When to Turn on Your Side Lights: A Complete Guide

Many drivers perceive side lights as a secondary element of optics, which turns on automatically along with the main light or is ignored altogether in favor of daytime running lights.

However, there are specific road situations and weather conditions when exactly dimensions are the only legal and safe way to identify a vehicle.

Improper use of lighting devices not only creates emergency situations, but also entails financial sanctions from traffic police officers, who often issue fines for the absence of light at night, even if the fog lights are on.

In this article, we will analyze in detail in what cases traffic regulations require the mandatory inclusion of side lights, how they technically differ from other light sources, and how to avoid fines.

Legal basis and definitions of lighting devices

First, you need to clearly differentiate the concepts, since confusion between different types of headlights often leads to mistakes on the road.

Side lights (popularly simply “dimensions”) are lighting devices designed to indicate the dimensions of a vehicle when stopping or driving in conditions of poor visibility.

They are not intended to illuminate the road surface; their task is to make the car visible to other road users in the dark.

Unlike them, daytime running lights (DRLs) have a higher brightness and come on automatically when the engine is started, but they do not light up at the rear, making them unsuitable for identifying a vehicle at night.

According to traffic regulations, driving at night or in conditions of poor visibility without lights on is prohibited.

At the same time, the law requires that a white light be on in front and a red light on the back, which is exactly what the dimensions provide when paired with other devices.

• 🚗 Main function: indicating the width and height of the vehicle in the dark.
• 💡 Glow color: front - white or yellow, back - red.
• ⚖️ Regulatory framework: regulated by Section 19 of the Traffic Regulations of the Russian Federation and the technical regulations of the Customs Union.

It is important to understand that technically sound dimensions are a mandatory requirement for a vehicle to be approved for use.

If a light bulb burns out, this may cause an inspector to stop you and issue a fine, as the car becomes less noticeable on the road.

When dimensions are required according to traffic rules

The traffic rules clearly regulate situations when the use of side lights is not just desirable, but mandatory.

First of all, this concerns dark time of day. During the period from sunset to sunrise, the driver is required to mark his vehicle.

However, simply turning on the dimensions is not enough: when driving in populated areas with artificial lighting, they are often combined with low beams or DRLs, but when stopping or parking, the dimensions become the main source of information about the dimensions of the car.

⚠️ Attention: Stopping or parking on unlit sections of roads at night without the side lights on creates a direct threat of a collision, since other drivers may not notice the parked car until the moment of the collision.

Another critical situation - insufficient visibility. Fog, rain, snowfall or blizzard require turning on the lights regardless of the time of day.

In such conditions, side lights help the driver behind to correctly assess the distance to the car in front and its actual width.

Using only DRLs in fog is often ineffective, since they do not light up at the rear, and the car behind appears “invisible” to those moving in the same direction.

Towing a motor vehicle deserves special attention.

When towing with a flexible or rigid hitch, the towed vehicle must have the side lights, if the design of the car allows them to be turned on without starting the engine.

This is a safety requirement that allows other road users to see the length of the hitch and the dimensions of the towed object.

Dimensions when parking and stopping

One of the most common causes of fines and accidents is incorrect vehicle identification when parking at night.

According to the rules, when stopping or parking at night on unlit sections of the road, as well as in conditions of insufficient visibility, the side lights on the vehicle must be turned on.

Many drivers mistakenly believe that if they are parked at an entrance where the lamp is on, they don’t have to turn on the light, but the law requires that the illumination be assessed objectively: if the shadows are deep and the car blends in with its surroundings, dimensions are necessary.

There are more stringent requirements for trucks and buses.

They are required to indicate their dimensions even when parking on the sides of roads outside populated areas, using not only standard lights, but also special reflectors.

Turning on your parking lights is also important to prevent damage: drivers often hit cars parked in the dark, simply because they didn’t see them.

• 🅿️ Parking in the courtyards: Turn on your lights if you are parked in a blind spot or in a row with other cars.
• 🛣️ Roadside: mandatory inclusion of dimensions if you get out of the car or just stand.
• 🌑 New Moon: on nights without a moon, visibility is minimal, and size is the only way to be noticed.

It is worth noting that leaving the car with the lights on for a long time can lead to battery discharge.

Although the energy consumption of LED lights is minimal, old incandescent bulbs and a weak battery may not survive the night in "standby" mode.

Therefore, if you plan to park for a long time in a dark place, make sure the battery is in good condition or choose a more illuminated place.

Differences in dimensions from DRLs and low beams

Understanding the differences between headlight modes is critical to proper vehicle operation.

Daytime running lights (DRL) - This is a relatively new requirement introduced to increase the visibility of cars during the day.

