Close-up shot of woman turning on light in car salon
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) – Many parents are telling their children not to drive with their interior lights on because it can make it harder to see when it’s dark.
However, drivers may wonder if they could get in legal trouble if a police officer sees them with these lights on.
While it’s not illegal to drive with the interior lights on, according to Tom Fowler Law, parents had the right idea when they said not to have them on, as it can result in a different violation.
Reckless or distracted driving is still considered illegal, and driving with interior lights on may result in the driver of the vehicle or other drivers being distracted. This can cause accidents.
Interior lights usually reflect off the windshield when it’s dark. This reduces the driver’s visibility, meaning they won’t be able to see and react to circumstances as quickly as if they had turned off their headlights.
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Also, most of the time when a driver turns on their interior lights, they are looking for something in their car. This takes the driver’s eyes away from the road, making driving distracted. If a police officer sees the driver doing this, he can be fined.
It is recommended that drivers find a safe place to stop if they need to turn on their interior lights. This will allow them to safely search for anything they might need without running the risk of getting a citation for distracted driving.
Residents should check local ordinances before turning on their interior lights while driving, as different cities and municipalities may have their own laws regarding this.
