Under what circumstances is the use of high beams prohibited?
2 Answers
When a following vehicle is driving close to the vehicle in front in the same direction, the use of high beams is prohibited. Using high beams on poorly lit roads: On roads without street lighting or with poor lighting, high beams may be used. However, when encountering other vehicles or pedestrians, switch to low beams to prevent glare. When unfamiliar with the road conditions and needing to read road signs or other markers, high beams may be used but should be quickly switched back to low beams. Using high beams in low visibility conditions: When driving at night on roads without street lighting, with poor lighting, or in conditions of low visibility such as fog, rain, snow, dust, or hail, vehicles should turn on headlights, clearance lights, and tail lights. However, when a following vehicle is driving close to the vehicle in front in the same direction, the use of high beams is prohibited. Vehicles driving in fog should turn on fog lights and hazard warning flashers. When entering a tunnel, use high beams, but switch to low beams in advance when encountering oncoming vehicles.
Having driven for nearly twenty years, there are situations where high beams should never be used. The first is when following another vehicle. If you drive with high beams on behind someone, the light reflects off the rearview mirror, blinding the driver ahead and making it impossible to see the road conditions clearly. If there are pedestrians or obstacles ahead, the leading car might brake suddenly, causing a rear-end collision. The second situation is during oncoming traffic—absolutely no high beams. If a car is coming toward you and you have your high beams on, the other driver could be blinded, potentially losing control and veering into your lane, which is especially dangerous on narrow roads. Third, in well-lit urban areas with streetlights providing ample illumination, using high beams is not only unnecessary but may also result in traffic camera fines for violations. Fourth, in foggy or rainy conditions, high beam light reflects off water droplets, reducing your visibility and making the fog appear even thicker, obscuring everything. Fifth, tunnels usually have sufficient lighting, so high beams are unnecessary. In summary, while high beams help you see in dark areas, misusing them can endanger both yourself and others. I always consciously switch to low beams to ensure driving safety.
