How to Check Your Headlights and Tail Lights Before Driving

Introduction to Vehicle Lighting

Importance of Proper Lighting for Safety

Vehicle lighting plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and visibility of cars on the road. Proper lighting is not just about illuminating the path ahead; it also involves signalling intentions to other road users, such as turning, stopping, or reversing.

Headlights help drivers see the road and its hazards during night and inclement weather conditions, while tail lights alert the following vehicles about a car’s presence and actions.

The effectiveness of vehicle lighting directly impacts the driver’s ability to make safe judgements and manoeuvres.

Dim or non-functional lights can significantly reduce a driver’s vision, leading to delayed reactions to obstacles or sudden traffic changes.

Similarly, if tail lights are faulty, it increases the risk of rear-end collisions, particularly in poor visibility conditions.

Legal Requirements for Lights in the UK

In the UK, the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 mandate that all motor vehicles must have properly functioning and correctly positioned lights.

This includes headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators, and number plate lights. The regulations specify that headlights must emit a steady white or yellow light, visible from a reasonable distance.

Tail lights should emit a steady red light, also visible from a significant distance, particularly in darkness.

Failure to comply with these regulations can result in penalties, including fines and points on the driver’s licence.

It is a legal requirement to ensure that all vehicle lights are operational before driving, especially during the hours of darkness or in adverse weather conditions.

Regular checks and maintenance of vehicle lighting are not only a legal obligation but also a critical safety practice.

Tools and Preparation for Checking Your Lights

What You Need to Begin

Before you start checking your vehicle’s lighting, it’s important to ensure you have the right tools and environment. Ideally, you need a flat surface and sufficient light to see around your vehicle clearly.

You might require a screwdriver or a spanner if any of the light covers need adjusting or if bulbs need to be replaced.

It’s also advisable to have spare bulbs for each type of light on your vehicle, as well as a cloth to clean the lights.

A multimeter can be useful to check the electrical connections for faults. Finally, having your vehicle’s manual on hand can be very helpful, as it will provide specific details about bulb types and configurations.

Understanding Your Vehicle’s Lighting System

The lighting system in modern vehicles can be complex due to the integration of electronics and computer-controlled systems.

Most vehicles have a fuse box with fuses dedicated to the lighting system, protecting against electrical faults and overloads.

Understanding how your vehicle’s lights are activated and controlled is crucial. For instance, some vehicles have automatic light sensors that switch on the headlights under low-light conditions.

Familiarising yourself with these features will allow you to better diagnose any issues that might arise during your checks.

When checking your lights, you’ll want to systematically test every single light:

1. Headlights (both dipped and full beam)
2. Tail lights
3. Brake lights
4. Indicators (front, rear, and side)
5. Reverse lights
6. Fog lights (if equipped)

Each set of lights should be checked to ensure they are bright and clear. Any cloudiness in the covers or dimness in the light emitted can be a sign of ageing bulbs or dirt accumulation, which can be remedied with cleaning or replacing the bulbs.

Conducting regular checks on your vehicle’s lighting system not only ensures compliance with legal standards but also enhances your safety on the road.

By following these guidelines, you can prevent potential accidents and ensure a smoother, safer driving experience.

Step-by-Step Guide to Checking Headlights

How to Check Headlight Alignment

Correct headlight alignment is essential for maximum visibility and to avoid blinding other drivers. Misaligned headlights can lead to poor illumination of the road and increase the risk of accidents. Here’s how to check your headlights are properly aligned:

1. Park your vehicle: Find a flat surface and a vertical wall or garage door, and park your vehicle facing the wall, approximately 25 feet away.
2. Measure the height: Measure the height from the ground to the centre of your headlight and mark this height on the wall with masking tape.
3. Turn on the headlights: Ensure your vehicle’s headlights are on the low beam setting.
4. Check the light beams: The brightest part of the headlights should hit the masking tape or be slightly below to ensure the beams are not aimed too high.
5. Adjust if necessary: If the beams are too high or too low, adjust them according to your vehicle’s manual. Most vehicles will have screws or bolts that can be turned to adjust the direction of the headlights.

Identifying Issues with Headlight Brightness

Headlight brightness can diminish over time due to bulb ageing or external factors like lens cloudiness. To ensure your headlights are adequately bright:

1. Check for dimness: Turn on the headlights in a dark environment. If the light seems unusually dim, it could indicate that the bulbs are old or there is voltage issues.
2. Inspect the lenses: Look for any cloudiness or discolouration on the headlight lenses. Cloudy lenses can be cleaned using a headlight restoration kit or replaced if necessary.
3. Test the electrical output: Use a multimeter to check the voltage at the headlight connectors. Low voltage could indicate a problem with your vehicle’s electrical system.
4. Replace bulbs if necessary: If the bulbs are the cause of dimness, replace them with new ones, preferably in pairs to ensure uniform brightness.

Step-by-Step Guide to Checking Tail Lights

How to Inspect Tail Lights for Functionality

Tail lights are vital for communicating with vehicles behind you. To inspect them:

1. Turn on the lights: Have someone assist by observing the tail lights while you activate them from the driver’s seat, or use a reflective surface to see them yourself.
2. Check all light functions: Ensure that each tail light functions as expected when you turn on the lights, brake, turn, and use the hazard lights.
3. Look for uniformity: Both tail lights should emit the same brightness and colour. Any difference might indicate bulb issues or lens problems.

