There has been some confusion about state law and headlight use, and Sgt. Neil Dickenson of the Minnesota State Patrol provided some information about that.
Dickenson said Minnesota does have a law requiring drivers to have their headlights on, however, windshield wipers being on alone does not require headlights to be activated.
State statute requires vehicle lights to be on at any time from sunset to sunrise; at any time when it is raining, snowing, sleeting, or hailing; and at any other time when visibility is impaired by weather, smoke, fog or other conditions or there is not sufficient light to render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of 500 feet ahead.
Dickenson also notes that a lot of vehicles are equipped with automatic “daytime” lights that are fine on clear and sunny days.
But when there is rain, snow, sleet, hail, smoke, fog, etc. the sensor may not activate the lights to the rear. Every driver is still responsible for turning those on.
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