Headlights: Is It Before or after Sunset?
Turn on Headlights When It Gets Dark.
Everyone knows you must turn on your headlights at night and when it is dark.
Most of us would define nighttime as the time after sunset and before sunrise. However, vehicle codes or state statutes will define it as 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise.
And here is where many test takers get confused.
Why is it 30 minutes after sunset and not before? Wouldn’t it be more logical to turn on your headlights before sunset? Isn’t it dark as soon as the sun sets?
It may come as a surprise to you, but no, it isn’t. Not just yet.
The Sun is Below the Horizon – But it is Still Light Outside
The period immediately after sunset is known as civil twilight. Even if you cannot see the sun, the sky is still bright enough during this period. Streetlights are still off, and usually, you can see the road without using headlights. Civil twilight is roughly half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise.
Lawmakers use the civil twilight to define points in time when it is necessary for all drivers to use headlights. You will also find the term in laws and rules related to aviation and hunting.
The actual length of the twilight depends on your latitude and the time of the year. The higher the latitude, the more the setting sun slopes and the longer it takes for the sun to reach a certain degree beneath the horizon. This calculator will tell you the length of the civil twilight right now.
Civil twilight occurs when the Sun is less than 6 degrees below the horizon. In the morning, civil twilight begins when the Sun is 6 degrees below the horizon and ends at sunrise. In the evening, it starts at sunset and ends when the Sun reaches 6 degrees below the horizon.
When the sun is 12 degrees beneath the horizon, most will say it is dark outside. At this point, the sky is dark enough for some stars to be visible. This period is known as nautical twilight.
Note that civil twilight can last much longer than the half-hour, but the law still requires you to turn on headlights 30 minutes after sunset and keep them on until 30 minutes before sunrise.
Remember Before Sunrise and After Sunset
Remember, headlights must be on 30 minutes BEFORE sunrise and 30 minutes AFTER sunset. This question may appear on your written DMV test. You must also know when to use low beam headlights and when to use high beams for your DMV test.
When driving, there is nothing wrong with turning on your headlights long before sunset and keeping them on long after sunrise. In the European Community and many other countries, the laws require you to have daytime running lights or keep your headlights on at all times.
If you don’t always have headlights on, turn them on whenever it is difficult to see others or when you think others may have difficulties seeing you.
The Point to Take With You
Headlights must be on 30 minutes BEFORE sunrise and 30 minutes AFTER sunset.
Take the Practice Test for Your State
| Alabama |
| Alaska |
| Arizona |
| Arkansas |
| California |
| Colorado |
| Connecticut |
| Delaware |
| District of Columbia |
| Florida |
| Georgia |
| Hawaii |
| Idaho |
| Illinois |
| Indiana |
| Iowa |
| Kansas |
Photo Credits:
Manhattan in Twilight: Dschwen – wikimedia, Twilight Full Day: TWCarlson
I believe the law should read turn your headlights on “one half hour BEFORE sunset and one half hour before sunrise” because if the sunrise or sunset is directly behind you the oncoming traffic can see you better if your lights are ON. Then again, I have my lights on all the time. The thing I hate are these new super bright LED (or whatever) lights that almost blind you when you approach them and they don’t dim them.
Yes, you should always turn on your headlights when there is a rising or setting sun behind you – even if it is not required by law. It is one of these things that makes you a really good and considerate driver!
During the 30 minutes that the Sun is less than 6 degrees below the horizon there is enough light from the Sun’s rays to make headlights unnecessary unless it’s raining, cloudy, or overcast. They might even be useless during those 30 minutes; if you can turn your headlights on & off without seeing a difference that means there’s too much ambient light for them to illuminate anything for you. Also, most headlights aren’t dimmable. I have a new car and I can only dim the dashboard lights. In most cars if the headlights can be made to look less bright that means they had their high beams on and they switched to the low beams when they saw your vehicle but if they’re already using their low beams there’s nothing they can do about a bright bulb. The term brights is a misnomer, they’re not brighter; they just look like they are because they’re aimed higher up.
Seriously. The car itself is camourflauged without headlights even during the day. After sunset most of the cars are badly visible to other road users. You need the light to be seen. Also dipped headlights help to see the roadsigns and road worker reflectors much better during civil twilight. As well the moment when some of the car drivers have turned the lights on and some have not yet, is dangerous. The less light there is outside the more dangerous it becomes. Lightless car front of lighted car is invisible already 10 minutes after sunset in clear wether. In UK you must have at least sidelights on after/before sunset. Most of the Europe dipped beams must be on 24/7 since 2011 and directly after sunset since 1960’s/70’s.
Okay that makes sense after 60 years of driving and thinking the answer was 1/2 hour before and after I stand corrected.
I’m glad I’ve been taking your free tests, they’ve been very beneficial.
Thanks Ron S.