Ep. 54: Lights - Headlights, Taillights, Hazard Lights and More - How/When to Use Them

Randy's been waiting to record this episode for a long time. Every single day, he sees the same dangerous mistakes: drivers with no taillights on in the dark, high beams blinding everyone in traffic, and hazard lights flashing on the highway for no reason. Your lights aren't decorations—they're communication tools.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
• Why DRLs (daytime running lights) are creating invisible cars
• The critical law most drivers don't know: wipers on = headlights on
• When high beams are appropriate (and when they're dangerous)
• Why "auto" headlight settings fail in rain, fog, and tunnels
• How constant brake-tapping causes phantom jams
• The three situations when hazard lights are actually needed
• Why your dashboard lights don't mean your taillights are on

This episode directly addresses the confusion created by modern car technology and ties together the entire Weather Month series. Randy explains why proper light usage is the foundation of safe driving in rain, snow, fog, and all extreme conditions covered in Episodes 52, 53, and 55.

If you've ever been blinded by someone's high beams in traffic or nearly rear-ended an invisible car with no taillights, this episode is essential.

Chapters

• 0:00 Cold Open - No Lights On!
• 0:23 Intro - Episde 54: Lights
• 0:37 Headlights - DRLs/Auto Function
• 1:19 ON or Auto?
• 1:43 High Beams/Brights
• 2:19 Fog Lights
• 2:57 Taillights
• 3:33 Brake Lights
• 4:13 Hazard Lights
• 5:33 When to USE Hazard Lights
• 6:14 Recap - When to Use Which Lights
• 6:44 Parking Lights and Tow Trucks
• 7:25 CTA - New Patreon Page

Transcript

Episode 54: Headlights, Taillights, and Hazard Lights - Stop Using Them Wrong

COLD OPEN / HOOK (0:00-0:15)

"Every single day, I see drivers with no taillights on in the dark. High beams blinding everyone in traffic. Hazard lights flashing on the highway for no reason.

Your lights aren't decorations. They're communication tools. And most drivers are using them completely wrong.

Today, we're fixing that."

[INTRO MUSIC STARTS at 0:15]

OFFICIAL INTRO (0:15-0:30)

[Music bed under voiceover]

"Welcome to Mastering the Commute—Season 2. I'm Randy Keith.

This is Episode 54: 'Headlights, Taillights, and Hazard Lights—Stop Using Them Wrong.'

I’ve been anxiously awaiting this episode for a long time, so let’s get started.

[Music fades out by 0:30]

SECTION 1: THE HEADLIGHT PROBLEM (0:30-3:00)

[Educational but firm tone]

"Let's start with headlights—because this is where most drivers get it wrong.

The DRL Problem:

Modern cars have daytime running lights—DRLs. They're the lights on the front of your car that turn on automatically when you start the engine.

Here's what most drivers don't realize: DRLs do NOT turn on your taillights.

So in rain, fog, or dusk, you're driving around thinking, 'My lights are on!' But the people behind you can't see you because your taillights are off.

This is especially dangerous in Episodes 52 and 53 weather conditions—rain and snow—where visibility is already reduced.

The fix: Turn on your actual headlights. Not 'auto.' Not DRLs. Turn them ON.

In most states, the law says: If your wipers are on, your headlights must be on. And that means headlights that activate your taillights.

The High Beam Problem:

High beams are for dark, rural roads with no other traffic. That's it.

They are NOT for:

• City driving
• Highways with other cars
• Rain or snow (they reflect off the water/snow and blind you)
• Following someone closely

And yet, every night, I see drivers blasting high beams in heavy traffic, blinding everyone around them.

Here's the rule: If you can see another car within 500 feet—either in front of you or coming toward you—turn off your high beams.

And in rain or snow, don't use them at all. Use your regular headlights.

The 'Auto' Setting Problem:

Many cars have an 'auto' headlight setting that's supposed to turn your lights on when it gets dark.

But 'auto' doesn't account for rain, fog, or tunnels. It only detects ambient light.

So if you're driving in heavy rain during the daytime, your auto lights might not turn on—even though you need them.

The fix: Stop relying on 'auto.' Just turn your lights on manually when conditions require it.

SECTION 2: THE TAILLIGHT PROBLEM (3:00-4:30)

"Now let's talk about taillights—because this is the one that drives me crazy.

If your headlights aren't on, your taillights aren't on.

I've said it already, but it bears repeating: DRLs don't turn on your taillights.

So in rain, dusk, fog, or any reduced visibility condition, you're invisible from behind.

And here's the thing: You might not even realize it. Your dashboard is lit up. Your DRLs are glowing. Everything FEELS like your lights are on.

