19.29. When driving on an insufficiently lit street, the driver of a passenger car must switch on the following external lighting devices:
UAРухаючись по не достатньо освітленій вулиці, водій легкового автомобіля повинен ввімкнути такі зовнішні світлові пристрої:
This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine about driving safety at night and in conditions of insufficient visibility. It checks whether the driver understands the difference between lights that merely indicate the car's presence on the road and lights that actually illuminate the roadway and help to timely notice pedestrians, obstacles, and road markings. Proper use of external lighting devices directly affects accident rates, which is why this topic often appears on the theoretical exam.
The question belongs to Section 19 of the Traffic Rules, Use of External Lighting Devices, specifically to the requirements of point 19.1. The essence of the check is simple: while driving at night or in conditions of insufficient visibility, headlights must be turned on regardless of whether the street is illuminated or not. That is, even if there are streetlights along the road, the requirement does not disappear: headlights are needed for driving, not just marker lights.
The analysis of the answer options shows a typical test trap. Marker lights only make the car more visible but do not provide sufficient illumination of the road ahead, so they are not enough for driving on a "poorly lit" section. Fog lights and the rear fog lamp are used in fog, heavy rain, or snowfall (when visibility is reduced due to weather conditions), but they do not replace the mandatory headlights when driving in the dark; therefore, a combination with marker lights is also incorrect. Instead, low or high beam headlights meet the requirements of point 19.1, and high beams additionally require proper switching to avoid dazzling other road users (requirement of point 19.2).
Clause 19.1 (Section 19 "Use of External Lighting Devices")
At night and in conditions of insufficient visibility, regardless of the degree of road illumination, as well as in tunnels, all moving motor vehicles must have their low beam (high beam) headlights turned on.
Application: when driving at night/in conditions of insufficient visibility (including on a "poorly lit" street), parking lights alone are not sufficient — it is mandatory to turn on the low beam or high beam headlights.
Clause 19.2 (Section 19 "Use of External Lighting Devices")
The high beam headlights must be switched to low beam at least 250 m before an oncoming vehicle, as well as when the high beam may dazzle other drivers, including those driving ahead, through the rear-view mirror.
Application: if the driver chooses to use the high beam, they are obliged to prevent dazzling other road users.
Clause 1.10 (term "Nighttime")
Nighttime — the part of the day from the end of evening twilight to the beginning of morning twilight.
Clause 1.10 (term "Insufficient visibility")
Insufficient visibility — road visibility in the direction of travel of less than 300 m in twilight, fog, rain, snowfall, etc.
Thus, the correct answer is "Low beam or high beam headlights," given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, at night and in conditions of insufficient visibility, a moving motor vehicle must have its low beam (high beam) headlights turned on, regardless of the road illumination.
When you are driving on a poorly lit street, the main purpose of your vehicle's external lighting is not just to mark the vehicle, but to provide you with visibility of the road ahead while simultaneously making your car noticeable to other road users. That is why, in such a situation, you cannot limit yourself to just the parking lights.
The rules directly specify this requirement. According to point 19.1(a), during hours of darkness and in conditions of insufficient visibility, regardless of how well the road is lit, as well as in tunnels, a mechanically powered vehicle must have its dipped or main beam headlights switched on while moving. In other words, the presence of street lamps does not cancel the obligation to drive with your headlights on.
In practice, this means: if the street is not sufficiently lit, parking lights only show the presence of your vehicle, but do not illuminate the roadway adequately and therefore do not guarantee safe driving. In contrast, dipped beam headlights provide stable road illumination without unnecessary glare, and main beam headlights can be used where they will not disturb others (and should be switched to dipped beam when necessary to avoid dazzling oncoming drivers or those ahead).
Therefore, the correct answer is "Dipped or main beam headlights," because when driving at night or in conditions of insufficient visibility, the Traffic Rules require you to use headlights that ensure road visibility, regardless of the presence or level of street lighting.