In some states, headlights are required whenever the vehicle`s windshield wipers are turned on in continuous use. This indicates the presence of rain, sleet, snow. Other states require motorists to turn on headlights in construction zones. Use this guide to learn more about lighthouses, lighthouse laws and improving road safety for all. Many motorists choose to use their submerged headlights during the day to increase visibility (when daytime running lights are not equipped). Pursuant to Tennessee Code Sections 55-9-401 and 55-9-406, any motor vehicle that operates on a state highway, state utility highway, or highway or highway under the control of the state, federal, or local government (city, city, county) must use lighthouses at times required by law. Drivers are required to use the headlights from 1/2 hour before sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise under normal conditions. You should also use headlights if visibility is poor due to fog, smoke and rain. Rain is defined in the statutes as including rain, fog, snow and other forms of precipitation.
Failure to use headlamps in rain or other precipitation is a Class C offence under section 55-9-406. A traffic police officer is allowed to stop motorists looking for glare and dazzling lights. The driver`s failure to submit to this inspection constitutes a Class C offence under section 55-9-410. In accordance with section 55-9-409, if it is determined that a driver is driving with headlights or anti-glare devices that have not been approved by the state, the patrol officer will give the driver 24 hours to replace the defective equipment. The driver may be asked to appear in court and prove compliance. If the device is state-approved but not set, the driver has 48 hours to fix it. Sections 55-9-411 and 55-9-412 provide for inspection stations where a driver can properly adjust headlights and obtain certificates of compliance. LED headlights, xenon headlights, and super blue halogen headlights may all appear blue, but these bulbs actually emit white light. This means that their use remains legal, but any bulb that emits real blue light will not. Article 55-9-402 of the Statutes requires at least two headlights on a motor vehicle, but no more than four.
There must be at least one headlamp on each side of the vehicle. Section 55-9-406 requires that these headlights be sufficiently illuminated to see a person 200 feet in front of them under normal conditions on a flat road. Sections 55-9-406 and 55-9-4 prohibit dazzling or dazzling lighthouses. The owner of the vehicle can ensure this by using the headlights used by automakers and adding an anti-glare device approved by the Tennessee Department of Safety. Although DRLs reduce the risk of collision during the day, they are not suitable for driving at night. Be sure to turn on your other headlights when it`s dark or the weather gets worse. The law requires that you have two functional headlights that must be turned on when it is dark, usually from sunset to sunrise. In Tennessee and Georgia, headlights must be turned on 30 minutes after sunset up to 30 minutes before sunrise when visibility is low and in adverse weather conditions. Daytime running lights can consist of your parking lights and LED lights around your headlights and taillights. When was the last time you thought about your vehicle`s headlights? Do you know which headlights to use in fog, rain, sleet or snow? How to increase visibility and reduce glare? If you have trouble seeing other cars, turn on your headlights. You`ll probably also have a hard time seeing yourself.
Don`t forget to turn off your headlights when parking. If you are driving in fog, use your low beams or fog lights (if applicable). Do not use fog lights on a clear night, as they can irritate other drivers. Depending on the make and model of your car, you may have daytime running lights (low voltage headlights) to increase visibility and increase safety on the road. Although visibility is usually clear during the day, cars with daytime running lights are easier to spot than cars without them. They also let people know if the car is approaching or pulling out. Almost all cars produced today have daytime running lights. To keep the roads safe for yourself and other drivers, it`s important that you set your headlights to the right setting based on location, weather, and time of day. The Department of Motor Vehicles recommends the use of headlights during the day when: Tennessee has strict laws on the use of headlights. The driver must have at least one working headlight on each side of the vehicle and use the lights at the prescribed times. The headlamps must also be of a quality approved by the car manufacturers. The lights must not dazzle or dazzle other drivers or pedestrians.
If this is the case, the owner of the motor vehicle must install state-approved anti-glare devices. The law, which comes as an update to the Tennessee Code annotated 55-9-402(d), officially makes most colored lighthouses illegal throughout the state. While headlights aren`t always in the foreground, it`s important to regularly check your headlights and know how and when to use them to keep roads safe for you and others. Use your submerged headlights between sunset and sunrise, or when weather conditions make it difficult to see. If fog is present and the fog lights are not equipped, use your low beams. Although the increase in road safety may be small, there are no real downsides to using your headlights during the day. If you have an older vehicle, consider using your existing headlights 24 hours a day to reduce the use of daytime collisions. These conditions make it more difficult to see other vehicles. When you turn on your headlights, your taillights are turned on at the same time, which significantly reduces the likelihood of a rear-end collision.
Always follow your state`s laws regarding headlights and high beams. High beams can be dazzling and very dangerous for other vehicles on the road. Most states require that high beams be dimmed to within 500 feet by another vehicle. You may think it`s useless to drive with the headlights on during the day, but when there are different lighting conditions, cars with the lights on are much safer and more visible. You can also use your high beams to communicate with other drivers. Instead of using your horn, a quick flash of the high beams can let someone know that their headlights are off. Use your low beams, also known as grayed out headlights, if: Starting January 1, Tennessee state drivers will only be allowed to have white or amber lights and constantly burning in the front of their vehicle. Flashing lights of any color are illegal. Dipped-beam/Dipped-beam Headlamps – Your regular headlights, also known as dipped-beam or dipped-beam headlamps, point downwards to reduce glare from oncoming traffic. Side lights – Side lights are the small white lights located at the front corners of your headlights. In some cars, the side turn signals light up when the normal headlights are in use.
Most states require that high beams be dimmed to within 500 feet by another vehicle. Exceptions to the updated law exist for emergency vehicles, school buses, letter carriers and official escort vehicles. If your passing beam does not work, use your side lights. This will at least show that you are a car (not a motorcycle) and warn others if you approach or back up. Highway maintenance, commercial vehicles and salvage vehicles are also exempt from the flashlight part of the act.