High-beams increase your visibility to to feet, or the distance of an average city block. However, do not solely rely on high-beams, and remember to always adjust your driving speed according to the road conditions.
Different makes and models of cars have different methods for switching from low-beam to high-beam and back. In most cases, the mechanism is built into the lever next to the steering wheel, where the headlights are turned on and off. To change from low-beam to high-beam, simply turn on the headlights and then press the lever with your hand, or activate the floor button with your foot.
When following another vehicle, keep your low-beams on to avoid blinding the driver ahead of you. If you have car trouble at night, pull off the road as far as possible and turn on your hazard lights.
Use your high-beam lights when driving in rural areas and on open highways away from urban and metropolitan areas. If you are driving with your high-beam lights on, you must dim them at least ft from any oncoming vehicle, so you don't blind the oncoming driver. If an approaching car is using its high-beams, don't look directly into the oncoming headlights—look toward the right edge of your lane. Watch the oncoming car out of the corner of your eye.
Do not try retaliating against the other driver by keeping your high-beam lights on. If you do, both of you may be blinded. All rights reserved. Please see our privacy policy for more details. Help Center Log In. Select State. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming. You're reading one of our "Beginner Driver's Guide" articles.
Need to practice for your upcoming exam? Take our free sample driving test - no registration required! While high beams help keep you safe, they can also endanger other drivers if you use them incorrectly. All states have laws requiring you to dim your high-beam headlights whenever there is a risk of blinding other drivers.
State laws typically require you to dim high beams within to feet of approaching vehicles. You may find yourself driving on a dark city street, on an unfamiliar road, or in a construction zone. When your vision is impaired, slow down. If there are no other vehicles nearby, turn on your high beams. For such reason, you may end up flicking on your high beam lights brights so that a bit of light is shed on your surroundings or another vehicle.
Many drivers use brighter vehicle lights for safety purposes. However, these high beams or brights can also present safety hazards, especially for oncoming drivers. As you probably know, high beams are brighter compared to regular headlights or parking lights. They temporarily blind other drivers due to visibility issues, particularly if they have experienced overwhelming darkness before encountering your car with its high beams brights on.
Now, you might wonder if it is illegal for you to drive with your high beams based on the headlight laws. If you want to know the answer, keep reading! It is illegal if you flash or use high beam headlights within feet 0. It is also unlawful if you dim your lights for cyclists or pedestrians. In the case that oncoming drivers refuse to dim their headlights, you have to keep your eyes on the right edge of the road ahead.
When you are behind other cars, ensure not to use high beams. According to the law in New Jersey, on high beams, a driver behind the wheel must dim the high beams or brights if the oncoming vehicle oncoming traffic approaches their way.
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