From the traffic station at Ånestad in Innlandet, the inspectors have a good view of the busy 110 zone which runs just outside. There they see many cars whizzing by at high speed in the dark, and several of them without rear lights. It is dangerous for traffic, says Geir Thomas Finstad, who is the head of field control in the East in the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. – The danger is that you are not noticed by cars coming from behind, so that you can be hit from behind. Geir Thomas Finstad, head of field control East in the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, thinks many people forget to have taillights on in the dark. Photo: Frode Meskau / news Using the wrong setting He believes that the reason why many people drive without rear lights is a light function that not everyone knows about. – Someone is not using the switches correctly. In many newer cars, the rear light is not automatically turned on when you turn on the ignition. The inspector therefore recommends that, as a general rule, you use the auto function on the light switch, if the car has this option. Namely, the car itself must switch on the rear lights when it is dark outside, or when driving in a tunnel. Are you aware of which light to use? Yes, of course! 👍 No, I just get in and drive 🚘 I only switch between low beam and high beam 💡 Show result New directive In the past it was the case that the rear light turned on automatically when you turned the ignition. But in 2011, an EU directive came which meant that the rear light on the car should no longer be switched on when the car started. The background was environmental care, as it is energy-saving. Therefore, the rear lights do not necessarily switch on automatically when you start newer cars. But in the dark you must still have the rear light on, and both the inspector and the NAF believe that many people forget this. They therefore recommend the auto function. – Then they will be switched off when they are not needed, and automatically switched on when it is dark or similar, says Nils Sødal, senior communications advisor at NAF. In some cases, you can choose the function that leaves both lights on regardless, so that you are safe. – There may be individual cases where the auto function does not kick in because it is not dark enough, such as at dusk or in snowy weather, but as a rule of thumb you should have auto on all the time, says Sødal. Nils Sødal, senior communications advisor at NAF, asks people to keep the auto function on in the vast majority of cases. Photo: Snorre Tønset / news Fine of 3,900 kroner District manager of UP in Aust and Innlandet police district, Kai Voldengen, says that they sometimes see cars driving without rear lights in the dark. – It is not very often. But in those cases where we see it, we stop the cars and issue corrections and possibly a fine. He says that the fine rate for driving without the required lights on is a simplified proposal of NOK 3,900. UP chief Kai Voldengen says that they give guidance and possibly a fine to those who drive without rear lights when these should be on. Photo: Simon Skjelvik Brandseth UP doesn’t have numbers on how many people they stop for driving without taillights. Neither has NAF, but Sødal in NAF believes that it applies to relatively many. – There are probably many who are not aware of it, he says. Both NAF and the National Road Administration encourage you to drive with the auto function on. Photo: Frode Meskau / news Sødal encourages motorists to familiarize themselves with the lights in the car, especially now that we are heading towards autumn and darker times. The inspector at Ånestad also recommends people to have their car checked, so that you know what lights the various functions turn on. – When you drive in the dark without rear lights, someone can run into you from behind. Then you can harm both yourself and others. So use light. This is the requirement for lights on the car Driving lights The car must have two lights at the front with white or yellow driving lights. As driving lights, you can use dipped beam and dipped beam with reduced voltage, specially approved lamps, lamps for cornering/fog lights. As the driver of the car, you must still ensure that you use the correct lights according to the lighting conditions. When you drive into a tunnel, for example, the rear lights must be on. Dipped beam The car can only have two dipped beam. These must not shine brighter than 0.7 lux at a height of 1.10 metres, measured 25 meters in front of the lantern. You can use low beam in combination with high beam, but it is not permitted to use low beam in combination with fog lights. Main beam You can mount as many additional main beams as you like on your car, but the mounting must be symmetrical. There is no limit to the maximum permitted brightness. Fog lights The car can only have two fog lights. During the day, you can use fog lights as driving lights instead of dipped beam. You cannot use fog lights in combination with dipped beam. It is basically not permitted to use fog lights in combination with high beams. The exception is cornering at low speed (10–20 km/h). Parking lights The car can only have two parking lights. The parking lights must always be switched on in combination with low beams, fog lights, high beams and rear lights. You cannot use parking light bulbs in retrofitted headlights if the ordinary parking lights are lit at the same time. Retrofitted brake lights All retrofitted brake lights must light up continuously when activated. Retrofitted brake lights that flash or otherwise disturb other road users are not permitted. Source: Norwegian Road Administration Published 22.08.2024, at 12.12
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Many people drive without rear lights in the dark – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
