What lights to use when passing through sharp turns at night?
3 Answers
When a motor vehicle passes through sharp turns, slopes, arch bridges, crosswalks, or intersections without traffic signal control at night, it should alternately use the high and low beams to signal. When driving at night without street lights, poor illumination, or in conditions of low visibility such as fog, rain, snow, dust, or hail, the vehicle should turn on the headlights, position lights, and tail lights. However, high beams should not be used when following another vehicle. In foggy conditions, the fog lights and hazard warning flashers should be turned on. The fog light control lever is usually located below the left side of the steering wheel, with a length similar to the radius of the steering wheel, making it easy to operate while holding the steering wheel. It controls the switching between high and low beams, left and right turn signals, the turning on and off of lights, and the activation and deactivation of front and rear fog lights.
Oh, I've been driving for so many years, and what I fear most when taking sharp turns at night is using high beams. The light shines too high, making it impossible to see anything clearly, while the inside of the curve remains pitch black. It's easy to accidentally hit the roadside. Later, I switched to low beams, which stay close to the ground, illuminating the edges of the road and allowing me to see rocks or potholes at the turn—much safer. Remember to slow down before sharp turns and switch your lights accordingly; never cut corners for convenience. With less scattered light, you won't disturb oncoming traffic. Driving steadily is more important than driving fast. I often drive in mountainous areas, and this technique has saved me several times. I’m sharing it with you—give it a try. Also, always check if your lights are functioning properly before night driving to avoid sudden malfunctions.
From the perspective of lighting principles, you must switch back to low beams when navigating sharp turns at night. High beams have a straight projection angle, which can easily miss the inner side of the curve, creating blind spots and increasing accident risks. Low beams emit light at a lower angle with more even distribution, clearly illuminating the nearby road and edges. I recommend switching lights a few seconds before entering the curve and using turn signals to indicate direction. With proper light settings and maintaining a controlled speed of 20-30 km/h, visibility can improve by over 30%. Don’t underestimate this small action—it has saved my life on curved roads. During regular maintenance, check bulbs and wiring to ensure everything works flawlessly.