But the driver behind you? They can't see you until they're dangerously close.

The fix: Glance at your dashboard. If your headlight indicator isn't on, your taillights aren't either. Turn them on.

Brake Light Discipline:

Your brake lights are the primary way other drivers know you're slowing down.

But some drivers tap their brakes constantly—on the highway, in merging lanes, for no reason.

This creates two problems:

1. It trains other drivers to ignore your brake lights because they see them so often they stop reacting.
2. It causes phantom jams—we covered this in Episode 2 on traffic waves.

The fix: Only brake when necessary. If you need to slow down gradually, take your foot off the gas instead of tapping the brakes.

And one more thing: If your brake lights are out, you're a liability.

Check them regularly. Have someone stand behind your car while you press the brake pedal. If even one bulb is out, replace it."

SECTION 3: THE HAZARD LIGHT PROBLEM (4:30-7:00)

"Alright, now we get to hazard lights—and this is where confusion runs rampant.

When to Use Hazard Lights:

Hazard lights are for emergencies and stationary vehicles. That's it.

Use them when:

• Your car is broken down on the side of the road
• You're stopped in a lane of traffic due to an accident or obstruction
• You're driving SIGNIFICANTLY slower than traffic due to a vehicle issue (like a flat tire limping to an exit)

When NOT to Use Hazard Lights:

Do NOT use them:

• Just because it's raining hard
• In heavy traffic when everyone's going slow
• While driving normally in bad weather
• To 'thank' someone for letting you merge

Why? Because hazard lights disable your turn signals.

If your hazards are flashing, other drivers can't tell if you're turning, changing lanes, or just driving straight.

This creates confusion—and confusion creates crashes.

The Specific Rain/Snow Problem:

In Episodes 52 and 53, I talked about driving in rain and snow. And in both cases, I see drivers turn on their hazards 'just in case.'

But here's the reality: If conditions are so bad that you feel you need hazard lights, you probably shouldn't be driving.

Hazard lights say, 'I am a hazard.' If you're driving at a reasonable speed for conditions and you're not broken down, you're NOT a hazard—you're just another car in traffic.

The only exception: If you're driving 20 mph on a highway where everyone else is doing 50+ due to severe weather or a vehicle issue, THEN turn on your hazards so faster traffic can see you from a distance.

But the moment you're matching traffic speed again, turn them off.

SECTION 4: THE FOG LIGHT PROBLEM (7:00-8:00)

"Quick note on fog lights, because I see these misused too.

Fog lights are LOW lights designed to illuminate the road directly in front of you without reflecting off fog.

They are NOT:

• Extra bright lights for seeing farther
• A substitute for headlights
• Something you use in clear weather

Use fog lights ONLY in heavy fog, mist, or extremely low visibility conditions where regular headlights are reflecting back at you.

And once visibility clears, turn them off.

Cross-reference: This ties back to Episode 52 on rain and Episode 53 on snow—fog often accompanies both, and knowing when to use fog lights can be the difference between seeing the road and seeing nothing."

CLOSING & RECAP (8:00-8:45)

[Confident, summarizing tone]

"Alright, let's recap.

Headlights:

• DRLs don't turn on your taillights
• Turn on your headlights in rain, fog, dusk, and snow
• Don't use high beams in traffic or weather
• Don't rely on 'auto'

Taillights:

• If your headlights aren't on, your taillights aren't either
• Check your brake lights regularly
• Don't tap your brakes unnecessarily

Hazard Lights:

• Use them for emergencies and stationary vehicles
• Don't use them just because it's raining or snowing
• They disable your turn signals
• If conditions are so bad you think you need hazards, you probably shouldn't be driving

Fog Lights:

• Use them ONLY in fog
• Turn them off when visibility clears

Your lights are how you communicate with other drivers. Use them correctly, and you make the road safer for everyone.

And just before I wrap up, I realized I didn’t even mention parking lights — those small amber markers that, let’s be honest, almost nobody uses intentionally anymore. And as a personal pet peeve, can we talk about tow trucks lighting up like Christmas trees on the side of the freeway? I know they’re doing important work, but sometimes those strobes do more to distract than help. I may revisit those in a future episode — or post a deeper dive on Patreon. In the meantime, if there’s a kind of light I didn’t talk about today, or something that drives you crazy about how people use theirs, I’d love to hear it. 

Just email me anytime at freewaytrafficexpert@gmail.com, and I might include your feedback in a future episode.

[Music bed under voiceover]

Follow me on Social Media .. @MasteringTheCommute on Facebook and Youtube, where I post Podcast Video episodes.

Til next time, make sure your taillights are on and your brake lights are working. Alan I’ll catch you next week.