When to turn on fog lights

Rules for using car lights

Good afternoon, dear reader.

This article will review the rules of the road that apply to the use of vehicle headlights and lights in various driving situations.

Lighting devices are designed both to illuminate the road ahead of the car (to avoid collision with an obstacle) and to indicate the car itself (to avoid collision with other vehicles).

Unfortunately, many drivers do not know the rules for using headlights and flashlights, and therefore do not use all the opportunities provided to them.

External car lights

At the beginning of this article, a few words about what external lighting devices a car may have. This information is primarily intended for those who are studying at a driving school and do not yet understand what these or other headlights or lanterns are intended for.

Note. The topic “lighting devices” is one of the most difficult in a driving school, because... It is difficult for a driver candidate who has never driven before to remember the similar names of light devices and the rules for their use.

parking lights

Dimensions are small light devices located approximately at the corners of the car (4 pieces in total). They do not shine very brightly and are primarily designed so that drivers of other cars can understand in the dark where your car begins and ends.

As a rule, the car is designed in such a way that when you turn on the low or high beam headlights, the dimensions turn on automatically. That is, low beam without side lights does not work.

Daytime Running Lights

DRLs are light devices in the front of the car (2 pieces), which shine quite brightly. They are designed to improve visibility of the car from the front during daylight hours.

Daytime running lights should not be used at night because... at night, they can blind oncoming drivers due to their high brightness. However, they do not illuminate the road.

In 2020, most cars are equipped with daytime running lights, but such lights are quite rare on cars manufactured before 2010.

Low and high beam headlights

Low beam (2 bulbs) and high beam (2 bulbs) headlights are the main lighting devices that are designed to illuminate the road in front of the car.

In this case, the low beam illuminates the area directly in front of the car, and the high beam illuminates a more distant area. It makes sense to use low beam at low speeds, high beam at higher speeds.

Fog lights

PTF - 2 headlights in the front bumper of a car, designed to illuminate the road in poor visibility conditions.

Fog lights are optional for 2019, so not all vehicle trim levels have them. That is, the car may not have PTF.

Fog light

Fog light - a red light at the rear of the vehicle, designed to improve visibility of the vehicle in poor visibility conditions. This light device is very bright and in good weather it can blind drivers of cars behind.

This lamp is required to be installed on all cars.

Driving during daylight hours

In good visibility

When driving during daylight hours, the vehicle must have one of the following lights on:

low beam;
Daytime Running Lights;
fog lights;

If the car has all the listed devices, then it makes sense to use DRL. These lights are brighter and use less electricity.

When driving, the following can also be turned on:

In case of insufficient visibility

One of the following lighting fixtures must be used:

low beam headlights;
high beam headlights.

In this case, the main beam cannot be used:

in populated areas on illuminated roads;
when oncoming vehicles pass;
when blinding drivers of passing or oncoming cars.

Additionally, the car may include:

fog lights;
fog lamp;
parking lights;
Daytime Running Lights.

Note. The rear fog light is specifically designed for use in conditions of poor visibility, but in practice no more than 10 percent of drivers use it. The rest, apparently, do not know the relevant rules.

Driving in the dark

One of the following lighting fixtures must be used:

low beam headlights;
high beam headlights.

In this case, the main beam cannot be used:

in populated areas on illuminated roads;
when oncoming vehicles pass;
when blinding drivers of passing or oncoming cars.

Additionally you can use:

fog lights;
fog lamp (only in case of poor visibility);
parking lights.

Traffic in the tunnel

When moving in a tunnel, regardless of the presence of lighting, one of the following lighting devices must be turned on:

low beam headlights;
high beam headlights.

Additionally may be included:

parking lights;
fog lights;
Daytime Running Lights.

rear fog lamp (except in conditions of poor visibility).

Stopping and parking a car

At night on an unlit road

Must be included:

Other lighting devices can be used.

In case of insufficient visibility (during dark or daylight)

Must be included:

Other lights, including the rear fog lamp, may be used.

Rules for using lighting devices

The rules for using headlights and flashlights in various situations are discussed in detail above, but remembering them is not so easy. Therefore, we will consider them in a more compact form.

use the rear fog lamp when visibility is good;
use high beams in populated areas on illuminated roads, when passing oncoming traffic, when blinding passing or oncoming drivers;
do not use low or high beams at night, with insufficient visibility, in a tunnel;
do not use DRLs, low beams or PTF during the day;
Do not use clearance when parking in poor visibility conditions or on an unlit section of the road at night.

