Under what circumstances should high beams not be used?

[EmersynRose]

Implementation Regulations of Road Traffic Safety Law: Clear provisions have been made for the use of lights during night driving: When meeting an oncoming vehicle on a road without central isolation facilities or center lines, high beams should not be used within 150 meters of the opposite direction vehicle, as it can easily cause accidents. 1. Situations where high beams should not be used: High beams should not be used when meeting non-motorized vehicles on narrow bridges or roads without central isolation facilities or center lines; When driving at night without street lights, poor lighting, or encountering low visibility conditions such as fog, rain, snow, or dust, high beams should not be used when a following vehicle is driving close to the vehicle in front in the same direction. 2. Additional information: It is generally best not to use high beams when driving in the city because urban areas usually have good lighting conditions. The high angle of high beams can easily dazzle oncoming vehicles and pedestrians, affecting their vision and creating unsafe conditions, which is also considered an impolite driving behavior.

[JulianaLee]

Having driven for fifteen years, I fully understand the strict regulations on high beam usage – improper use can lead to severe consequences. When there are oncoming vehicles, high beams can cause temporary blindness to the other driver due to intense glare, impairing their ability to see road conditions and significantly increasing the risk of rear-end collisions or crashes. In urban streets or well-lit areas where ambient light is sufficient, using high beams is not only unnecessary but also wastes energy and may result in traffic violation fines. When following a vehicle within 100 meters, high beams reflect off the rearview mirror, distracting the driver and potentially causing them to slow down abruptly. Using high beams in heavy fog, rain, or snow is even more hazardous as the light scatters off water droplets or snowflakes, creating a blinding glare or whiteout effect that actually reduces visibility and obscures obstacles. In pedestrian-heavy zones like school entrances or intersections, high beams can dazzle and endanger pedestrians. As a responsible driver, I always double-check my lighting settings and strictly use low beams in these situations to protect both myself and others.

[StBrody]

I remember when I first started learning to drive, my instructor taught me that high beams should not be used recklessly, especially in several key scenarios where immediate switching is necessary. Once while driving at night in the suburbs, I forgot to turn off the high beams, and it wasn't until an oncoming truck flashed its lights as a warning that I realized my mistake—it nearly caused a collision. That experience made me remember: never use high beams when there's oncoming traffic to avoid the risk of blinding others. During city commutes, streetlights provide sufficient illumination, and turning on high beams only dazzles pedestrians and increases fuel consumption, which isn't worth it. In rainy or heavily foggy weather, I once tried using high beams, only to find the light scattered everywhere, making it impossible to see clearly and wasting time. When following a car too closely on the highway, the strong light reflected in the rearview mirror annoyed the driver ahead, who kept waving their hand. These lessons taught me to use lights cautiously, always considering the driving environment to ensure the safety of both myself and others.

[DelLane]

Traffic regulations clearly specify situations where high beams are prohibited and must be remembered: Using high beams when two vehicles approach each other can obstruct the other driver's vision and is considered dangerous driving; On urban roads with sufficient street lighting, high beams are unnecessary to avoid wasteful light emission; When following a vehicle at close distance, high beams should be turned off to prevent reflected light from disturbing the driver ahead; In adverse weather conditions like rain, fog, or snow, high beams can create a reflective glare from particles, blurring the road ahead; Using high beams in pedestrian crossings or bicycle lanes may endanger vulnerable road users. Violations can result in fines and penalty points, or even lead to accidents in severe cases. Every time I drive on the highway, I remind myself that proper light usage is fundamental to safety, and using fog lights in poor weather can be more effective. Consciously adhering to these rules makes roads more orderly and efficient.

[Wren]

Using high beams in severe weather is a big no-no. I once experienced driving in a heavy rain with high beams on, and the light scattered by raindrops turned into a hazy white fog, blurring my vision and nearly causing me to hit the guardrail. In rainy or foggy conditions, the high humidity causes high beams to reflect easily, creating a light curtain that obscures road signs. In snowy weather, falling snowflakes scatter the light beams even more, hindering long-distance visibility. Instead, low beams combined with fog lights provide more stable illumination. Once, while driving on a highway at night in thick fog, I tried turning off the high beams and switching to low beams, and my vision became much clearer. Based on these experiences, I always proactively turn off high beams in bad weather and advise others to do the same to minimize shared road risks.