What lights should be used when driving closely behind another vehicle in the same direction at night?
1 Answers
When driving closely behind another vehicle in the same direction at night, you should use low beams. If the distance to the vehicle in front is within 150 meters, always use low beams and avoid high beams. This is because high beams reflected in the rearview mirror of the vehicle ahead can dazzle the driver, impairing their vision and increasing the risk of accidents. The "Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China" stipulates the following regulations for using lights during night driving: When meeting an oncoming vehicle on a road without central barriers or centerlines, high beams must not be used within 150 meters of the opposite direction. High beams are also prohibited when meeting non-motorized vehicles on narrow bridges or roads without central barriers or centerlines. When driving at night in conditions with no streetlights, poor lighting, or low visibility due to fog, rain, snow, or dust, high beams must not be used when following another vehicle closely in the same direction. When passing sharp curves, slopes, arched bridges, crosswalks, or intersections without traffic signals, drivers should alternate between high and low beams as a warning. Violations of these rules may result in fines and penalty points. Hazards of improper light usage during night driving: High beams at night can cause temporary blindness for oncoming drivers. The duration of this blindness varies depending on the driver's vision and surrounding conditions, but it typically lasts at least 2 seconds. Due to poor visibility at night, the human eye may misjudge the speed of oncoming vehicles. Using high beams further disrupts this judgment, accelerating the decline in accurate perception. When a following vehicle uses high beams, large areas of glare appear in the three rearview mirrors of the vehicle ahead, significantly reducing the driver's visibility of the road ahead.