All other options and combinations of lighting devices are not a violation.

In conclusion, let me remind you that fines for improper use of lighting devices are discussed in a separate article:

When and at what time should you turn on the low and high beams, fog lights and daytime running lights?

A modern car has as many as 8 different lighting devices installed (there is also a backlight for the rear license plate, but in this case we are not interested in it). And we need to use these 7 lighting devices: headlights, flashlights, foglights and other things in different ways, depending on as many as 8 conditions. Let's list lighting devices and the conditions for their use for 2019!

So, the car has so-called external lighting devices. These include:

headlights: low beam;
headlights: high beam;
rear lights;
fog lights (PTF);
rear fog lights;
parking lights;
daytime running lights (DRLs).

And among the conditions for including certain lighting devices in the traffic rules, there are the following:

daylight hours;
dark time of day: illuminated road;
dark time of day: unlit road;
low visibility conditions;
standing/moving car;
trailer/towed vehicle;
populated/non-populated area.

Are you scared? It's actually not all that scary. Let's find out when and in what cases you need to turn on the headlights, fog lights, high or low beam headlights and dimensions. Data current as of December 6, 2019. For convenience, we will consider the rules for using car lights depending on the time of day and other conditions, and answer some pressing questions. And at the end of the article we will provide a table as a simple way to remember when which lights need to be turned on on the car.

What light should I use during the day?

During the day, namely, during daylight hours, we can use daytime running lights (19.5 traffic rules). But instead of DRLs (not only if they are not installed in the car, but also at the driver’s request), you can use low beam headlights or fog lights (19.4 + 19.5 traffic rules).

During daylight hours (provided that there are no conditions of insufficient visibility), you need to turn on:

Daytime Running Lights;
dipped headlights;
fog lights (but not in combination with low beams or DRLs).

During daylight hours you should not turn on:

high beam headlights;
rear fog lights.

What light to use at night?

The dark time of the day in the traffic rules is defined as “the period of time from the end of the evening twilight to the beginning of the morning twilight” (1.2 of the traffic rules). Thus, the dark time of the day includes the entire night, evening from the end of twilight and morning until the beginning of dawn.

At night you need to turn on:

dipped or high beam headlights while driving (see below under what conditions high beams cannot be used);
side lights when stopping or parking on the road, as well as on trailers and towed vehicles;
fog lights - only on unlit sections of roads and only in combination with low or high beam headlights.

Also, in the dark, you can turn on a special spotlight if you have one, provided you are driving outside a populated area and in the absence of oncoming cars.

In the dark it is forbidden to use:

in populated areas, if the road is lit,
if oncoming traffic is closer than 150 meters to you or even further and at the same time flashes its headlights at you,
in any other cases when it is possible to blind drivers (namely drivers, not pedestrians) of oncoming and passing cars;

fog lights - on illuminated roads or on unlit roads without low or high beam headlights;

Daytime Running Lights;

rear fog lights.

What light to use in conditions of poor visibility (in fog)?

The conditions of insufficient visibility are also defined in the Rules, so there is no ambiguity here. These conditions include driver visibility of less than 300 meters in fog, twilight, rain, snow, and the like. In general, if the visibility of the road is approximately less than 300 meters, the only time it is night, then these are conditions of insufficient visibility.

In conditions of insufficient visibility, you need to turn on:

dipped or high beam headlights when moving (see above in the description of lighting at night, in what conditions you cannot use high beams);
side lights when stopping and parking - low beam headlights, fog lights or rear fog lights together with side lights can also be turned on in conditions of poor visibility (as opposed to the dark).
fog lights - only in combination with low or high beam headlights (and on roads of any illumination, as opposed to the dark).
rear fog lights (this is the only condition in which they can be used).

In conditions of insufficient visibility, you cannot use:

fog lights without low or high beam headlights;
daytime running lights.

What light should I use in the tunnel?

Traffic regulations regulate the mandatory inclusion of headlights in tunnels (clause 19.1). The rule here is simple: the conditions for using certain lighting devices are the same as in the dark.

When can you use the emergency lights?

