Is It Illegal To Drive With Interior Car Lights on in Florida?
It is legal to drive with interior vehicle lights on in Florida, despite what you might have heard. You won’t be ticketed simply for having your interior lights on while you are behind the wheel. However, if your interior car lights impair your ability to drive carefully and distract you from the road ahead, the lights could be a problem. Even if it is not illegal to drive with interior car lights on, it is best to keep them off unless needed.
Distracted driving is a leading cause of car accidents in Florida. Drivers who are distracted by interior lights or other issues in the car can cause devastating accidents. If you or a loved one were injured in a car accident in Jacksonville, Florida, you could be entitled to financial compensation from the at-fault driver.
What is the Law on Interior Car Lights in Florida?
Contrary to popular belief, it is not illegal to have your car’s interior dome light on while driving in Florida. Even though it is legal to use your interior vehicle light while driving, that doesn’t make it safe at all times. Florida’s laws on supplemental lighting for vehicles do not prohibit the use of dome lights while the car is running. This means you can’t be pulled over or ticketed simply for having your interior light on under Florida law. However, if you are showing signs of driving erratically or driving while distracted, that can lead to a traffic stop or, worse, an accident with another driver.
What are Florida’s Traffic Laws for Lights on Vehicles?
Florida law sets certain requirements that drivers must follow when lighting vehicles. In Florida, vehicles must have:
- High-beam headlights (brights) that can illuminate up to 450 feet ahead
- Low-beam headlights that illuminate objects up to 150 feet ahead
- Two red tail lights at the rear that can be visible up to 1,000 feet
- White light that illuminates the rear license plate (making the plate visible from at least 50 feet away)
- Two red stoplights can be seen from at least 300 feet when the brake is activated.
Vehicles in Florida must also have working turn signals and at least one functioning rear view mirror that can help a driver see at least 200 feet behind them.
Distracted Driving and Car Accidents in Florida
While having interior lights on in the vehicle is not illegal and will not cause an accident by itself – driving with the dome light on could go hand-in-hand with distracted driving. Over 400,000 accidents caused by distracted driving happen each year in the United States, including over 3,000 fatal accidents each year.
There are three main types of distracted driving:
- Visual: When a driver takes their eyes off the road and loses focus
- Manual: Taking hands off the steering wheel for any reason – to check a phone, eat food, use a navigation system, grab an item from another seat, etc.
- Cognitive: Taking your mind off driving while behind the wheel – this can happen for any number of reasons.
If a driver is using their interior light to engage in anything other than driving safely and focusing on the road, they could be engaged in distracted driving. Distracted driving can be dangerous and even deadly in Florida.
Contact a Jacksonville, FL, Car Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Florida law does not make it illegal to have your interior car light on while driving. That doesn’t mean it is always safe to do, however. If you or a loved one were injured in a car accident in Jacksonville, Florida, a car accident lawyer can help you explore your legal options. Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers in Jacksonville can help. Call our law office today to schedule a free consultation.
For more information, please contact the Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra car accident law firm of Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.
We serve Duval County, St. Johns County, and its surrounding areas:
Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Jacksonville
9471 Baymeadows Rd #105,
Jacksonville, FL 32256
(904) 396-1100
Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Downtown Jacksonville
121 W Forsyth St Suite 1000,
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 822-4225
Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Ponte Vedra
480 Town Plaza Ave #130,
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32081
(904) 675-1167
