Motorists are not always required to use their headlights at night

Having functioning headlights is one of the most important safety features a vehicle can have. Headlights are particularly useful at night when motorists struggle to see what’s in front of them. And while it’s obvious that drivers should always turn their headlights on when travelling after dark, there are some exceptions to the rule. 

Graham Conway, managing director of Select Car Leasing, explained: “This is one of those rules that people are surprised about when they find out the details.

“The law states that you are permitted to drive using only your sidelights at night if you are on a well-lit road that has a 30mph speed limit.

“That means if you are driving in a city centre with ample street lights late at night, you are technically doing nothing wrong.

“However, I would strongly advise all drivers to use their dipped headlamps in this situation.”

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Mr Conway added: “In fact, dipped headlights should be deployed in every scenario where there is any sort of reduced visibility, whether due to lack of daylight, poor weather conditions such as fog, or any other factors.”

Rule 113 of the Highway Code states: “You must use headlights at night, except on a road which has lit street lighting. These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit of 30mph (48km/h) unless otherwise specified.”

The expert also stressed that sidelights are “crucial” for drivers if they want to park after dusk on a main road. 

He said: “For any road with a speed limit above 30mph, you must leave your sidelights on while you are parked according to the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations (1989).

“Another rule that many people are not aware of is that you must park in the direction of the traffic, on the left-hand side.

However, while it might be a nice gesture, drivers could face penalty points and fines for it. 

This is because rule 110 of the Highway Code says: “Only flash your headlights to let other road users know that you are there.”

Breaking the rule could see drivers fined up to £1,000 so it’s best to avoid it. 

Mr Conway said: “All motorists should be fully aware of the rules for the various lights on their vehicles, as well as knowing how to switch them on and off, to ensure they keep our roads as safe as possible.”