Hazard alarms are also considered a lighting device, and traffic regulations clearly regulate the possibility of their use. So, the emergency lights need to be turned on:

if you get into an accident along with a warning triangle (2.5 traffic rules + 7.1 traffic rules);
if a situation arises where your car poses a danger;
when forced to stop in a place where stopping is prohibited (together with an emergency stop sign);
when towing on a towed vehicle;
if you are blinded by oncoming traffic.

When can you blink your headlights?

Yes, most often drivers blink their headlights (one or more short-term switches of headlights from low beam or DRL to high beam) when warning oncoming vehicles about traffic police officers. However, traffic rules recommend doing this in completely different cases. Which ones:

to warn other road users about overtaking;
if you are blinded by an oncoming vehicle.

At the same time, nowhere in the Rules is there a direct prohibition on blinking headlights. However, traffic police officers may regard this as a violation of traffic rules, as a result of which you can easily earn a fine of 500 rubles. Think for yourself, when you blink you turn on the high beams, but in most cases it is prohibited to turn them on.

As you can see, everything is very simple! But let's simplify these Rules for the use of lighting devices even further and present everything in a visual tabular form.

Table footnotes:

Instead of low beam headlights
Only in combination with low or high beam headlights

And, finally, an official excerpt from the current 2019 traffic regulations, Chapter 19 on external lighting devices.

19. Use of external lighting devices and sound signals.

19.1. In the dark and in conditions of insufficient visibility, regardless of the road lighting, as well as in tunnels, the following lighting devices must be turned on on a moving vehicle:

on all motor vehicles - high or low beam headlights, on bicycles - headlights or lanterns, on horse-drawn carts - lanterns (if equipped);
on trailers and towed motor vehicles - side lights.

19.2. High beam should be switched to low beam:

in populated areas, if the road is illuminated;
when passing oncoming traffic at a distance of at least 150 m from the vehicle, and also at a greater distance, if the driver of the oncoming vehicle periodically switching the headlights indicates the need for this;
in any other cases to eliminate the possibility of blinding drivers of both oncoming and passing vehicles.

If blinded, the driver must turn on the hazard warning lights and, without changing lanes, reduce speed and stop.

19.3. When stopping and parking in the dark on unlit sections of roads, as well as in conditions of insufficient visibility, the side lights on the vehicle must be turned on. In conditions of poor visibility, low-beam headlights, fog lights and rear fog lights can be turned on in addition to the side lights.

19.4. Fog lights can be used:

in conditions of poor visibility with low or high beam headlights;
at night on unlit sections of roads in conjunction with low or high beam headlights;
instead of low beam headlights in accordance with paragraph 19.5 of the Rules.

19.5. During daylight hours, all moving vehicles must have low-beam headlights or daytime running lights on to indicate them.

19.6. The spotlight and searchlight may only be used outside populated areas in the absence of oncoming vehicles. In populated areas, only drivers of vehicles equipped in the prescribed manner with blue flashing lights and special sound signals can use such headlights when performing an urgent official task.

19.7. Rear fog lights can only be used in conditions of poor visibility. Do not connect rear fog lights to brake lights.

Rules for using external lighting devices and sound signals

So, the car has so-called external lighting devices. These include:

headlights: low beam;
headlights: high beam;
rear lights;
fog lights (PTF);
rear fog lights;
parking lights;
daytime running lights (DRLs).

And among the conditions for including certain lighting devices in the traffic rules, there are the following:

daylight hours;
dark time of day: illuminated road;
dark time of day: unlit road;
low visibility conditions;
standing/moving car;
trailer/towed vehicle;
populated/non-populated area.

Are you scared? It's actually not all that scary. Let's find out when and in what cases you need to turn on the headlights, fog lights, high or low beam headlights and dimensions. Data current as of September 6, 2019. For convenience, we will consider the rules for using car lights depending on the time of day and other conditions, and answer some pressing questions. And at the end of the article we will provide a table as a simple way to remember when which lights need to be turned on on the car.

External car lights

parking lights

As a rule, the car is designed in such a way that when you turn on the low or high beam headlights, the dimensions turn on automatically. That is, low beam without side lights does not work.

Daytime Running Lights

DRLs are light devices in the front of the car (2 pieces), which shine quite brightly. They are designed to improve visibility of the car from the front during daylight hours.

Daytime running lights should not be used at night because... at night, they can blind oncoming drivers due to their high brightness. However, they do not illuminate the road.

In 2019, most cars are equipped with daytime running lights, but such lights are quite rare on cars manufactured before 2010.

