Flashlight or headlamp for your car kit: choose one, keep it working and aim it low
Keep batteries fresh, store the light in reach and use it safely after dark
Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation built this guide from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) kit guidance, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) data, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety roadside research, federal equipment rules and published lighting and vision studies. Every source is listed at the end.
Why darkness changes a breakdown
Most people picture a breakdown on a sunny afternoon. Many real ones happen after sunset. IIHS counted 39,254 U.S. crash deaths in 2024, and about 21,000 of them happened between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. [1].
Darkness is hard on anyone standing outside a vehicle. In 2024, 76.5% of pedestrian deaths with known lighting conditions happened after dark, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association [4]. Its report notes that deadly freeway pedestrian collisions include stranded drivers who got out of their cars, along with tow drivers, road workers and first responders [4].
Professional roadside crews face this risk every shift. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found 123 roadside assistance workers who were struck and killed on the job from 2015 through 2021 [5]. Of those deaths, 63% happened in darkness, and nearly two thirds of the dark cases were at places with no lighting [5].
Distance from help matters too. In 2024, 20% of Americans lived in rural areas, but 41% of crash deaths happened there [6].
A light will not protect you from traffic. It lets you see the ground and your gear, so you can make good choices and spend less time outside. For where to stop, whether to stay in the car and how to call for help, see our guide to roadside breakdown safety.
What a car kit light is for, and what it is not
NHTSA lists a flashlight in its suggested emergency kits for both summer road trips and winter driving [7, 8]. Its main job is emergency readiness: light where the car’s own lights cannot reach.
Common uses:
- Checking the ground before you step out
- Looking at a tire, a drip under the car or a loose part
- Reading the owner’s manual or the tire label in the door frame
- Finding supplies in the trunk or under a seat
- Reading a mile marker so you can tell a dispatcher where you are
- Checking that the tailpipe is clear of snow before you run the engine for heat [8]
- Helping a child or older passenger with a buckle in the dark
A flashlight is not a warning device. Waving it at traffic tells drivers very little. Hazard lights, reflective triangles, warning beacons and a high visibility vest do the warning job, and each has its own guide in our Resource Center.
Why your phone should not be your flashlight
NHTSA puts a cell phone at the top of its emergency kit list because it lets you call for help [7]. Running the phone’s light drains the battery you may need for a long call or a tow request. Save the phone for talking.
Who should carry one
Every driver benefits from a dedicated light. Families can make sure each driver knows where it is. Fleets can make it standard gear. Remote travelers should carry two, plus spare power.
Flashlight, headlamp or both?
Both types work. The right pick depends on the jobs you expect to do.
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Handheld flashlight vs. headlamp
| Feature | Handheld flashlight | Headlamp |
|---|---|---|
| Hands | Uses one hand | Leaves both hands free |
| Aiming | Easy to point low or under the car | Points wherever you turn your head |
| Best for | Scanning the shoulder, passing to a helper | Hood checks, clearing snow, carrying a child |
| Glare risk | Lower when held at waist height | Higher when you look toward traffic |
| Storage | Fits a door pocket or console | Packs flat. Check the strap for wear |
If you can carry only one, a headlamp with a low setting covers most tasks. If you have room for two, add a small handheld so a passenger can hold one too.
How to choose a light for your car
You do not need the brightest light on the shelf. You need one that turns on every time, runs long enough and is easy to use with cold or shaky hands.
Features worth looking for
- An LED bulb. In a NIOSH study, people wearing LED cap lamps spotted objects on the floor about 0.96 seconds faster on average than with an older incandescent lamp. That is roughly 13.6% faster [9]. The study was done for miners, but spotting things on the ground by head worn light is a lot like walking a dark shoulder.
- At least two brightness levels. Use low for close work and high only for a quick scan. In NIOSH tests of mine lighting, a new LED light caused much less glare than a machine’s existing lights, and its half power version caused the least [10].
