Are backup lights required during a safety inspection?

The correct choice indicates that backup lights are indeed not required to be functional during a safety inspection and they cannot be left on all the time. Backup lights are designed to illuminate the area behind a vehicle when it is in reverse; however, their functionality is not typically a requirement for passing a safety inspection.

While it's important for backup lights to work properly for safety reasons when driving, the inspection criteria focus more on elements like brakes, lights that are critical for driving, and emissions, rather than these specific lights. Having them on all the time would be impractical and could lead to confusion for other drivers, as their function is explicitly for signaling when a vehicle is backing up. Thus, the requirement is that while they are beneficial for visibility and safety, their presence and constant operation are not mandated aspects during vehicle inspections.