When are navigation lights required to be used?

Navigation lights are required to be used during sunset to sunrise and in conditions of restricted visibility. This is crucial for ensuring safety on the water, as these lights help to indicate the presence, position, and heading of vessels to others navigating the same waters.

Visibility can be significantly impaired during dark hours or when weather conditions like fog, rain, or snow make it difficult to see. In such scenarios, proper navigation lights help prevent collisions and allow vessels to maintain safe distances from one another. It is a fundamental rule in boating safety that all operators must follow to protect themselves and others.

Using navigation lights only during heavy traffic or near other vessels does not encompass all scenarios where visibility may be compromised, which could increase the risk of accidents. Additionally, relying solely on an arbitrary situation like a vessel being in motion does not account for instances where a vessel may be stationary but still needs to be visible, particularly when anchored or adrift in low visibility conditions. Therefore, the requirement to use navigation lights from sunset to sunrise and in restricted visibility ensures maximum safety on the waterways.