Understand the Road Conditions

Darkness

When driving at night, use your high-beam headlights on open country roads or dark city streets. Make sure you can stop in the distance lit by your headlights. Do not use high-beam headlights in areas where they are illegal. Dim your high-beam headlights to avoid blinding the driver of an oncoming vehicle. If another vehicle’s lights are too bright:

• Do not look directly into the oncoming headlights.
• Look toward the right edge of your lane.
• Watch the oncoming vehicle out of the corner of your eye.
• Do not react to the other driver by keeping your high-beam headlights on. This only makes it harder for both of you to see.

When it is raining, use your low-beam headlights. Do not drive using only your parking lights. When you drive at night, remember:

• Motorcycles, pedestrians, and bicyclists are much harder to see.
• Highway construction can take place at night. Reduce your speed in highway construction zones.
• When you leave a brightly lit place, drive slowly until your eyes adjust to the darkness.
• When a vehicle with one light drives toward you, drive as far to the right as possible. It could be a bicyclist, motorcyclist, or vehicle with a missing headlight.