What lights to use when overtaking?
4 Answers
When overtaking, you should turn on the turn signal in advance and alternately use the low beam and high beam. This is to let surrounding vehicles know your intention. The rear vehicle will see the left turn signal and understand that you intend to overtake. In the rearview mirror of the front vehicle, the flashing lights are more likely to catch the attention of the front vehicle. Below are the correct ways to use vehicle lights: 1. Poorly lit roads: On roads with no streetlights or poor lighting, you can use the high beam. However, when approaching other vehicles or pedestrians, switch to the low beam to avoid glare. 2. When needing to read road signs: If you are unfamiliar with the road and need to read signs, you can use the high beam, but you should quickly switch back to the low beam. 3. When overtaking: Turn on the left turn signal in advance, alternate between high and low beams, or honk the horn to alert the front vehicle to yield. 4. When passing corners, curves, or intersections without traffic lights: Alternate between high and low beams as a warning. 5. When driving through tunnels: Turn on the high beam, and when encountering oncoming vehicles, switch to the low beam in advance. 6. In urban areas with streetlights at night: You must use the low beam. 7. On unlit roads at night or during dusk or dawn: You must turn on the low beam when driving on unlit roads at night or during periods of low light like dusk or dawn. 8. When visibility is obstructed: In conditions like heavy fog, snow, or heavy rain where visibility is poor, you must turn on the low beam even during the day.
I've been driving for twenty years, and using turn signals when overtaking is a must: in countries where you drive on the right, like China here, if you want to overtake a slow-moving vehicle ahead, you need to signal left in advance to indicate that you're accelerating past. This isn't just required by traffic rules—it's a basic safety measure. I've seen too many people skip signaling to save trouble and just rush ahead, only to collide when the car in front suddenly changes lanes. After signaling, you also need to check your rearview mirror to ensure no car is approaching and that the opposite lane is clear before smoothly accelerating to overtake. Remember to signal right when returning to your lane after overtaking, and don't hesitate during the whole process—keep your signals on continuously so others can see clearly. In poor visibility conditions like rain or fog, signaling decisively is even more effective than honking. Developing this habit can prevent 90% of accidents. At the end of the day, driving is about responsibility—to yourself and to others on the road.
When I first got my driver's license, I was also confused about which lights to use for overtaking. My coach taught me: it's the turn signal! If you're driving on the right side of the road, use the left turn signal to overtake, clearly telling the cars in front and behind 'I'm going for it.' After safely passing the car ahead, use the right turn signal to return to your lane. It might seem like a small action, but maintain a safe distance of at least three seconds—don't rush recklessly. I once tried overtaking without signaling and almost got forced to stop by a truck; now I always use my signals, and other drivers yield clearly, making highway driving much smoother. On rainy nights with poor visibility, signaling is even more crucial—turning on your lights is much better than flashing high beams, as it doesn't blind others and is more courteous. Mastering these basic skills quickly reduces risks on the road by more than half.
As a driving enthusiast, the preferred lighting for overtaking is the turn signal: on regular roads, keep to the right and the left turn signal lights up, staying on throughout the overtaking process; after overtaking, switch the signal to the right to return to the lane. This simple design plays a big role: reminding the car ahead not to misjudge, preventing rear-end collisions, and helping oneself anticipate the road. I value efficiency while driving, coordinating lights with acceleration distance to complete the maneuver within three seconds without delay; during long nighttime drives, lights are even more crucial—avoid using high beams for overtaking as the glare can cause accidents. Remember, lights are just an aid—safety always comes first.
