If you’ve ever driven at night and been temporarily blinded by a car with their high beams on, then you know that many of the best driving lessons come only from experience. Sure, when you first start learning you memorize the road signs and rules, but having to actually apply those lessons in real life is quite a different experience. There is a safe way to use your high beams for better visibility, without blinding other drivers.
 When to use your high beams?
All cars are installed with high beam headlights. They’re a safety device, yet many people never use them. Maybe they’re concerned about blinding other drivers or perhaps they think they can see well enough without them. The fact is, there are some circumstances when it’s advised to use your high beams, which can increase your visibility to around 350 to 400 feet, or about the distance of one city block.
Use your high beams when driving on dark streets or highways in good weather, when there is little or no traffic. Using them in rain or fog can cause glare, and actually lessen the range of visibility. High beams are great in rural areas, but can also be used in cities or towns when it’s dark and there are few other cars on the road. They can help you avoid animals and spot road signs when it’s pitch black out. Just remember to look for other cars’ headlights coming from the opposite direction so you can switch back to low beams when you see someone coming.
If you are driving with your high-beam lights on, you must dim them at least 500 ft. from any oncoming vehicle, so you don’t blind the oncoming driver. You must use low-beam lights if you are within 200-300 ft. of the vehicle you are following.
When to use your low beams?
Low beams should be used during bad weather, on very overcast, cloudy days, and any other time there’s low visibility. Some car models automatically switch on the low beam headlights any time the car is in motion, because it’s been proven that drivers are more likely to see you if you have your headlights on. This is true even during the day! Some colors of car are simply less visible (especially darker colors), so it’s a nice safety precaution. When it’s dark out, low beams give you about 200 feet of visibility, or about half a city block.
