Energy crisis: ADAC warns parking drivers of fines - what you have to consider now
Created: 2022-12-16 05:32
By: Ulrike Hagen
It is not only in driving cars that the lights have to be switched on in the dark.
Because of the energy crisis, drivers should pay particular attention to this now.
Hamburg – The energy crisis requires rethinking and causes stress in almost all areas of life.
Swimming pools are getting colder and saunas remain closed, restaurants are charging entry due to rising costs.
And it also influences road traffic.
Because in many places the lights go out earlier on the streets and no longer burn through the whole night as usual.
But if you park your car on poorly lit or unlit streets, you have to provide your vehicle with its own lighting, otherwise it can get really expensive.
We asked the ADAC what to look out for.
Due to the reduction in street lighting, the parking lights should be switched on at night.
Otherwise, in the event of an accident, you could be partly to blame.
(Iconic image) © Michael Reichel/dpa
Energy crisis: Why drivers now have to turn on their lights when parking in the evening
When it's dark, you turn on the light, of course.
But the fact that according to the road traffic regulations you don't just have to do this when driving your car should be new to many.
Expert Christian Hieef from ADAC Hansa in Hamburg explains under which circumstances you have to switch on the light of your parked car - and what the consequences are if you don't do so.
Because scratching the car window is not the only risk of a high fine.
Missing vehicle lighting can also be expensive.
§ 17/Approach 4, Road Traffic Regulations:
“Parking vehicles are to be illuminated with their own light source outside of built-up areas.
Within built-up areas, it is sufficient to indicate only the side of the vehicle facing the road with parking lights or in another approved way.”
Parking light or parking light - that's the difference
The lighting of parked vehicles in poor light conditions is regulated in the road traffic regulations, as the expert explains.
Hieff: “It states that vehicles that are parked outside of built-up areas are to be illuminated with their own light source.
And with a parking light.
Within built-up areas, it is sufficient to indicate only the side of the vehicle facing the road with parking lights or in another approved way.”
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Urban parking: When to turn on the parking lights
So if you park your car in a city on a poorly or not lit street, you have to turn on the parking lights.
"This means that other road users can see the parked car early, even in poor light conditions, and accidents can be prevented," explains the ADAC expert.
The parking light can be switched on on either side of the vehicle - left or right - with the turn signal lever.
A precautionary measure that is particularly useful in winter, as is a safe driving style on ice and snow.
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Out-of-town parking: which lights to turn on when the lighting is poor
“Outside of built-up areas, drivers must always switch on the parking lights when parking in unlit areas on the street.
This lights up both headlights and both taillights.
The parking lights are not sufficient there,” says Hieff.
Drivers can do without it if "the street lighting makes the vehicle clearly visible from a sufficient distance", as the road traffic regulations state.
"However, one should not rely on this, because many municipalities are currently turning off the lanterns at night," Christian Hieff points out.
The parking lights are generated either by switching on the parking lights on both sides, or by pointing the arrow on the light switch to the symbol with two lights, each with three dashes to the right and left.
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If you don't follow the traffic rules, it can get expensive
Anyone who forgets to leave their vehicle with the appropriate lighting - i.e. parking or side lights - when parked can expect to be asked to pay for it.
The fine for non-compliance is 20 euros.
If damage occurs, the vehicle owner has to pay 35 euros, at best.
Because in the event of an accident, this negligence can make you partially to blame.
That can quickly add up to thousands,” warns ADAC spokesman Hieff.
Incidentally, the fear that the car won't start after a few hours because you leave the light on is unfounded: "If the battery is healthy, you don't have to worry about it at all," says Christian Hieff reassuringly.