When should you turn on your side lights? We consider all the points

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Published: 03/01/2021

Reading time: 8 min

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• Definition of the term
• Why are side lights needed?
• Where are they located?
• Types of side lights
• How to use it correctly

Side lights are part of the car's lighting system and are present in all models without exception. This option is used in certain conditions to reduce the risk of accidents and to indicate a vehicle that is parked on the side of the road and in other places with insufficient lighting.

American type parking (marker) lights

In the United States, most parking lights have been used in conjunction with turn signals (turn signals) for a long time. As a rule, cars for the American market use double-helix lamps inside the turn signals, one of which lights up constantly when the lights are on, and the other lights up when the turn signals are turned on. In this case, the side lamps begin to blink in a brighter color.

The side lights turned on on cars from the USA look especially interesting in the photographs.

Why do you need car side lighting?

When the indicator is on, it draws the attention of other motorists to the fact that a car has stopped at the side of the road or in a parking lot. Another important function of such lighting is to indicate the side dimensions of a cargo vehicle so that nearby traffic can clearly see the size of the container or trailer.

Side lights are used only at nightfall or during the day, when the outlines of the car are poorly visible (fog), since the lamp included in the flashlight device has low power. Even if a motorist turns on the backlight during the day, it will not be visible to other participants. By the way, this is a common reason why the battery runs out.

White marker lamps as part of a separate lamp

This type of parking lights is more familiar in our country as many older cars are equipped with this type of parking lights. The thing is that this type of parking lights was often used until recently in European, Asian and Russian cars.

This type of size is a separate lamp installed in a transparent lamp (lantern). According to GOST, side lights must be installed on both sides of the vehicle in pairs on the same line.

Review of Chinese diodes

Many Chinese-made automobile parts enter the domestic market. Each modification is assigned its own brand, but this does not affect their performance at all. We offer to compare several types of w5w led in w5w dimensions.

Car parking lights w5w led

Thus, one can understand how large the differences are between the technical characteristics specified in the operating instructions and during use.

Side parking lights

There is another type of side lights that were installed on old cars of the 80s and early 90s (mainly Japanese cars). We are talking about white side parking lights that turned on on the side of the intended turn or lane change when parking.

By the way, unlike the flashing turn signals, the white side lights were constantly on when parking.

Old style parking lights

Some older domestic vehicles used another type of parking lights. For example, starting in 1968, Moskvich-408 cars received side parking lights installed on the rear body pillars. These lights were turned on by a special toggle switch in the car's interior. Later, Moskvich abandoned this type of parking lights.

Today, such parking lights are usually installed on buses, trucks and other special equipment.

Side lights inside the main headlight

Another type of installation of parking lights. True, it is also less common. For example, similar parking lights were found in Volkswagen Beetles, Nissan Pao and Porsche 356. With this design, the parking lamps are installed inside the main headlights.

But such use of dimensions is ineffective, since the marker lamp inside the headlight produces a very dim glow.

So, what are side lights for?

As you probably already guessed, parking lamps are designed for... parking. That is, you should use your side lights when you park your car.

Don't believe me? Then you seem to have forgotten paragraph 19.3 of the Rules of the Road:

• 19.3 Traffic rules of the Russian Federation: 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.

Also, don't forget that parking/marker/parking lights came out in an era when the world's street lighting still left much to be desired. In those days, in the evening, the streets of even large cities were very dark. As a result, in those years, motorists, as a rule, parked their cars in dark, narrow streets.

In order for a car standing on the road to be visible to all drivers passing by, front and rear marker lights were invented. By the way, parking lights, as a rule, are not bright, but dim. This is done intentionally so that the parking lights do not drain the car's battery while parked. So the dimensions consume little energy due to their low power.

No, of course, side lights can easily drain a new battery to zero. But to do this, you must leave your car in the parking lot for a day (more or less depending on the make, model of the car and battery capacity).

See also: Inattentive drivers face new fines - Parking for electric vehicles in Moscow

By the way, there is even a persistent myth that car enthusiasts have been telling each other for a long time about the fact that side lights greatly drain the battery. That is why a large number of car owners, having parked their car on the road for a while, do not turn on the lights for fear of draining the battery.

