Dipped headlights and city lights
Learn when you must use dipped headlights and when city lights are allowed or not allowed when driving and parking.
In CBR questions, dipped headlights are usually the safe and correct answer as soon as you need extra lighting. City lights are mainly intended to make a parked vehicle visible and are often not enough while driving.
Daytime running lights are the third type: they switch on automatically, but they do not count as lighting once you really need it.
Core rule for the exam: dipped headlights may always be used and are mandatory in the dark, in a tunnel and in poor visibility. City lights are for a parked car. Daytime running lights are for daytime with good visibility, and they do not count once you need real lighting.
Why the correct lighting matters
It is about two things at the same time: being clearly visible to others, and being able to see well yourself. If you are poorly visible, another road user may drive into you. If you can see too little yourself, you may drive into something.
Dipped headlights
Dipped headlights are the most used lighting of the car. You may use them at all times, including during the day.
- Mandatory when it is dark.
- Mandatory in a tunnel.
- Mandatory in poor visibility.
Dipped headlights are not bright and they shine downwards. That is why they do not dazzle anyone — and that is the reason they may be used in every situation.
When you switch on dipped headlights, not only the headlights come on, but also the rear lights. So you can see better, and others can see you better.
Dipped headlights must always work. If you drive onto the road with a broken front or rear light, you may receive a fine for that.
City lights
City lights are also called parking lights. They consist of small lights at the front and rear of the car, including the number plate lighting.
City lights do not illuminate the road and your surroundings well enough. On a clear summer day you can drive with them, but as soon as it gets dark or you need extra lighting, you switch to dipped headlights. It is even forbidden to use only city lights while driving when extra light is needed; then use dipped headlights, or city lights together with dipped headlights.
If you park at night outside the built-up area, or if you are standing on the carriageway, then you are required to use city lights. This way other road users can see your car standing in the dark.
Daytime running lights
All cars from after 2010 have daytime running lights, usually LED lighting. They switch on automatically when you start the car and make the car more visible.
Daytime running lights are intended for daytime when visibility is good. As soon as you need real lighting — in a tunnel, at night or in rain with reduced visibility — you may not rely on them, because daytime running lights do not make the road more visible. Then you use dipped headlights.
Daytime running lights may also not be combined with other lighting. That is why they switch off automatically as soon as you switch on other lights.
Which light for which situation
| Situation | Dipped headlights | City lights | Daytime running lights |
|---|---|---|---|
| During the day with good visibility | Allowed | Allowed | Allowed |
| Driving in the dark | Mandatory | Not enough | Not enough |
| In a tunnel | Mandatory | Not enough | Not allowed |
| Driving in poor visibility, for example rain | Mandatory | Not enough | Not allowed |
| Visibility seriously reduced due to fog, snow or heavy rain | Always allowed | Not enough | Not allowed |
| Parking outside the built-up area at night or standing on the carriageway | — | Mandatory | — |
In visibility that is seriously reduced, fog lighting is added; those rules are in section 2.