Low and high beam headlights

Low beam (2 bulbs) and high beam (2 bulbs) headlights are the main lighting devices that are designed to illuminate the road in front of the car.

Fog lights

PTF - 2 headlights in the front bumper of a car, designed to illuminate the road in poor visibility conditions.

Fog lights are optional for 2019, so not all vehicle trim levels have them. That is, the car may not have PTF.

Fog light

This lamp is required to be installed on all cars.

Light and sound devices of the car and their location

We should start with the basics, or rather with what types of headlights and lanterns modern cars are equipped with.

Low beam headlights - designed to illuminate the road and surrounding area in a relatively small area.

High beam headlights are powerful lighting devices that illuminate the roadway over a fairly large area. Due to its high brightness, high beams can blind oncoming drivers.

Front fog lights - installed lower than conventional headlights, create a wide beam of light that well illuminates the road and the surrounding area in conditions of fog, snowfall and rain.

Daytime running lights are a separate type of headlights that are turned on during the day, regardless of weather or visibility, and are designed to increase the visibility of vehicles. Most models turn on immediately when the engine starts.

Tail lights - designed to identify the vehicle at night or in poor visibility conditions. The color of the lamps is red.

Brake lights are red lights that come on when a vehicle slows down. They burn much brighter than the side lights. Some cars are additionally equipped with a central brake light.

Rear fog lights - indicate the vehicle in fog, rain or snowstorm conditions. Not to be confused with brake lights.

Reversing lights are white and are designed to inform pedestrians and other motorists that the vehicle will be moving (or is already moving) in reverse.

Rear reflectors - used for the same purpose as side lights, they reflect the light falling on them from the headlights of passing cars. May also be known as retroreflectors.

License plate lighting – several white bulbs designed to illuminate the rear license plate of a vehicle.

Turn signals, or “turn signals,” are amber lights that are used to inform you that the vehicle is turning or otherwise maneuvering. Installed in the corners and on the sides of the car.

What color of side lights is allowed according to traffic regulations?

If the color of the light device does not meet the standard requirements established for the type of vehicle, the traffic regulations prohibit the operation of such a vehicle.

Requirements for external lighting of vehicles are established by GOST 8769-75. The terms of the standard determine that the front dimensions must emit a white color, and the rear dimensions must emit a red color (Clause 2.5.6).

Requirements for the color of side markers are established by GOST R 41.91-99: it must be yellow.

Hazard lights: what they are for and when to turn them on

The so-called “emergency light” is also a combination of the operation of several lighting devices, and therefore belongs to the section in the traffic regulations that regulates the use of various modes of operation of car headlights. What should you consider when activating the emergency alarm mode?

The very first thing is, of course, emergency situations in which not only emergency lights are involved, but also an emergency stop sign. The latter must always be in your trunk, otherwise you will violate traffic rules. Regardless of where the emergency breakdown of your car occurred, in a vacant lot or on the highway, you need to protect yourself and other road users by marking your car in accordance with the traffic rules. A warning triangle is installed on the route to your car 15 or 30 meters from it, depending on the location of the breakdown.

When can you use the emergency lights?

Hazard alarms are also considered a lighting device, and traffic regulations clearly regulate the possibility of their use. So, the emergency lights need to be turned on:

if you get into an accident along with a warning triangle (2.5 traffic rules + 7.1 traffic rules);
if a situation arises where your car poses a danger;
when forced to stop in a place where stopping is prohibited (together with an emergency stop sign);
when towing on a towed vehicle;
if you are blinded by oncoming traffic.

Stopping and parking a car

At night on an unlit road

Must be included:

Other lighting devices can be used.

In case of insufficient visibility (during dark or daylight)

Must be included:

Other lights, including the rear fog lamp, may be used.

Rules for using external lighting devices at night

At night, or the dark time of the day, the rules refer to the period of time between the end of the evening and the beginning of the morning twilight. In such conditions, it is mandatory to turn on the headlights and side lights.

The choice of low or high beam depends on the following nuances:

If you are driving along illuminated roads in a populated area , you cannot use high beams, only low beams.

When approaching a vehicle moving in the oncoming lane, the high beams should be switched to low beams at least 150 meters in advance - this way you will not blind the other driver. It’s even better to switch at 200-250 meters.

If an oncoming vehicle signals by switching or flashing its headlights at a greater distance , turn off the high beams. In such situations, your headlights are most likely poorly adjusted, and they do not so much illuminate the road as they shine into the eyes of oncoming drivers.

