What lights to use when driving on poorly lit roads?
3 Answers
When driving on poorly lit roads, the driver needs to turn on the high beams. When an oncoming vehicle approaches, the high beams should be turned off in advance, and the low beams should be switched on. Precautions for using high beams: High beams are generally suitable for motor vehicles driving at night on roads without streetlights or with poor lighting, such as on dimly lit national highways or expressways. In urban areas where lighting is adequate, low beams should be used. Relevant regulations: The "Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China" stipulates the use of lights for nighttime driving. When meeting another vehicle on a road without central separation facilities or center lines, high beams must not be used within 150 meters of the oncoming vehicle. When driving at night without streetlights, under poor lighting conditions, or in low visibility situations such as fog, rain, snow, or dust, high beams must not be used when a following vehicle is driving close to the vehicle in front in the same direction.
I've got plenty of experience driving at night! On poorly lit roads like national highways or county roads, you must use low beams. I remember once driving on a mountain road without streetlights - keeping low beams on steadily illuminated about 30 meters of road ahead while avoiding glare from oncoming traffic. On straightaways with no cars ahead, you can briefly switch to high beams to scout the road, but immediately switch back to low beams when you see approaching headlights or taillights - otherwise you're endangering everyone. In rainy or foggy conditions with poor visibility, turn on front fog lights to enhance ground illumination, but don't recklessly use rear fog lights as their dazzling red glare will just annoy others. Remember: low beams are the foundation of nighttime driving, while skillfully using high beams as binoculars is what separates experienced drivers.
When driving on roads with insufficient nighttime lighting, I prefer to turn on the low beams first to ensure basic illumination. The key is flexible switching: briefly turning on the high beams when there are no vehicles ahead and the view is clear can help detect obstacles earlier, but you must switch back to low beams at least 150 meters before encountering oncoming traffic. On hazy days, I activate the front fog lights to enhance road visibility at close range, while the rear fog lights are only used when visibility drops below 50 meters to avoid disturbing following vehicles. Note that automatic headlights may misjudge in complex lighting conditions, so manual control is safest. Proper use of lighting directly affects driving safety.
