Car controls

Daytime running lights switch on automatically when you start the engine. Their purpose is to make your vehicle more visible to other road users during the day, not to help you see the road better.

Dipped headlights, also known as your regular headlights, should be used as soon as it gets dark or when visibility is reduced to less than 200 metres. This may be due to rain, fog, snow or other conditions that limit your view.

You should also switch on your dipped headlights when entering a tunnel.

Main-beam headlights, also known as high beams or driving lamps, are used on poorly lit roads to help you see further ahead.

You must not use them if they could dazzle other road users. This includes when there is oncoming traffic, when you are driving less than 50 metres behind another vehicle and do not intend to overtake, or when approaching a rail vehicle or boat.

You must also not use main-beam headlights if you can easily see at least 100 metres ahead.

Position lights must be used when your vehicle is stationary or parked on the carriageway or verge in the dark, or in other conditions where visibility is less than 200 metres, for example because of fog, snow or heavy rain.

In snow, fog or heavy rain, you may also use dipped headlights or fog lights, but this is not compulsory.

Parking lights are similar to position lights, but with one important difference: you can choose which side of the car they illuminate.

Within a built-up area, you may use parking lights instead of position lights when your car is parked parallel to the centre line and no trailer is attached.

Switch on the parking light on the side facing the carriageway.

Every car must have one or two red rear fog lights. You must use them when visibility is reduced to less than 100 metres by fog or snowfall. You must also use them in heavy rain, regardless of how far you can see.

In all other conditions, using the rear fog lights is prohibited.

Front fog lights are not compulsory. If your car has them, you may only use them in fog, snowfall or heavy rain.

Indicators, also known as turn signals, are used to let other road users know in good time what you intend to do.

For example, you use them when turning, changing lanes or leaving a roundabout.

The hazard warning lights, which make all four indicators flash at the same time, may only be used in the event of a breakdown or an accident.

You may also use them to warn other drivers of a hazard ahead, for example a traffic jam or an obstacle on the road.

A school bus also switches on its hazard warning lights when children are about to get on or off. In this situation, you must slow down and stop if necessary.

You may only use your horn in the event of imminent danger, to prevent an accident.

Outside built-up areas, you may briefly sound your horn during the day to warn the driver in front that you intend to overtake. In the evening and at night, you may not use the horn for this purpose. Instead, you may briefly flash your headlights.

The horn must always be used briefly. Prolonged or unnecessary use is prohibited.

While driving, you must not use any electronic device with a screen, unless it is placed in a suitable holder.

You may therefore use your phone as a GPS, provided that it is mounted in a holder.

Make sure your pelvis is positioned well back in the seat and that your left leg is not fully straight. Your hips and knees should be at the same height.

When you stretch out your arm, you should be able to rest your wrist on the top of the steering wheel while keeping your shoulders against the backrest.

Adjust the top of the head restraint so that it is level with the top of your head.

Adjust your rear-view mirror so that the bottom edge of the mirror lines up with the bottom of the rear window, and the left edge of the mirror lines up with the left side of the rear window.

Adjust your side mirrors so that you can just see the side of your car. Set the height so that you see roughly 1/4 sky and 3/4 ground.

Even with perfectly adjusted mirrors, there is usually still a small area you cannot see. This is called the blind spot, and you check it by briefly turning your head to the side. Never forget to check it!

It is important to keep both hands on the steering wheel in roughly the quarter-to-three position, with your arms slightly bent.

Rest your thumbs on the rim of the steering wheel rather than wrapping them around it. If the airbag deploys, your arms may be pushed outwards, and you do not want your thumbs to get caught, as this can cause painful injuries.

Holding the top of the steering wheel is dangerous, whether you do it with one hand or both. You have less control, and there is a greater risk of injury if the airbag deploys in a crash.

If your car skids, it moves in a different direction from the one you intend.

There are three possibilities:

1. The front wheels skid
2. The rear wheels skid
3. All wheels skid at the same time

If your front wheels lose grip, this is called understeer. Your car continues straight ahead, even though you turn the steering wheel. Instead of following the bend, it keeps going straight.

In this situation, release the accelerator and steer back in the direction the car is sliding: straight ahead. As soon as the wheels regain grip, gently steer back into the bend.

What you should never do is brake hard or turn the steering wheel even further before the wheels have regained grip.

Always look where you want to go!

If your rear wheels lose grip, this is called oversteer. The rear of the car swings out, causing you to take the bend more sharply than intended.

In this situation, release the accelerator and press the clutch pedal. Steer into the skid and correct again if necessary to prevent the rear of the car from swinging out in the opposite direction. Once you have regained control of the car, release the clutch gradually and continue driving.

What you should never do is brake or accelerate.

Always look where you want to go!

Aquaplaning occurs when your tyres can no longer disperse the water on the road. The tyres lose contact with the road surface and the car starts to slide. At that point, you can no longer control the car properly.

In this situation, release the accelerator and keep the steering wheel straight. Once the tyres regain grip, you can continue driving carefully.

What you should never do is brake suddenly or make abrupt steering movements. The car will keep sliding straight ahead, and you want to avoid it suddenly veering left or right when the tyres regain grip.