You also need to switch the lights in other situations when there is a threat of blinding other drivers , both oncoming and passing.

What to do if you are blinded? The main thing is not to change lanes, otherwise there is a risk of getting into an accident, hitting a pedestrian or falling into a ditch. The rules require in such a situation to turn on the hazard warning lights, gradually reduce speed and, if necessary, stop.

Forced stop in the dark - be sure to turn on the side lights and, if desired, supplement them with low beams and fog lights.

When to turn it on and off

All cars have different design solutions for external lighting.

To move on to using the dimensions, you need to clearly know how they turn on and where the controls for these devices are located. This information is detailed in the vehicle's owner's manual.

Sometimes they simply forget about including dimensions. In older cars, this option was turned on simultaneously with the backlight; it was technically impossible to forget.

In modern vehicles, everything is separate: both lighting and dimensions. Turning the optics on and off in certain situations needs to be controlled.

Clause 19.3 of the traffic rules provides for the driver’s obligation to turn on the side lights in the following cases:

When stopping (parking) at night on unlit road sections.
In conditions of poor visibility. Additionally, simultaneous activation of daytime running lights, low beam headlights, and fog lights (headlights and rear lights) is allowed.

A significant decrease in visibility occurs under the following conditions:

in heavy fog;
at night and at dusk;
during precipitation, snow or rain;
when driving in a tunnel.

In conditions of limited visibility when stopping and parking, the driver is given the right to independently decide how to make the car more visible, which lighting devices need to be turned on additionally.

At the same time, we must not forget: even in difficult weather conditions, the choice of a place to stop and park is regulated by the Traffic Rules.

It is believed that movement is most difficult in the dark and in heavy fog. Don't wait until the fog makes the road indistinguishable.

It is better to turn on the lights even in light fog.

When stopping at night on the side of the road, to improve visibility, in addition to the side lights, you should turn on the hazard warning lights.

It’s better to make a rule for yourself: if it becomes worse to see, you need to turn on the dimensions. Do not forget that all drivers have different vision. It is really necessary to indicate the dimensions of the car, because in the dark a car without dimensions is just a ghost.

And also, practical advice: if the low beam of the headlights becomes visible on the road, it’s time to use the side lights.

Rules of paragraphs 6 and 7 of Article 19

Rotating lighting devices (called a spotlight or searchlight) are turned on, according to paragraph 6, only outside the city or other populated area and only when there is no oncoming traffic. The exception is specialized vehicles moving around the territory of a populated area with flashing blue lights, accompanied by sound signals established by the rules. This vehicle must move in the direction of the object that is the reason for the performance of the official task, which is determined to be urgent.

Paragraph 7 specifies the rules for operating rear fog lights. They are turned on if necessary to reduce an emergency situation in conditions of poor visibility on the road. A ban is imposed on connecting this lighting equipment to brake lights.

Traffic rules chapter 19

Use of external lighting devices and sound signals

19.1. In the dark and in conditions of insufficient visibility, regardless of the road lighting, as well as in tunnels, the following lighting devices must be turned on on a moving vehicle:

on all motor vehicles and mopeds - high or low beam headlights, on bicycles - headlights or lanterns, on horse-drawn carts - lanterns (if equipped);
on trailers and towed motor vehicles - side lights.

19.2. High beam should be switched to low beam:

in populated areas, if the road is illuminated;
when passing oncoming traffic at a distance of at least 150 m from the vehicle, and also at a greater distance, if the driver of the oncoming vehicle periodically switching the headlights indicates the need for this;
in any other cases to eliminate the possibility of blinding drivers of both oncoming and passing vehicles.

If blinded, the driver must turn on the hazard warning lights and, without changing lanes, reduce speed and stop.

19.3. When stopping and parking at night on unlit sections of roads, as well as in conditions of insufficient visibility, the side lights on the vehicle must be turned on. In conditions of poor visibility, low-beam headlights, fog lights and rear fog lights can be turned on in addition to the side lights.

19.4. Fog lights can be used:

in conditions of poor visibility with low or high beam headlights;
at night on unlit sections of roads in conjunction with low or high beam headlights;
instead of low beam headlights in accordance with paragraph 19.5 of the Rules.

19.5. During daylight hours, all moving vehicles must have low-beam headlights or daytime running lights on to indicate them.