Troubleshooting Common Tail Light Problems

If you find that one or more of your tail lights are not working, here are some common troubleshooting steps:

1. Check the bulbs: The first step is to check if the bulbs are burnt out. Replace any faulty bulbs and check if this resolves the issue.
2. Inspect the wiring: Look for any signs of wear or damage in the wiring that could be causing connectivity problems. Frayed wires or loose connections can often be the culprit.
3. Check the fuses: A blown fuse can prevent tail lights from functioning correctly. Locate your vehicle’s fuse box and check if the fuse associated with the tail lights needs replacing.
4. Look for corrosion: Corrosion in the bulb sockets can lead to poor contact and malfunctioning lights. Clean any rust or corrosion you find to ensure a good electrical connection.

Regular maintenance of your vehicle’s headlights and tail lights is crucial not only for compliance with legal standards but also for ensuring your safety and that of others on the road.

By following these steps, you can help prevent potential issues and maintain optimal vehicle lighting.

Understanding ‘Show Me, Tell Me’ Questions on Vehicle Lighting

Overview of ‘Show Me, Tell Me’ in the Driving Test

The ‘Show Me, Tell Me‘ part of the UK driving test is designed to assess a candidate’s knowledge of basic vehicle safety and operation.

During this section, the examiner will ask two questions: one ‘tell me’ question where the candidate explains how they would perform a safety task, and one ‘show me’ question where they must physically demonstrate it.

These questions cover various vehicle checks that a driver might need to perform to ensure that the car is safe for use on the road.

The aim is to ensure that drivers are aware of how to check their vehicle’s critical systems, including lights, brakes, engine fluids, and tyres, and understand what to look for when ensuring these systems are functioning properly.

Specific ‘Show Me, Tell Me’ Questions About Headlights and Tail Lights

For the vehicle lighting system, the ‘Show Me, Tell Me’ questions can include:

• Tell Me Question: “Tell me how you would check that the headlights and tail lights are working.” (You don’t need to exit the vehicle.) This question would be answered by explaining that you would activate the lights (either by turning the ignition to the accessory position to power the lights or starting the engine), then walk around the vehicle to check that the headlights, tail lights, brake lights, and all indicators are working correctly.

• Show Me Question: “Show me how you would check that the headlights are working.” This is a practical demonstration, where you would need to turn on the headlights (usually using a control on the dashboard or a stalk on the steering column), and then you might need to go outside the vehicle or view the reflections from a garage door, wall, or another car to confirm they are functioning.

How Knowledge of Vehicle Lighting Relates to The Highway Code

Understanding vehicle lighting is crucial as it directly relates to the Highway Code, which outlines the legal requirements for motorists regarding the maintenance and use of lighting on their vehicles.

The Highway Code specifies when to use headlights and tail lights, such as during the night, when visibility is seriously reduced (generally when you cannot see for more than 100 metres), and in adverse weather conditions.

Download The Highway Code PDF

Knowledge of how to operate and check vehicle lighting is essential not just for compliance with the law, but also for promoting safety on the road.

Properly functioning lights ensure that other drivers can see your vehicle clearly in low visibility conditions, which can prevent accidents and improve overall road safety.

Furthermore, understanding these aspects of vehicle maintenance and operation helps drivers to feel more confident in managing their vehicle’s condition and ensures that they can respond correctly to issues that may arise with their vehicle’s lighting system.

This knowledge helps in fostering responsible driving practices, consistent with the principles outlined in the Highway Code.

Lighting requirements (rules 113-116) the Highway Code

Maintaining Your Vehicle’s Lights

Regular Maintenance Tips

Maintaining your vehicle’s lights is essential for ensuring they function correctly and provide the necessary safety on the road. Here are some regular maintenance tips to keep your lights in top condition:

1. Clean Regularly: Headlights and tail lights can accumulate dirt and grime, which diminish their brightness. Regularly clean the lenses with a suitable cleaner to ensure maximum light output.
2. Check Alignment Annually: Headlight alignment can shift over time due to bumps and vibrations from driving. It’s advisable to check and adjust the alignment annually or any time you notice issues with visibility at night.
3. Replace Bulbs in Pairs: If one bulb fails, the other is likely not far behind, especially if they were installed at the same time. Replacing bulbs in pairs ensures consistent light quality and prevents uneven illumination.
4. Inspect for Damage: Regularly inspect your light casings for cracks or damage, which can lead to moisture entering the unit and potentially causing bulb failures or electrical issues.
5. Test Lights Regularly: Make it a routine to test all your lights—headlights, tail lights, brake lights, indicators—periodically to ensure they are all functioning correctly.

When to Seek Professional Help

While many lighting issues can be handled at home, certain situations require professional attention:

1. Electrical Problems: If lights flicker or fail to turn on, and you have checked the bulbs and fuses, the issue may be electrical. Wiring issues or problems with your vehicle’s alternator or battery should be diagnosed and repaired by a professional.
2. Severe Damage: Significant damage to the lighting assembly, such as from an accident, often requires professional repair to ensure that the lights are securely mounted and sealed against moisture.
3. Complex Systems: Modern vehicles with LED or xenon lights often involve complex systems that might need recalibration or special handling after bulb replacement, which should be done by a technician familiar with these systems.

Frequently asked questions