Moreover, often people, saving energy in the battery, do not turn on the side lights even where it is dangerous. For example, parking a car on the side of the road on a dark highway. But this not only violates the current Traffic Rules, but also increases the risk of getting into an accident. After all, drivers of other cars may not notice you. So why violate it when the dimensions when parking the car temporarily will not drain the battery? Agree, there is no point. Therefore, always turn on your headlights at night when you park your car. Remember that they are not useless.

Fortunately, in many modern cars, the side lights (if they are not present, the daytime running lights are turned on) turn on automatically when the key is turned in the ignition.

But nevertheless, some even new cars still have a separate button for turning on the side lights. In this case, do not forget to include them where necessary. Especially when driving out on the road at night.

Light and sound devices of the car and their location

We should start with the basics, or rather with what types of headlights and lanterns modern cars are equipped with.

• Low beam headlights - designed to illuminate the road and surrounding area in a relatively small area.

• High beam headlights are powerful lighting devices that illuminate the roadway over a fairly large area. Due to its high brightness, high beams can blind oncoming drivers.

• Front fog lights - installed lower than conventional headlights, create a wide beam of light that well illuminates the road and the surrounding area in conditions of fog, snowfall and rain.

• Daytime running lights are a separate type of headlights that are turned on during the day, regardless of weather or visibility, and are designed to increase the visibility of vehicles. Most models turn on immediately when the engine starts.

• Tail lights - designed to identify the vehicle at night or in poor visibility conditions. The color of the lamps is red.

• Brake lights are red lights that come on when a vehicle slows down. They burn much brighter than the side lights. Some cars are additionally equipped with a central brake light.

• Rear fog lights - indicate the vehicle in fog, rain or snowstorm conditions. Not to be confused with brake lights.

• Reversing lights are white and are designed to inform pedestrians and other motorists that the vehicle will be moving (or is already moving) in reverse.

• Rear reflectors - used for the same purpose as side lights, they reflect the light falling on them from the headlights of passing cars. May also be known as retroreflectors.

• License plate lighting – several white bulbs designed to illuminate the rear license plate of a vehicle.

• Turn signals, or “turn signals,” are amber lights that are used to inform you that the vehicle is turning or otherwise maneuvering. Installed in the corners and on the sides of the car.

Tail lights

Tail lights used on cars in Russia can only be red. The use of markers of a different color is prohibited.

Typically, tail lights are installed as part of a single tail light unit. According to current legislation and traffic regulations of the Russian Federation, trucks and buses must also be equipped with additional side lights indicating the size of the vehicle.

As a rule, in all cars the rear marker lights turn on together with the front lights. To do this, either use a separate button located in the cabin, or the lights are turned on automatically after turning the key in the ignition (automatic turn on of the lights is used in many modern cars).

Advantages and disadvantages of dimensional lamps

Today, domestic motorists are increasingly using blue LED bulbs in their cars. Such lights, if installed or replaced on the roof, front or rear of a car, will provide brighter light, and when blinking, will consume significantly less energy when compared to traditional lights (video author - Rama Rus).

It should also be noted that compared to conventional lamps, LED side marker lights have an increased service life. Their service life can be about one hundred thousand hours. In addition, in practice, after installing such headlights on the roof or front, you will notice that the devices are less susceptible to vibrations, temperature changes, and overloads. One of the main disadvantages of such devices is their cost compared to conventional ones - it is much higher. Of course, if you decide to replace traditional light bulbs and install xenon lights in your car, this will also be quite expensive.

Is there liability for side lights that are not turned on?

Yes and no. The thing is that there is no separate liability for side lights that are not turned on in Russian legislation. There is only general article 12.20 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, which prescribes the responsibility of drivers for violating the rules for using external lighting devices , sound signals, hazard warning lights or warning triangles. Let us repeat that, according to Article 12.20 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, the driver faces a fine of 500 rubles.

Accordingly, if the driver does not turn on the side lights when stopping and parking the car in the dark on an unlit road, then he may be brought to administrative liability by traffic police officers. For example, if you stopped on the side of the road at night and did not turn on your side lights, you may be subject to administrative liability.

When can you use the emergency lights?

Hazard alarms are also considered a lighting device, and traffic regulations clearly regulate the possibility of their use. So, the emergency lights need to be turned on:

• if you get into an accident along with a warning triangle (2.5 traffic rules 7.1 traffic rules);
• if a situation arises where your car poses a danger;
• when forced to stop in a place where stopping is prohibited (together with an emergency stop sign);
• when towing on a towed vehicle;
• if you are blinded by oncoming traffic.