- A wide beam. A flood beam lights the area right around you.
- Simple controls. Pick a switch you can work with gloves on. Skip lights that start on strobe or take several clicks to reach a steady beam.
- A tough, water resistant body. Look for a stated water resistance rating and a body that can survive a drop on pavement.
- A bright color or glow strip. A black light dropped on a dark shoulder is hard to find.
- A clip, lanyard or magnet base. These let a handheld light shine on your work while your hands stay free.
Most packages list brightness in lumens, beam distance and run time. Pay the most attention to run time on low. That is the mode you will use most, and it decides whether the light lasts through a long wait.
Where to find one
Look at auto parts stores, hardware and home stores, outdoor and camping stores, and safety and medical supply companies. Fleets can often buy in bulk through industrial safety suppliers and pick one battery size for every vehicle.
Some jump starters have a light built in. That is a nice backup, but if that one device is dead, you lose your light and your jump together.
Keep the batteries usable
At a breakdown, a dead battery is a more likely problem than a broken light. Each power type has strengths and weak spots.
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Battery types for a car kit light
| Power type | Strengths | Watch outs |
|---|---|---|
| Disposable alkaline | Low cost, sold almost everywhere | Old cells can leak and corrode the contacts |
| Disposable lithium | Long shelf life, light weight | Costs more. Confirm the light accepts them |
| Built in rechargeable | No cells to buy | Loses charge while stored |
| Hand crank or solar | Never fully runs out | Dim and slow, backup only |
A parked car gets much hotter and colder than your home. Check the package for the storage temperature range of the light and its batteries.
After any real use, recharge or replace the batteries before your next drive.
Where to keep it in the car
AAA’s evaluation of vehicle escape tools stressed that an emergency tool should be easy to reach even after a collision, so where you store it matters [11]. The same idea applies to your light.
Keep your first light where you can reach it from the driver’s seat while buckled, such as a door pocket, the console or the glove box. Pick a closed spot so it cannot roll under the pedals.
Keep a second light in your trunk kit with your warning devices, vest and gloves. Do not rely on the trunk alone. A rear end collision can jam the lid, and walking to the back of the car can put you close to traffic.
Avoid the dashboard and rear shelf. Direct sun bakes batteries, and loose objects near the glass are a hazard in a wreck.
Using your light at a nighttime breakdown
These steps assume you have pulled as far from traffic as you can and turned on your hazard lights.
- Before you unbuckle, switch your light on at the low setting.
- Look at the ground on the side away from traffic. Decide whether getting out is safe. If it is not, stay buckled and call for help.
- If you have a high visibility vest, put it on before you step out.
- Get out on the side away from traffic if you can. Keep the beam at your feet.
- For hands on work, wear the headlamp tilted down. Before you look toward the road, cup a hand over it or switch it off.
- Light only the spot you are working on. Do not sweep the beam across the lanes.
- In snow, check that the tailpipe is clear before running the engine. NHTSA also advises staying with your car and keeping the dome light on so others can see you [8].
- When a tow truck or responder arrives, lower your light or switch it off and follow their directions.
Keep your time outside short. If a job means standing near the travel lanes, leave it to a professional.
Aim it low: why glare matters on the roadside
Glare is bright light that scatters inside the eye and washes out the rest of the scene. When it cuts what a person can see, eye researchers call it disability glare. Glare grows with brightness. Older drivers feel it more, because more light scatters inside aging eyes and they take longer to recover [3]. In one small lab study, older adults’ central vision returned to normal after a bright light at less than one fifth the rate of younger adults [12].
Roadside research shows how this plays out. A 2025 AAA Foundation review of tow and service vehicle lighting found a tradeoff [2]. Lighting that makes a vehicle easier to spot from far away can add glare and slow how fast drivers notice a person on foot nearby [2]. The review points to lower warning light intensity at night [2]. The AAA Foundation has also started a study of work light glare, noting that it can make a tow operator on foot harder to see [13].
