Should high beams be turned off when parking lights are on?
2 Answers
High beams should be turned off when parking lights are on. Meeting conditions: When driving at night without street lights, under poor illumination, or in low visibility conditions such as fog, rain, snow, dust, or hail, motor vehicles should turn on headlights, parking lights, and rear position lights. During nighttime meetings with oncoming vehicles, low beams should be used at a distance of more than 150 meters from the opposite direction. Low beams should also be used when meeting non-motor vehicles on narrow roads or narrow bridges. Meeting precautions: When meeting vehicles on sharp curves or when the other party does not actively switch to low beams, you can alternately use high and low beams to remind them. This is a good habit of civilized and safe use of vehicle lights.
When I first learned to drive, I was confused about this issue. My instructor taught me that the position lights (also called parking lights) are small lights that turn on when the car is parked or when it gets slightly dark. You don't need to turn off the high beams when using them, as they can operate independently. However, actual driving requires flexibility: in the city with streetlights or when there are oncoming vehicles, keeping high beams on can dazzle others and cause annoyance, so you should switch back to low beams. Now during my daily commute, I pay close attention to this. Developing this habit helps avoid fines and accidents, especially on rainy days when visibility is poor. When friends ask about it, I share my personal experience—don't stress over the light buttons; the key is timely switching and respecting others' right of way.
