Anderson Injury Lawyers | December 26, 2024 | Personal Injury
It’s a common belief that driving with the interior lights of your car on is illegal. That makes sense, particularly after dark; a light inside the vehicle could impair your sight and cause a distraction, which might contribute to mistakes that cause a car accident.
Despite the collective sentiment, however, it isn’t illegal to drive with your dome light (or any other interior lights) on in Texas, or anywhere in the U.S., for that matter.
But do distracted driving laws account for interior lights? And are there instances when you could be ticketed for having a dome light or other interior lights on when driving your vehicle, even though the practice isn’t expressly prohibited? Here’s what you need to know to remain safe and comply with the law.
What Is Covered By Distracted Driving Laws?
While there is no federal law concerning distracted driving, the majority of the states enforce legislation that covers the dangerous activity. In fact, Montana is the only state with no laws related to distracted driving whatsoever.
Texas law, in particular, bans text messaging for all drivers, along with the use of handheld devices in school crossing zones and on public school property. School bus drivers transporting minors may not use their cell phones, and drivers under the age of 18 (as well as those with learner’s permits) may not use theirs while driving at all.
As is clear, these laws are related to cell phones and other devices, and they do not expressly include other potential distractions, such as activities like eating, applying makeup, listening to loud music, or driving with interior lights on. However, that doesn’t mean these other distractions are either safe or advisable.
What Could Happen If You Drive With Interior Car Lights On?
The greatest potential drawback of driving with your dome light on is that it can impact your sight. It could compete with street lights, signals, and the headlights of other vehicles, causing some confusion as to what you should be focused on.
More importantly, the lights inside your vehicle might create glare on the windshield and other windows, reducing your visibility of the road and surroundings and potentially causing you to miss something or make a mistake, resulting in an accident. That is not only applicable to driving after dark but also in inclement weather conditions.
If an interior light is on so you can look at something in the vehicle, be it because you dropped your phone or saw a spider on the dashboard, there’s a whole other level of distraction involved.
Therefore, if you or a passenger needs to turn on an interior light, the safest course of action is to pull over to address the issue rather than create a potentially hazardous situation while driving.
Can You Still Get A Ticket?
Because driving with your interior lights on is not illegal, you can’t specifically be ticketed for it as an infraction. However, officers who see you driving with lights on inside your vehicle could still pull you over, especially if you also happen to be speeding, veering, or otherwise distracted.
Even worse, whether your interior lights were on could factor into deciding fault in a rear-end collision or any other accident, insomuch as it could be deemed a distraction. Texas is a comparative fault state, and if you are proven negligent in an accident, it could impact your ability to claim damages. If you have questions or have been involved in an accident, don’t hesitate to contact a Fort Worth car accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in Texas
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Fort Worth or Dallas and need legal help, contact our personal injury lawyers at Anderson Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation. We proudly serve Tarrant County, Dallas County, and throughout Texas.
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office
1310 W El Paso St, Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 294-1900
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth Office (Secondary)
6618 Fossil Bluff Dr # 108, Fort Worth, TX 76137
(817) 631-4113
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Dallas Office
408 W Eighth St Suite 202, Dallas, TX 75208
(214) 327-8000
Anderson Injury Lawyers – Dallas Office (Secondary)
6301 Gaston Ave suite 610, Dallas, TX 75214
(469) 457-4711
