	Meaning	Decoding
Signal	MeaningHigh beam	DecodingUsually the icon is blue on the dashboard.
Signal	MeaningLow beam headlights	DecodingThis is the icon you should see if you are driving on the highway at night and get stuck in traffic.
Signal	MeaningFog lights (front)	DecodingThey should be used when you cannot see more than 100 meters in front of you. Once visibility improves, they should be turned off.
Signal	MeaningFog lights (rear)	DecodingThey should be used when you cannot see more than 100 meters in front of you. Again, these should be turned off when visibility improves.
Signal	MeaningAutomatic headlight leveling malfunction	DecodingWhen the car behind you goes over a speed bump, light may shine into your rearview mirror, briefly blinding you. Self-leveling headlights will prevent this from happening because they keep the lights pointed at the road.
Signal	MeaningStop light doesn’t work	DecodingIf there is a problem with your brake light, this icon will appear.
Signal	MeaningOutdoor lighting indicator	DecodingThis symbol will appear if there is a problem with the external headlights. Either the lamp is faulty or there is an electrical problem.
Signal	MeaningParking lights	DecodingSmall lights on the side of the car are used for parking at night.

Traffic rules 2019

From section 19 Use of external lighting devices and sound signals

19.1. In the dark and in conditions of insufficient visibility, regardless of the road lighting, as well as in tunnels, the following lighting devices must be turned on on a moving vehicle:

• on all motor vehicles and mopeds – high or low beam headlights, on bicycles – headlights or lanterns, on horse-drawn carts – lanterns (if equipped);
• on trailers and towed motor vehicles – side lights.

19.2. High beam should be switched to low beam:

• in populated areas, if the road is illuminated;
• when passing oncoming traffic at a distance of less than 150 m from the vehicle, as well as at a greater distance, if the driver of the oncoming vehicle periodically switching the headlights indicates the need for this;
• in any other cases to eliminate the possibility of blinding drivers of both oncoming and passing vehicles.

If blinded, the driver must turn on the hazard warning lights and, without changing lanes, reduce speed and stop.

19.3. When stopping and parking at night on unlit sections of roads, as well as in conditions of insufficient visibility, the side lights on the vehicle must be turned on. In conditions of poor visibility, low-beam headlights, fog lights and rear fog lights can be turned on in addition to the side lights.

19.4. Fog lights can be used:

• in conditions of poor visibility with low or high beam headlights;
• at night on unlit sections of roads in conjunction with low or high beam headlights;
  instead of low beam headlights in accordance with paragraph 19.5 Rules

19.5. During daylight hours, all moving vehicles must have low-beam headlights or daytime running lights on to indicate them.

19.6. The spotlight and searchlight may only be used outside populated areas in the absence of oncoming vehicles. In populated areas, only drivers of vehicles equipped in the prescribed manner with blue flashing lights and special sound signals can use such headlights when performing an urgent official task.

19.7. Rear fog lights can only be used in conditions of poor visibility. Do not connect rear fog lights to brake lights.

Technology and types of car headlights

XENON

If you’ve been driving on the highway and noticed a slightly bluish tint to other drivers’ headlights, it’s most likely xenon headlights.

Xenon lamps do not have a filament, which can be subject to vibration. Instead, they are filled with xenon gas and contain two electrodes (one at each end of the bulb). When the lamp is turned on, an electric current passes between the two electrodes and the xenon gas ignites. This is only used during startup, when the desired temperature inside the lamp has been reached, other inert gases and mercury vapor ensure its continuous burning.

The advantage of xenon lamps is an increase in brightness. They also use much less energy to produce light, making them an efficient and cost-effective option for drivers.

LED

Such a lamp is a semiconductor diode that glows when voltage is applied. Again, their advantage is that they are very bright and use much less energy than halogen lamps. You can also avoid changing light bulbs frequently, as LEDs can last more than 20 years.

The brightness of these lamps is also much better than halogen lamps. They are also slightly superior to xenon bulbs in that they do not blind other road users. Cheap LEDs can often be too bright and cause discomfort to other road users. You should also make sure that they are properly aligned so that they do not shine directly into the eyes of other road users.

REMEMBER: You can always contact our car service center, where your car will be happy to receive professional technical assistance. You can also make an appointment with us for a scheduled technical inspection! Please familiarize yourself with our car repair and diagnostic services.