At what distance should you switch to low beam when meeting another vehicle?
2 Answers
Generally, you should switch to low beam when meeting another vehicle at night at a distance of 150 meters or more. The usage of headlights is as follows: 1. On roads without central separation facilities or center lines: When meeting an oncoming vehicle at night, you should switch to low beam at a distance of 150 meters or more from the opposite vehicle. When meeting non-motor vehicles on narrow roads or narrow bridges, you should use low beam. 2. In low visibility conditions: When driving at night without street lights, poor lighting, or encountering low visibility conditions such as fog, rain, snow, dust, or hail, and when a following vehicle is driving close to the vehicle in front in the same direction, you should use low beam. 3. At night: When passing sharp curves, slopes, arched bridges, crosswalks, or intersections without traffic signal control, you should alternately use high and low beams to signal.
I often remind myself and my friends while driving to switch to low beams about 150 meters before encountering oncoming traffic. This not only ensures clear visibility of the opposite vehicle but also prevents the other driver from being dazzled by high beams. Once on a mountain road at night, an oncoming car suddenly turned on their high beams, and I almost lost control. Fortunately, I quickly switched to low beams and defused the danger. I make it a habit to slow down first to observe the road conditions, manually switch to low beams at around 150 meters, and check if the lights are functioning properly. In rainy conditions or on curves, it's even more important to switch earlier, at about 200 meters, to prevent accidents. Following this rule not only ensures safety but also helps everyone maintain good visibility. Remember, during nighttime encounters, 150 meters is a critical point—switching too late can easily lead to accidents, especially on highways.
