19.32. At night, on unlit sections of the road, may fog lights be used only together with low beam or high beam headlights?
UAВ темну пору доби, на неосвітлених ділянках доріг, протитуманні фари можна використовувати лише разом з ближнім або дальнім світлом фар?
This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine (PDR) about night-time driving safety and the correct use of external lighting devices. At night on unlit road sections, proper illumination of the roadway and the vehicle’s visibility to other road users are critically important, so the traffic rules clearly define which lights are primary and which may only be auxiliary.
The question tests the PDR section on the use of lighting devices, specifically the requirements of clause 19.5. According to this clause, fog lights may be used independently only in conditions of insufficient visibility (when the visibility of the road in the direction of travel is less than 300 m due to fog, rain, snowfall, etc.). However, at night on unlit sections, fog lights are allowed only together with low or high beam headlights, because they do not replace the main lights, but only supplement them.
Therefore, the answer “Yes” meets the requirements of clause 19.5 and the logic of safety: at night on a dark road, the main illumination is provided by low or high beams, and fog lights can additionally illuminate the roadside or the area in front of the car. The answer “No” is incorrect, as it allows driving with only fog lights at night on an unlit road, which contradicts the rules and reduces the visibility of the vehicle and the road, thus increasing the risk of accidents both in the theoretical exam and in real driving conditions.
Clause 19.5
Fog lights may be used in conditions of insufficient visibility either separately or together with low or high beam headlights, but at night on unlit sections of the road — only together with low or high beam headlights.
This question checks specifically the second part of the clause: at night on an unlit section of the road, fog lights cannot be used independently, but only as additional lights — together with low or high beam headlights.
Clause 1.10 (term “Nighttime”)
Nighttime — the period 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.
Therefore, the correct answer is “Yes.”, given that according to clause 19.5, at night on unlit sections of the road, fog lights are allowed to be used only together with low or high beam headlights.
At night, on an unlit section of the road, the driver must ensure sufficient visibility both for themselves and for other road users. That is why the main lighting in such conditions is the low or high beam headlights, which make the vehicle visible from a distance and illuminate the roadway at the required distance.
Clause 19.5 of the Traffic Rules differentiates the situations for using fog lights. They may be used independently only when there are conditions of insufficient visibility (for example, fog, heavy rain, snowfall), that is, when their purpose truly helps to better illuminate the road with a low, wide beam of light.
But if we are talking specifically about nighttime on an unlit road, this is not about "insufficient visibility," but about the usual requirement to drive with the low or high beam headlights on. In such conditions, fog lights may only be an addition, but not a replacement for the main headlights. For example, on a country road at night, you may additionally turn on the fog lights for better illumination of the roadside, but they cannot be used instead of the low/high beam headlights.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Yes," because according to clause 19.5 of the Traffic Rules, at night on unlit sections, fog lights are allowed only together with the low or high beam headlights.