Brits face fine of up to £5,000 for headlight error near others

Car retailer Motorpoint has offered drivers a tip that could help keep them and others safe and avoid fines on dark autumn mornings.

With the clocks set back an hour this weekend, many drivers will begin their trips in the dark and make better use of their vehicle’s headlights.

However, Motorpoint’s resident driving expert Tim Rodie warned drivers that they risk being fined if they use their high beams incorrectly.

He advised: “Using high beams dramatically improves visibility when driving on unlit roads, but should only be used when it is safe to do so. As a rule, use high beams only on unlit roads, with no traffic in front of you and nothing in the oncoming lane.

“It’s important to remember that it can be dangerous to use high beams inappropriately, as dazzling other drivers can cause accidents.”

Most vehicles feature three types of headlights, with side markers typically used in fairly dim lighting, main headlights for most conditions, and high beams for travel in poorly lit environments such as the countryside.

Although high beams can be particularly useful for keeping drivers safe on unlit roads, it is vital that they only switch this setting on when there are no other road users nearby.

This can avoid dazzling other people, which can increase the risk of a serious accident, and can also lead to a £100 fine and three penalty points. However, this can increase to thousands of pounds, up to £5,000, if your high beams cause an accident.

Tim also highlighted that drivers should also spend a few moments walking around the car to make sure all the bulbs are working properly before hitting the road.

He continued: “Driving with only one working headlight not only reduces your visibility, but will also make it harder for other drivers to see you. It’s easy to check, all you need to do is walk around the car with the headlights on to make sure all lamps are working as they should.

“While you’re doing this, you can also make sure your indicators are working – just turn on the hazards and look for any lights that aren’t flashing properly.”