How many times should you alternate between high and low beams when overtaking a vehicle at night?
2 Answers
When overtaking a vehicle at night, alternate between high and low beams twice; turn signals are not required. 1. Pre-driving adjustments: When getting into a new car or after someone else has used the vehicle, the first thing to do is adjust the seat height and position, the steering wheel position, and the rearview mirror angle. The standard is to keep your legs slightly bent when braking for comfort, and minimize blind spots with the rearview mirror. 2. Driving tips: Warm up the car before starting. After the engine is turned off, the oil may become viscous due to low temperatures, so lubrication is not immediately effective upon startup. Therefore, it's essential to warm up the car beforehand. If you're in a hurry, remember to drive slowly and gradually increase speed after traveling a short distance.
My over ten years of driving experience tells me that when overtaking at night, you should first approach the car in front with low beams, observe the road conditions to ensure safety, then switch between high and low beams twice in a row (low-high-low-high), with about half a second between each switch. This clearly alerts the car in front without blinding them. Once the car in front gives way, overtake quickly and remember to maintain at least a 200-meter distance before switching back to low beams. Be extra cautious in rainy or foggy conditions; when visibility is poor, it's safer to flash the lights one more time, but avoid flashing too many times in a row to prevent being misunderstood as provocation.