Your handheld light is far smaller than a tow truck’s work lights, but the lesson holds. A beam aimed at oncoming traffic can dazzle a driver just as they need to steer around you.
Habits that protect other drivers, and you:
- Hold a handheld light low and aim it a few steps ahead.
- Use the lowest setting that lets you see the task.
- With a headlamp, switch to low or cover it before turning toward the road or a person.
- Never shine the light at a driver to flag them down.
- Keep the beam out of the eyes of passengers, responders and tow operators.
Notes for families, fleets and remote travelers
Families
Show every driver in the household where the light is and how it turns on. Let a new teen driver practice once in the driveway at night: find the light, switch to low and look at a tire. If children ride with you, a small light of their own keeps their hands off the main one. Teach them never to shine it into anyone’s eyes.
Fleets
The federal emergency equipment rule for trucks and buses covers fire extinguishers and warning devices such as reflective triangles or fusees. It does not list a flashlight [14]. If you want lights in your vehicles, put them in company policy and on the inspection checklist. Standardize one battery size, and name who replaces dead or missing lights. Our guide to journey management for work drivers covers breakdown plans.
Remote travelers
Long waits are more likely far from towns, and rural roads carry a heavy share of crash deaths [6]. Carry two lights and spare batteries or a charged power bank. Plan around run time on low. If you are stranded in winter, NHTSA advises staying with your vehicle [8]. Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation gives drivers the same advice.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Counting on your phone as your only light
- Keeping the only light in the trunk
- Leaving the same batteries in place for years
- Running the light on high when low would do
- Pointing the beam at traffic or the crew that comes to help
- Using the light to warn traffic instead of hazards, triangles or beacons
Frequently asked questions
Is my phone’s flashlight good enough for a breakdown?
It works in a pinch, but it should not be your plan. Your phone is your link to help, and NHTSA ranks it first among emergency kit items for that reason [7]. Using its light drains the battery you may need for a long call. A phone is also awkward to hold while you work. A low cost dedicated light, checked every month or two, is the better choice.
How bright does a car flashlight need to be?
Brighter is not always better at the roadside. You need enough light to see the ground, a tire or the inside of the trunk, which usually means a low or medium setting. Very bright beams raise the risk of glare for drivers and responders [2, 3]. Choose a light with at least two levels, and judge it by run time on low.
Should I store batteries inside the light or separately?
Either works if you check them on a schedule. Batteries inside the light are ready to go but can drain or leak over time. Batteries stored apart stay fresh but cost you time in the dark. A good middle ground is fresh cells in the light with its travel lock on, plus a spare set in a case.
Can I use my flashlight to warn other drivers?
Not reliably. A handheld light is a tool for seeing, not a warning device. A beam in drivers’ eyes can make it harder for them to notice people on foot [2]. Use your hazard lights first. Then use reflective triangles or warning beacons placed safely, and wear a high visibility vest if you must step out.
Do commercial trucks have to carry a flashlight?
Not under the federal emergency equipment rule for trucks and buses. That rule covers fire extinguishers and warning devices such as reflective triangles or fusees, with no mention of a flashlight [14]. State rules or company policies may add items, so check with your safety manager.
The bottom line
Recommendation from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation recommends keeping a tested light within reach in every car and aiming it low at every stop. A flashlight or headlamp is one of the cheapest items in your car kit and one of the most used. It only helps if it turns on, so test it on a schedule and keep one where you can reach it while buckled.
Use it with care for the people around you. Keep the beam low, use the dimmest setting that works, and never point it at passing drivers or the crew that comes to help. Let your hazard lights and warning devices do the job of being seen.
