Should You Use High Beams or Low Beams When Driving on the Highway at Night?
4 Answers
You should use high beams when driving on the highway at night. The faster the driving speed, the greater the requirement for the driver's visibility distance. Turning on the high beams allows the driver to see farther, preventing accidents caused by not seeing obstacles, pedestrians, or oncoming vehicles while driving at high speeds. Light selection on the highway: Under normal weather conditions, fog lights should not be turned on, whether during the day or at night. Additionally, when meeting oncoming vehicles on roads without dividers, you should slow down at a distance of about 150 meters and switch from high beams to low beams. If the oncoming vehicle does not switch to low beams, the driver should slow down and use the method of alternating between high and low beams to signal the oncoming driver. If the oncoming driver still does not switch lights, simply continue driving in your lane. Scenarios requiring high beams: When unfamiliar with the road and needing to read road signs or other indicators, high beams can be used but should quickly be switched back to low beams. When overtaking another vehicle, the left turn signal should be activated in advance, and the driver should alternate between high and low beams or use the horn to alert the vehicle ahead to yield.
When driving on the highway at night, I usually use high beams, but it depends on the situation. If there are no cars within a few hundred meters ahead, high beams help me see road signs and obstacles from a farther distance. On highways, braking distances are long, so spotting hazards early is crucial. However, when there’s a car in the passing lane or I see taillights ahead, I immediately switch back to low beams—otherwise, the glare in the rearview mirror can blind the driver in front. In rainy or foggy conditions, high beams have poor penetration and can create a blinding white haze; in such cases, low beams plus fog lights are more reliable. Honestly, some people who keep high beams on the whole time are really annoying, and those who install overly bright aftermarket lights are downright road hazards.
When I first started driving on highways, I didn't know any better. It wasn't until a traffic police friend educated me that I understood: you should basically always use high beams at night on highways! After all, with high speeds, low beams only illuminate about thirty meters, which simply isn't enough. But you must be ready to switch at any moment—for example, when you're within two hundred meters of the car ahead, you should switch to low beams, and when overtaking, flash your lights twice as a warning. If you suddenly encounter a construction zone that narrows to two lanes, immediately turn off your high beams to avoid blinding oncoming traffic. I always keep polarized glasses in my car—they can be a lifesaver when dealing with drivers behind who don't dim their lights. Oh, and many new cars now come with automatic high beam control, which reacts much faster than human hands when going through tunnels.
According to road safety regulations, the use of high beams is permitted on highways at night. Every time I enter the highway, I first ensure the light switch is set to high beam, but my right hand remains ready on the toggle lever. I pay extra attention when navigating curves, immediately switching back to low beam as soon as I spot oncoming headlights. Some people think driving with high beams is easier, but it actually requires more vigilance than city driving—constantly checking the rearview mirror for approaching vehicles and staying alert for small animals darting out from the roadside. Once during early morning, I encountered thick fog, and driving with high beams felt like crashing into a cotton pile. Later, I learned that turning on front and rear fog lights along with hazard lights is much safer.
