Should You Use High Beam or Low Beam When Driving at Night?
2 Answers
Whether to use high beam or low beam when driving at night depends on the driving conditions. When to use high beam: After dark, turn on the headlights. If you need to overtake, when you are 80 meters away from the vehicle in front, turn on the turn signal and turn off the high beam. When you are 30-50 meters away from the vehicle you want to overtake, flash the high beam a few times to signal your intention to overtake. After overtaking the vehicle, turn on the high beam again. When driving at night with no vehicles traveling in the same direction ahead, turn on the high beam. Precautions for using headlights: When meeting or overtaking vehicles at night, always remember to turn off the high beam, as keeping it on can easily irritate the other driver and cause visual fatigue. Flashing the headlights when overtaking can better attract the attention of the driver being overtaken.
When driving at night, I usually prioritize using low beams, mainly for safety reasons. On city roads with streetlights, low beams provide sufficient illumination without dazzling oncoming drivers, preventing glare-related accidents. Even on pitch-dark highways, I use high beams to enhance visibility, but I immediately switch back to low beams as soon as I spot other vehicle lights or pedestrians. Remember, improper use of high beams is not only annoying but can also result in fines, as some local regulations explicitly require switching. With over twenty years of driving experience, I’ve learned that habitual light switching reduces the risk of collisions. Especially in rainy or foggy conditions, low beams offer better penetration—safety comes first. Overall, low beams are the standard, while high beams are only used briefly when there’s no interference.
