Can You Keep High Beams On All the Time on Highways?
3 Answers
High beams can be used continuously on highways. There are no regulations prohibiting the use of high beams on highways. When the road is too dark and affects driving, high beams can be appropriately used, but care must be taken not to interfere with other drivers. Below are the relevant details about using high and low beams: When high beams should not be used: On roads without central barriers or centerlines, drivers must switch to low beams when meeting an oncoming vehicle within 150 meters at night. Low beams should also be used when meeting non-motor vehicles on narrow roads or bridges. High beams must not be used when a following vehicle is driving closely behind another vehicle in the same direction. When high beams can be used: High beams can be used when the distance to the vehicle ahead exceeds 150 meters or when there is a central barrier, such as bushes or a median strip, which prevents the high beams from affecting oncoming traffic.
It's not acceptable to drive with high beams all the way on the highway. Once, I got lazy and wanted to keep my high beams on for better visibility throughout the journey, but I was pulled over by a police car and fined—it was really embarrassing. The officer explained that according to the law, you must switch back to low beams when there are oncoming vehicles or cars ahead, as the strong light can blind others and cause rear-end collisions. On the highway, with higher speeds, the glare effect is even more dangerous. If a large truck ahead suddenly brakes, you might not react in time. Even if there are no cars around, some well-lit sections don’t require high beams—it’s just a waste of bulb life and even consumes a bit more fuel. My advice is: when driving on the highway at night, check if your car’s lighting system supports an automatic high-low beam switching mode, or manually develop the habit of switching when you see headlights—safety first to avoid trouble. Also, mention this during regular maintenance checks—don’t wait for an accident to regret it.
Using high beams on the highway, I believe they should never be kept on continuously, especially for young drivers like us with new cars – we need to be extra cautious. Many vehicles nowadays come equipped with automatic high beam functionality, which I've found incredibly convenient. It uses cameras and sensors to detect oncoming headlights or pedestrians, automatically switching back to low beams to spare you the hassle of manual adjustment. However, if your car lacks this system, you should conscientiously adjust based on road conditions: turn off high beams in heavy traffic or well-lit areas, as the intense light reflecting off the rearview mirrors of preceding vehicles can temporarily impair drivers' vision, significantly increasing the risk of high-speed collisions. For nighttime highway driving, the most effortless approach is to briefly activate high beams only in poorly lit sections, using low beams otherwise. This not only conserves your battery but also shows consideration for others – try it, and you'll appreciate how smoothly it works. After adopting this habit, I've driven with greater peace of mind and never received complaints about glare.