Related articles
- Roadside breakdown safety: what to do when your car breaks down
- Night driving safety: how to see hazards and stop in time after dark
- Driving in snow and ice: grip, black ice, skids and when to stay home
- Rural road safety: why country roads are deadlier and how to drive them
- Journey management for work drivers: weather, breakdowns and check ins
- Seat belt cutters and window escape tools: when they help and why some windows won’t break
Sources and further reading
- 1Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Fatality Facts 2024: Yearly snapshot (crash deaths by time of day). Posted June 2026. Data year: 2024. iihs.org/…/yearly-snapshot
- 2Shaw JW, Ajibola OF, Lawrence B, Kearney J, Proud JK; AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Roadside Assistance Vehicle Lighting: Review of Scientific Research and State Regulations. Published April 2025. aaafoundation.org/…/roadside-assistance-vehicle-lighting-r…
- 3Mainster MA, Timberlake GT. Why HID headlights bother older drivers. British Journal of Ophthalmology 87(1):113-117 (via PubMed; doi:10.1136/bjo.87.1.113). Published January 2003. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12488274
- 4Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). Spotlight on Highway Safety: Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State, 2025 Preliminary Data. Published July 2026. Data year: 2024 (lighting conditions from FARS). ghsa.org/…/Pedestrian%20Traffic%20Fatalities%20by…
- 5Tefft BC, Wei A, Steinbach R; AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Roadside Assistance Providers Fatally Struck by Vehicles at the Roadside: Incidence and Characteristics. Published January 2024. Data year: 2015 to 2021. aaafoundation.org/…/roadside-assistance-providers-fatally-…
- 6Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Fatality Facts 2024: Urban/rural comparison. Posted June 2026. Data year: 2024. iihs.org/…/urban-rural-comparison
- 7National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Summer Driving & Road Trip Tips. Update date not shown; accessed October 2026. nhtsa.gov/summer-driving-tips
- 8National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Winter Weather Driving Tips: Prepare Your Vehicle. Update date not shown; accessed October 2026. nhtsa.gov/winter-driving-tips
- 9Sammarco JJ, Gallagher S, Reyes M (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health). Visual performance for trip hazard detection when using incandescent and LED miner cap lamps. Journal of Safety Research 41(2):85-91 (via PubMed; doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2010.02.007). Published 2010. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20497793
- 10Sammarco JJ, Mayton AG, Rubinstein EN (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health). LED Area Lighting to Reduce Glare for Roof Bolter Operators. Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration 37(3):851-860 (via PubMed; doi:10.1007/s42461-020-00193-x). Published 2020. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32685916
- 11American Automobile Association (AAA). Vehicle Escape Tool Evaluation (research report). Published June 3, 2019. aaa.com/…/Research-Report-Vehicle-Escape-Tools.pdf
- 12Rodriguez JD, Wallstrom G, Narayanan D, Welch D, Abelson MB. An Alternative Psychophysical Diagnostic Indicator of the Aging Eye. Journal of Ophthalmology 2019:2036192 (via PubMed; doi:10.1155/2019/2036192). Published November 2019. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31781372
- 13AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Roadside Service Vehicles: Effects of Work Light Glare on Worker Safety (project page and project synopsis). Synopsis dated 2025; project in progress as of October 2026. aaafoundation.org/…/roadside-service-vehicles-effects-of-w…
- 14Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). 49 CFR 393.95, Emergency equipment on all power units. Up to date as of September 30, 2026. ecfr.gov/…/section-393.95
This article reflects the safety priorities of roadside emergency readiness and nighttime breakdown safety. It is general safety education, not legal, medical or insurance advice, and it does not endorse any product, brand or seller. Rules change, so verify details with official sources. For help with your own vehicle, ask your dealer or a trusted repair shop. Fleet managers should check company policy and federal and state rules with their safety or compliance staff. In an emergency, call 911. Reviewed October 2026.
Cite this article: Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation. “Flashlight or headlamp for your car kit: choose one, keep it working and aim it low.” drivewithcare.org, https://drivewithcare.org/car-kit-flashlight-headlamp/. Reviewed October 2026.
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