They illuminate bright white at the front, but often do not activate the rear lights, making them useless at night or at dusk for identifying the vehicle behind.

Low beam - This is the main lighting mode for driving at night.

When you turn on the low beam, the side lights usually light up automatically, since they are part of the overall lighting scheme.

However, low beams consume significantly more energy and are designed to illuminate the road, not just for marking.

The table below compares the main characteristics of various lighting devices:

Parameter	Side lights	Daytime running gear (DRL)	Low beam
Brightness	Low	High	Medium/High
Tail lights	Lit (red)	Often they don't light up	Lit (red)
Consumption	Minimum	Low (LED)	High
Main goal	Dimensions designation	Visibility during the day	Road lighting

Using DRLs at night instead of side lights or low beams may be considered a violation, since the car behind remains invisible.

Modern cars are often equipped with a system automatic light, which itself switches modes depending on the lighting, but you shouldn’t rely completely on electronics.

Technical faults and fines

Malfunction of light devices is one of the most common reasons for a vehicle to be stopped by a traffic police inspector.

According to the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, driving a vehicle with faulty external lighting devices (with the exception of malfunctioning light signaling devices not related to lighting devices) entails a warning or a fine.

In practice, if one of your lights is not lit, the inspector has every right to issue a fine under Part 1 of Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.

This is especially strictly controlled in the autumn-winter period, when daylight hours are short and visibility is often limited by weather conditions.

A common problem is oxidation of contacts in lamp sockets, especially in rear lights, where moisture can get in.

This leads to the blinking of the lights or their complete failure, which on the road is perceived by other drivers as a turn signal, misleading.

⚠️ Attention: Installing xenon or high-power LEDs in headlights that are not designed for this purpose (without DCR/DC markings) is illegal and will result in the deprivation of your license, not just a fine.

If you notice that the lights are unstable, it is better to replace the lamp or check the fuse before heading out on the road.

Spare bulbs of this size are inexpensive and take up little space, so their presence in the glove compartment is a sign of good manners and forethought.

It is also worth (regularly checking) the operation of reflectors (reflectors), which do not light themselves, but reflect the light of the headlights of other cars.

What is the fine for a non-lighting sign?

According to Part 1 of Art. 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, driving a vehicle with malfunctions for which operation is prohibited (including malfunction of external lighting devices) entails a warning or the imposition of an administrative fine in the amount of 500 rubles. However, if the malfunction is regarded as a lack of light at night (Article 19.3 of the Traffic Regulations), the fine may be higher, but in practice 500 rubles are more often used.

Operating and safety tips

To ensure maximum safety and avoid problems with the law, follow a few simple recommendations.

Always perform a visual inspection of your lights before driving, especially if you plan to travel in the evening.

Have someone walk around the car or use the reflection in store windows to make sure all the lights are on.

When driving in a convoy or in heavy traffic at dusk, turning on the headlights (together with the low beams) helps the driver behind to keep the correct distance.

You should not use your headlights as a substitute for low beams when driving on country roads at night: they do not illuminate the road, and you risk not noticing a pedestrian or an obstacle.

Side lights serve solely to identify the vehicle and not to illuminate the path in front of it.

If your car is equipped with a "guide home" function (delayed lights off), make sure it is set correctly so as not to drain the battery while you are unloading the trunk, for example.

Also pay attention to the color of the lamps: installing lamps of a non-standard color (blue, green) in the dimensions is prohibited and can lead to serious problems during technical inspection and communication with the police.

Is it possible to drive during the day with only dimensions?

No, according to traffic regulations, during daylight hours daytime running lights (DRLs) or low beam headlights must be used to identify a vehicle. Dimensions during the day do not provide sufficient visibility and their use instead of DRLs is a violation.

Is there a fine if one tail light is not on?

Yes, technically, the malfunction of any external lighting device is grounds for a fine under Art. 12.5 Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. In addition, it is dangerous, as other drivers may incorrectly assess the dimensions of your car.

Do I need to include clearances in the tunnel?

Yes, if there is artificial lighting in the tunnel, the rules require the headlights to be turned on with low beam, in which the headlights light up automatically. It is prohibited to move in a tunnel without light, even if it is light there.

How are the dimensions different from the parking light?

In modern cars this is often the same mode. The parking light is a feature that allows you to leave one side of the vehicle (or both) on when the engine is off and the key is removed to indicate that the vehicle is parked.

What to do if the dimensions do not turn on?

Check the fuse for the side lights (the diagram is usually located on the fuse box cover). If the fuse is intact, the lamps may have burned out or the contacts in the light switch have oxidized. While driving, you can temporarily use a flashlight to mark your car when you stop, but you cannot continue driving without a light.