What do the terms high beam and low beam mean?

[VonBrandon]

High beam refers to the main headlights, while low beam refers to the dipped headlights. Below is relevant information about automotive headlights: Introduction to automotive headlights: Automotive headlights, also known as vehicle front lights or LED daytime running lights, serve as the 'eyes' of a car. They not only affect the external appearance of a vehicle but are also crucial for safe driving at night or under adverse weather conditions. The use and maintenance of car lights should not be overlooked. History of automotive headlights: The first automotive headlight was essentially a household handheld lamp. In 1887, when a driver got lost in a dark wilderness, a farmer guided him home using a handheld lamp. In 1988, an American company introduced parabolic reflectors for headlights, sidelights, and taillights.

[VanWalter]

Headlights and parking lights are actually two types of lights on a car, differing in purpose and brightness. Headlights are mainly used to illuminate the road ahead, especially at night or in low visibility conditions. They are divided into high beams and low beams—high beams are suitable for roads without streetlights, while low beams are the main source of daily lighting. Parking lights, also known as marker lights or position lights, are primarily used during dim lighting conditions when it's not completely dark, such as dusk or rainy days. Their purpose is to make your vehicle's outline visible to others, preventing collisions. I pay close attention to this while driving because once, during rain, I didn't turn on my parking lights, and the car behind almost rear-ended me. Additionally, the switch is usually located on the left stalk near the steering wheel—first position for parking lights, second for headlights—beginners should remember this clearly.

[TimothyDella]

Over the years of car repairs, I've encountered many car owners asking about the difference between headlights and parking lights. Simply put, headlights are the brightest lights at the front of the car, responsible for illuminating the road, and they come in high-beam and low-beam modes. Parking lights, on the other hand, are actually position markers with soft, non-glaring light mainly indicating the vehicle's position. During vehicle inspections, I've noticed that some cars have parking lights on both sides of the bumper, while others integrate them with headlights. For daily driving, remember to turn on parking lights at dusk, and headlights must be used when visibility drops below 50 meters. If modifying car lights, pay extra attention - some mistakenly replace headlights with flashing blue lights, which is both illegal and attracts police attention. Lighting is indeed the first line of defense for safety.

[LaBella]

When I was learning to drive, I couldn't tell the difference between headlights and parking lights either. It wasn't until I actually started driving that I understood. Headlights are those two bright main lights you turn on at night to illuminate the road. Parking lights are more like position markers - you turn them on at dusk or in foggy conditions so other drivers can spot you from afar. I remember my first night drive on the highway when I accidentally turned on the high beams thinking they were parking lights, and got aggressively flashed by the car ahead. Now I've developed good habits: use parking lights when city streetlights are on, switch to low beam headlights on dark suburban roads, and always dim to low beams when meeting oncoming traffic. The dashboard icons are different too - the parking light symbol looks like a small sun, while the headlight icon shows a beam pattern. Remembering these could save your life in critical situations.