Tom McCutcheon – Attorney at Law
Q: I have an older car and I am considering buy a new car that has automatic headlights. I am concerned about new cars with automatic headlights which turn themselves on, and if they also turn on the rear lights. It seems that this could create a dangerous situation if I didn’t realize that my headlights were on or that my rear lights were not on. Would I be at fault if I relied on my automatic headlights and they didn’t turn on all the lights when they were supposed to?
Von
Florence, AL
A: My initial reaction is that you would be at fault if you were driving your car at a time or during conditions where your lights should be on and they were not. Drivers are fully responsible for all aspects the operation of the vehicle. This includes brakes, tires, steering and lights. There are very specific rules about lights, when they are to be on, where they should be, and what color they are. There are also rules about the time of day when lights are required.
By rule of law, lights are to be on 30 minutes before sundown. This time changes every day. We would have to go to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to get accurate documentation of the exact time of sundown to prove when that time occurred.
There are other conditions where your lights should be on that aren’t mandated by law where the driver has to make the decision as to what is reasonable and prudent under those conditions. Visibility can be affected by fog or smoke, and under certain conditions lights should be turned on for safety. In Alabama lights are to be on when it’s raining. This is the driver’s responsibility and would not be excused by a failure of an automatic headlight system.
My understanding is that the rear lights come on when the headlights come on but again it is the responsibility of the driver to make sure that the car operates as required by law.
Buckle up and drive safely.