19.6. The spotlight and searchlight may only be used outside populated areas in the absence of oncoming vehicles. In populated areas, only drivers of vehicles equipped in the prescribed manner with blue flashing lights and special sound signals can use such headlights when performing an urgent official task.

19.7. Rear fog lights can only be used in conditions of poor visibility. Do not connect rear fog lights to brake lights.

19.8. The identification sign “Road Train” must be turned on when the road train is moving, and in the dark and in conditions of insufficient visibility, in addition, while it is stopped or parked.

19.10. Sound signals can only be used:

to warn other drivers of the intention to overtake outside populated areas;
in cases where it is necessary to prevent a traffic accident.

19.11. To warn of overtaking, instead of a sound signal or together with it, a light signal may be given, which is a short-term switching of the headlights from low to high beam.

How to use car lights correctly

High beam

We turn on the high beams at night, when there is insufficient visibility and in tunnels. At the same time, the Rules allow the use of low beams in these cases.

We switch far to near in the following cases:

— when passing oncoming traffic (150 meters before the oncoming car);

— when passing oncoming traffic at a greater distance, if the driver of the oncoming car “blinked” his headlights at you;

- in all cases when your distant driver can blind oncoming drivers;

- in populated areas, if the road is illuminated.

You can use your high beams when overtaking. Paragraph 19.11 of the traffic rules allows the driver to “blink” his headlights to warn of overtaking.

Low beam

We turn on low beam headlights, as well as high beams, at night, in tunnels and when visibility is poor. During the day we turn on the low beam or DRL (clause 19.5 of the traffic rules).

In addition, clause 19.3 establishes the possibility of using low beams when stopping and parking at night in unlit areas or in conditions of insufficient visibility. In this case, the low beam is used as a complement to the side lights.

Fog lights

Fog lights can be used in conditions of poor visibility, as well as at night in unlit areas together with high or low beam headlights. Front fog lights, in addition, can be used independently (instead of low beams or DRLs) when driving during daylight hours (clause 19.4 of the traffic rules).

It is worth noting that traffic regulations allow the use of rear fog lights only in conditions of poor visibility.

Please note that the very term “insufficient visibility” (road visibility less than 300 m in conditions of fog, rain, snowfall, etc., as well as at dusk) only implies a deterioration in visibility due to weather conditions. Neither the winding road, nor the trees growing along the side of the road (limiting visibility and visibility), nor buildings and structures have anything to do with insufficient visibility.

Don't forget that traffic regulations prohibit combining rear fog lights with brake lights.

Controversial issues

Let's look at typical cases when a traffic police inspector accuses a driver of violating the rules for using lighting devices.

The Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation provides for liability for such a violation in the form of a warning or a fine of 500 rubles (Article 12.20).

1. You see a traffic police crew in an ambush and warn other drivers by “blinking” your high beams. Such actions are not prohibited, since there is no direct prohibition on them in the traffic rules.

2. At night, when entering a populated area along a lighted road, you did not switch to the near one. For this, you will be reasonably held accountable, since the need to switch to a nearby vehicle is established by clause 19.2 of the traffic rules. If the road is not lit, you can continue driving with high beams.

3. During daylight hours, to indicate a vehicle on the road, you drive with front fog lights and also drive through a tunnel. As you exit, an inspector stops you. The punishment will be fair. Indeed, according to paragraph 19.4, fog lights can be used instead of low beams, while paragraph 19.1 speaks of the need to turn on high or low beam when driving through a tunnel.

By the way, the same situation occurs when driving with DRLs. When entering a tunnel, you need to turn on the low or high beam. You cannot drive through the tunnel with DRLs.

4. If you do not switch from high to low when driving oncoming in the dark, the punishment will be fair. Even if people you meet don’t ask you to do this, clause 19.1 of the traffic rules states the need to switch to the next one at least 150 meters from the oncoming car.

5. During the day in a populated area, you drive with high beam headlights. In this case, there is no violation, since there is only one direct ban on the use of high beams in a populated area - darkness and a lit road.

6. Driving around the city at night with DRLs will incur a fine. In this case, traffic regulations clearly require that either the low beam (if the road is lit) be turned on, or the high beam if there is no lighting in the populated area.

7. If one headlight on your car does not work (it doesn’t matter whether it’s low beam or high beam), you will be held accountable under another article - Part 1 of Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation (the punishment is the same - a warning or a fine of 500 rubles).