How Far Should You Switch to Low Beam When Driving at Night?
3 Answers
When meeting another vehicle at night, you should switch to low beam when the oncoming vehicle is more than 150 meters away. Use of high beam: For example, headlights must be turned on at night, and the distance between vehicles should be appropriately increased when overtaking at night. When the speed exceeds 30 km/h at night, high beam should be used, and the light must illuminate beyond 100 meters. These driving basics must be mastered. Other light usage: When driving at night, lights are essential auxiliary tools. In terms of usage, not only should you avoid turning on fog lights and headlights simultaneously, but you should also understand how to use and switch lights. The color of position lights is white at the front and red at the rear. When the light switch is turned to the first position, the lights that illuminate at the front and rear are the position lights.
I've been driving for half my life and often take long trips at night. When a car approaches from the opposite direction, I switch back to low beams about 150 meters in advance. This distance is neither too far nor too close, just right to avoid dazzling the other driver; glare can blind a driver for several seconds, which is especially dangerous on highways and may lead to loss of control or rear-end collisions. In the city, 150 meters is sufficient, but on curves or mountain roads, I switch earlier at 180 meters for added safety. I remember one rainy night when I switched my lights at the usual 150 meters, and the oncoming driver quickly responded by switching theirs too, thanking me for preventing an accident. Since adopting this habit, my family says my driving has become steadier. Practice judging distances more, using streetlights or tree shadows as reference points. Safe driving is a matter of life and death—never take chances.
I just got my driver's license not long ago. My instructor taught me to switch to low beams early when there's oncoming traffic at night, at a distance of about 150 meters. At first, I was a bit nervous and felt unsure about estimating the distance, so I used my phone's navigation for reference; after getting familiar with it, it became much easier—I just prepare to switch when I see the other car's headlights come on. Not switching beams can easily cause glare and dizziness for the other driver, increasing the risk of a collision. Nowadays, I drive mostly on city roads, and at 150 meters, I can react quickly; on highways, the distance is a bit farther, but the standard is just as important. Once, I hesitated and switched a bit too late, and the other driver flashed their high beams in protest—that was a profound lesson. Safety is everyone's responsibility; follow the rules and don't endanger others. With more driving practice, your sense of distance will naturally improve.
