Which One is the High Beam and Low Beam?
2 Answers
The low beam icon features a horizontal lampshade with five parallel diagonal lines in front, while the high beam icon has a horizontal lampshade with five horizontal straight lines in front. Some car models may not display a low beam indicator on the dashboard even when the low beams are turned on, as a low beam indicator is not mandatory. However, when the high beams are activated, the blue high beam icon on the dashboard will immediately light up. How to turn on the low beams: Generally, vehicle light control switches come in lever-style or rotary-style, with a dedicated "low beam" position. For lever-style switches, turning the light control lever to the low beam position will activate the low beams. Similarly, for rotary-style switches, rotating clockwise to the low beam position will turn on the low beams. For both lever-style and rotary-style light switches, the high beams are activated by pushing the lever. Pushing the lever toward the engine compartment keeps the high beams on continuously; pulling it back one position turns off the high beams and restores the low beams. Pushing the lever one more position toward the driver activates a temporary high beam flash, which automatically returns to the low beam position when the lever is released. This is commonly used to alert oncoming vehicles, known as high-low beam flashing.
In automotive lighting, both high beams and low beams are part of the headlights, but serve different purposes. High beams illuminate the road farther ahead, capable of reaching several hundred meters, making them suitable for nighttime highway driving or remote rural areas. Low beams focus on the ground closer to the vehicle, lighting up the road tens of meters ahead, commonly used in city streets or when meeting other vehicles to avoid blinding oncoming drivers. They are typically located within the headlight assembly, with high beams emitting stronger, more concentrated light, indicated by a blue beam icon, while low beams have a weaker green or white dot icon. With years of driving experience, I've found that switching between them is easy using the control stalk near the steering wheel: push it forward to activate high beams, pull it back or press a button to switch to low beams. It's crucial to turn off high beams in situations like nighttime oncoming traffic or during rainy/foggy conditions to prevent hazards. For maintenance, regularly checking for bulb aging and keeping the lenses clean is essential, as these directly impact nighttime visibility and safety, helping avoid penalties for improper use.
