Dipped beams, side lights and daytime running lights

What are dipped headlights?

Dipped beam is your normal light for driving. It shines downwards at an angle. You see the road without dazzling others. With dipped beam your rear lights and number plate light are on too. So others also see you from behind.

Driving in the dark on a road without other traffic? Then you may also use full beam. As soon as you meet someone, switch back to dipped beam.

Check regularly that all your lights work, and have a broken bulb replaced quickly. Carrying a heavy load? Check that your lights do not shine too high.

When must you use dipped headlights?

Dipped beam is always allowed, also during the day. You must use it:

• at night;
• during the day when visibility is seriously reduced, for example by fog, snow or heavy rain;
• in a tunnel. Switch it on before the entrance.

In poor visibility you may also use front fog lights. Read more under fog lights.

Dipped beam symbol and the other light symbols

The dipped beam symbol is a green headlamp with lines slanting downwards. This table shows all the light symbols on your dashboard, and when you use each light:

Symbol	Name	When do you use it?
	Dipped beam Symbol: green, slanting lines. Lamp outside: white.	Always allowed, also during the day. Required at night, in poor visibility and in a tunnel. Switch it on before the tunnel.
	Full beam Symbol: blue, straight lines. Lamp outside: white.	Only in the dark, never during the day. Switch it off when you meet someone, also a pedestrian, and when you drive close behind someone.
	Side lights (position lights) Symbol: green, two small lamps.	When you are parked, not for driving. Standing still on the carriageway outside a built-up area in the dark? Then side lights and rear lights must be on.
	Front fog lights Symbol: green, lamp facing left, wavy line through the rays.	Allowed when fog, snow or rain limits your view to less than 200 metres. Not required.
	Rear fog light Symbol: orange, lamp facing right. Lamp outside: red and extra bright.	Only in fog or snow and when you see less than 50 metres. Never in rain.

Note: the symbol on your dashboard often has a different colour from the lamp outside. The rear fog light symbol is orange, but the lamp itself is red. The other lamps: brake lights and rear lights are red, the reversing light is white, and indicators and hazard lights are orange.

The symbol only tells you which light is on. Whether that light is allowed right now depends on the situation.

What are side lights?

Side lights are also called position lights or parking lights. They are small lamps at the front, together with your rear lights and number plate light. They help others see your car when it is standing still. They do not light up the road.

Are side lights mandatory?

Only in one situation. Outside a built-up area you stand still on the carriageway, in the dark or in seriously reduced visibility. Then side lights and rear lights must be on. This also applies on a parking strip or hard shoulder along a motorway or autoweg. Inside a built-up area this rule does not apply.

Can you drive with side lights only?

No, not with side lights only. You see the road badly and others see you badly. Driving in the dark, in poor visibility or in a tunnel? Then you need dipped beam. So side lights are not the lights for driving through town at night.

Daytime running lights: what are they and when may you use them?

Daytime running lights are lamps at the front that make your car easier to see during the day. You may drive with them in daylight and good visibility. They do not light up the road.

Are daytime running lights the same as dipped headlights?

No. Dipped beam lights up the road and your rear lights are on too. With daytime running lights, the rear lights are off in many cars. Is it getting dark or foggy, or are you entering a tunnel? Then switch on dipped beam yourself. Do not rely only on the AUTO setting: in fog the sensor may still think it is light enough.

Are daytime running lights mandatory?

New types of cars and vans approved in Europe must have daytime running lights since February 2011. Driving with them is never mandatory: during the day you may also use dipped beam.

Difference between side lights, dipped beam and daytime running lights

Each light has its own job. Full beam is for seeing further in the dark on an empty road. Dipped beam is for driving. Daytime running lights are for being seen during the day. Side lights are for being seen when you stand still. Choose the light for the situation:

Picture and situation	Which light?
	Dipped beam. Side lights or only daytime running lights are not enough.
	Dipped beam or front fog lights. The rear fog light is not allowed in rain.
	Dipped beam and/or front fog lights. The rear fog light is allowed too, because visibility is below 50 metres.
	Daytime running lights are allowed. Dipped beam is allowed too.
	Standing still on the carriageway outside a built-up area, in the dark: side lights and rear lights.