What Lights Should You Use When Driving at Night?
3 Answers
When driving at night, you should turn on the low beam headlights. Short-range illumination: The purpose of low beam headlights is to provide short-range illumination. They are designed to cover a wide area (160°) but have a short illumination distance, and the focus cannot be adjusted. Illumination distance: The illumination distance of low beam headlights is approximately 30-40 meters. Experiments show that when driving at 55 km/h at night, the braking distance required to come to a complete stop is exactly 30 meters after detecting a situation. You must turn on the low beam headlights when driving in areas without streetlights at night, during dusk when it's darker, or at dawn when visibility is low. Additionally, during heavy fog, snow, or heavy rain, even during the day, you must use low beam headlights if visibility is limited. Even on roads with some lighting, if the brightness is insufficient, you should still use low beam headlights.
I've been driving for over 30 years, and as an experienced driver, I always use low beams at night and never use high beams to blind people in the city. I remember one time when an oncoming car had its high beams on, which dazzled me and I almost hit the guardrail. Cars also have position lights and fog lights, especially in rainy or foggy weather, fog lights should be turned on to improve visibility. Before driving, I make it a habit to check the brightness of the headlights. If the lens is dirty, I go to the car wash to clean it, and if the bulb is old, I replace it in time. Lighting safety is so important. When I see new drivers using the wrong lights on the road, I honk to remind them to avoid accidents. I maintain my car regularly, keeping the lighting system in good condition, which makes driving at night much more reassuring.
When I first started learning to drive, the instructor repeatedly emphasized that using low beams at night is the safest and not to show off with high beams. Now, every time I drive at night, I habitually check the lights: after starting the engine, I turn on the low beams and width indicators to ensure the brightness is normal. When encountering traffic, I keep the low beams unchanged; on empty highways, I occasionally switch to high beams but immediately switch back when I see other vehicles. I also pay attention to whether the light adjustment device is responsive, as dim lights can affect visibility. As a beginner, I often look up information online to understand lighting regulations, such as the requirement to use low beams on urban roads. When driving friends home, I also remind them about the correct use of lights—safety is no small matter.
