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Controls guide

ETS2 Lights and Wipers Guide for Beginners

Learn when to use headlights, high beams, beacons, extra lights, and wipers in ETS2 so rain, night driving, and fines do not ruin deliveries.

UpdatedJul 1, 2026

Read5 min

LevelBeginner

ByETS2Hub

Euro Truck Simulator 2 rainy cabin view with mirrors, dashboard, and route advisor visible

Quick answer

In ETS2, use headlights before night driving or poor visibility, high beams only when they help on dark roads, and wipers as soon as rain starts to block mirrors or road signs. Map these controls early because visibility problems usually appear during turns, rain, cities, or late deliveries.

Lights and wipers are small ETS2 controls until you need them quickly. Rain can hide mirrors, night roads can hide signs, and poor visibility can turn a simple junction into cargo damage.

Use this guide with Euro Truck Simulator 2 Controls Guide, Best ETS2 Settings, and Route Advisor Guide.

Euro Truck Simulator 2 rainy cabin view with mirrors and route advisor visible
Rain changes mirror visibility quickly, so wipers should be easy to reach.

Controls To Confirm

Before a long delivery, confirm your bindings for:

  1. Headlights.
  2. High beams.
  3. Hazard lights.
  4. Beacons, if your truck or cargo uses them.
  5. Wipers.
  6. Dashboard display brightness, if you use a dark cabin setup.

Keyboard players should keep these on keys they can reach without looking down. Controller players should use buttons or combinations that do not interfere with steering and braking.

When To Use Lights

SituationBest Habit
Evening or nightTurn headlights on early
Heavy rain or fogUse lights for visibility
Dark rural roadsUse high beams when safe
City trafficAvoid blinding traffic with unnecessary high beams
Oversize or special cargoUse required beacons and follow escort rules

When To Use Wipers

Turn on wipers as soon as rain starts to hide lane lines, road signs, mirrors, or the GPS route. Do not wait until the windshield is already hard to read.

Euro Truck Simulator 2 night mountain road during a long delivery
Night and rain make small mistakes more expensive, especially on unfamiliar roads.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting lights until traffic fines start.
  • Driving in rain with mirrors too hard to read.
  • Using high beams in situations where they do not help.
  • Mapping lights and wipers to awkward controller combinations.
  • Ignoring visibility settings while tuning graphics.

Settings Notes

If rain or night driving feels hard, do not only raise brightness. Check mirror quality, cabin camera height, controller sensitivity, and Route Advisor readability. Use ETS2 Graphics Performance Settings if frame drops make rainy cities harder to drive.

FAQ

Why do I get light fines in ETS2?

You may be driving at night or in poor visibility without headlights. Turn them on earlier than you think you need them.

Do wipers affect driving safety?

Yes. Wipers improve windshield visibility, and better visibility helps you read signs, lane lines, mirrors, and turns.

Read Beginner Controls, then Controller Settings or Best ETS2 Settings.

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