Hazard alarms are also considered a lighting device, and traffic regulations clearly regulate the possibility of their use. So, the emergency lights need to be turned on:

• if you get into an accident along with a warning triangle (2.5 traffic rules 7.1 traffic rules);
• if a situation arises where your car poses a danger;
• when forced to stop in a place where stopping is prohibited (together with an emergency stop sign);
• when towing on a towed vehicle;
• if you are blinded by oncoming traffic.

In what other cases do you need to turn on the side lights?

Drivers must turn on their side lights not only when stopping or parking their car at night. Also, side lights should be turned on when visibility is insufficient. For example, during the day and at night during snowfall, rain, fog, etc. Including in cloudy weather. Naturally, in conditions of insufficient visibility, in addition to the side lights, you should turn on low beam headlights, front and rear fog lights (if necessary).

What devices are used during the day?

Despite the listed conditions, which may seem too many to you, everything is very simple and logical. Below we will consider each case of using a particular lighting device in accordance with the traffic rules relevant for March 2021.

The first thing to start with is, of course, the operating time of the machine. Let's look at each of them, as well as common questions that car owners sometimes have.

Daytime is the most active time of the day, which is associated with our lifestyle. During daylight hours, it is permissible to turn on daytime running lights, which can be replaced by fog lights or headlights with low beam. It’s probably worth clarifying that they should all work separately, you don’t need to turn them all on at once. If, for example, you do not have DRLs, then use low beams. You make the decision here yourself.

It is prohibited, according to traffic rules, to switch to high beams during the day, and it is also prohibited to drive with only one fog lights located at the rear turned on. It's simply not logical.

What are the responsibilities for installing blue (or other color) marker lamps?

In accordance with the current legislation, established provisions of GOST, as well as in accordance with the requirements for the approval of vehicles for operation, for the use of red marker lamps in the front part (instead of white), as well as other colors (green, red, etc.), liability is provided for Part 3 of Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. Here is the text of the law:

• Part 3 of Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation “Driving a vehicle on the front of which are installed lighting devices with red lights or red reflective devices, as well as lighting devices, the color of the lights and the operating mode of which do not comply with the requirements of the Basic Provisions for the Admission of Vehicles to Operation and responsibilities of officials to ensure road safety

• entails deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for a period of 6 months to 1 year with confiscation of the specified devices and accessories.”

In the rear, the side lights should be red. Accordingly, the use of lamps of a different color is also prohibited.

See also: On October 14, 2021, traffic police changes to the rules for issuing driver’s licenses will come into force

So, as you can see, despite the advent of daytime running lights, which have begun to replace classic side lamps in the front end, the era of parking lights is not over yet. At least in the rear of all cars, classic marker lamps installed in the taillights are still used.

The thing is that side lights are very necessary. After all, they help motorists see other cars on the road.

Traffic rules

The first to include the mandatory use of headlights in traffic regulations were the United States. The changes came into force in the 68th year of the last century. At the same time, such a resolution appeared in Canadian legislation. If the driver ignored these instructions, he was subject to a fine.

Moreover, these instructions applied to any type of mechanical device. Since the introduction of these changes, the number of accidents on the road has decreased by almost half.

If the car is stopped on the side of the road in the dark, be sure to leave the lights on. The rules do not prohibit the use of additional light, such as running lights. The main thing is that the car is clearly visible to other road users.

Side light color

As for the front dimensions, they should always be white. The rear ones are basically red. As for the side ones, the driver can use yellow, orange or blue light bulbs. Such strict restrictions are not the whim of law enforcement agencies. It’s just that the inconsistency in the car’s lighting confuses other road users. Especially if the driver “tunes” the front optics and installs red lights in them.

Fines

Although the details of the use of side lights are not strictly regulated in many rules (there is no separate fine for each violation), the driver may receive a warning or a receipt for payment for violating the rules in the following situations:

• The car is standing on the side of the road in the dark, there are passengers sitting in it, but the dimensions are not illuminated;
• The headlights are so dirty that their glow is hard to see;
• Driving in poor visibility only on clearance.

Some may regard strict rules in the use of car lighting as an infringement on self-expression. In fact, this is done solely for the sake of traffic safety.