What lights should be used when passing a slope at night?
3 Answers
When passing a slope at night, you should alternately use high beams and low beams. Here is a detailed introduction about alternately using high beams and low beams when passing a slope at night: 1. Use of high and low beams: When a motor vehicle passes sharp curves, slopes, arch bridges, crosswalks, or intersections without traffic signal control at night, it should alternately use high and low beams to signal. 2. Others: When a motor vehicle approaches sections that affect safe sight distance, such as sharp curves and the top of slopes, or when overtaking or encountering emergencies, it should slow down and sound the horn to signal. Motor vehicles driving in the same lane should maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front to allow for emergency braking measures.
When driving on slopes at night, I always insist on using low beams. This reminds me of my last trip to the mountainous area when I encountered a steep slope in complete darkness. Initially, I used high beams, but as I ascended, the light directly hit an oncoming downhill vehicle, nearly blinding the driver who had to brake abruptly—extremely dangerous. Since then, I always switch to low beams: they provide sufficient illumination to make road signs and obstacles clearly visible without dazzling other drivers. The same logic applies when descending—keeping the light focused on the road minimizes glare risks. Additionally, I make a habit of checking if the beam angle is properly adjusted to avoid excessive tilt. Some cars have automatic lighting, but I trust manual control more. Slope roads already have poor visibility, compounded by gradient changes, so it’s crucial to slow down early and observe—never rely on high beams to see everything.
When driving on slopes at night, I always use low beams. With experience, you'll realize that using high beams on slopes, such as when climbing, can directly shine into oncoming traffic, easily disrupting the vision of opposing drivers and even causing accidents. I've made this mistake myself—using high beams while descending a slope and getting warned by the police. Although low beams have a smaller illumination range, slopes don't require lighting up distant areas; the key is precise lighting of the immediate road conditions to avoid glare. If the road is empty, you can briefly switch to high beams to scout ahead, but switch back as soon as you see the crest of the slope or opposing headlights. By the way, headlight angles should be regularly adjusted, especially for older cars where misaligned lights can compromise safety on slopes. In short, driving on slopes requires careful attention to lighting—don’t take the easy route by using high beams.
