Support us

Side lightsColombia

Learn traffic rules with clear explanations and visual examples in our illustrated book, designed to make studying simple and engaging.

Traffic signs
Traffic rules
Colombia

98. Side lights

Side lights, also called position lights, are low-intensity vehicle lights used to make a vehicle visible and indicate its presence and approximate width. Unlike dipped-beam or high-beam headlights, they are not designed to illuminate the road far enough for normal driving at night.

Side lights are commonly used together with other vehicle lighting and may also be used to make a stationary or parked vehicle visible in darkness. Their required use depends on national traffic rules.

Side lights
Side-light dashboard indicator.
Wikimedia.org • Chris828 • CC0
What are side lights used for?

Side lights make a vehicle easier to see and indicate its position and width. They provide much less road illumination than dipped-beam or high-beam headlights.

Are side lights the same as dipped-beam headlights?

No. Side lights mainly make the vehicle visible, while dipped-beam headlights illuminate the road ahead sufficiently for driving without unnecessarily dazzling other road users.

Can side lights be used when a vehicle is parked?

Yes. In some countries, position or parking lights must be used when a vehicle is parked on the road at night or in poor visibility. The exact requirements depend on local traffic rules.

1 Colombia 2 Speed limit 3 Pedestrian warning 4 Slope 5 Bus stop 6 Stop sign 7 School area 8 Crossing animals 9 Traffic lights 10 Reversing 11 Cyclist 12 Bus 13 Police 14 Ambulance 15 Pothole 16 Path 17 Particulates 18 Air pollution 19 Rush hour 20 Road code 21 Street gutter 22 Cargo bike 23 Forestry vehicle 24 Construction vehicle 25 Semi-trailer truck 26 Trolleybus 27 Speed pedelec 28 Delivery vehicle 29 Idling 30 Tow truck 31 Four-wheel drive 32 Bicycle 33 Motorcycle equipment 34 Rail track 35 Caravan 36 Trailer 37 Tow hitch 38 Fire truck 39 Siren 40 Convoy 41 Emergency vehicle lighting 42 Agricultural machinery 43 Electric bicycle 44 Electric vehicle 45 Pedelec 46 Quadricycle 47 Microcar 48 All-terrain vehicle 49 Van 50 Recreational vehicle 51 Scooter 52 Trikke 53 Personal mobility device 54 Skateboard 55 Segway 56 Kick scooter 57 Roller skates 58 Mailman 59 Hitchhiker 60 Toddler 61 Child 62 Disability 63 Motorail 64 km/h 65 mph 66 Speedometer 67 Ride height 68 Dirt road 69 Driving 70 Start-stop system 71 Manual transmission 72 Automatic transmission 73 Throttle 74 Tachometer 75 Steering wheel 76 Power steering 77 Visual scanning 78 Mirror 79 Fuel 80 Fuel gauge 81 Petrol 82 Diesel 83 Diesel exhaust fluid 84 Car insurance 85 First aid kit 86 Fire extinguisher 87 High-visibility clothing 88 First aid 89 Concrete step barrier 90 Barriers 91 Vehicle lights 92 Street lights 93 Dipped beam 94 High beam 95 Fog lights 96 Front fog lights 97 Rear fog lights 98 Side lights 99 Turn signals 100 Hazard lights ...