What lights to use on the highway at night? (2024)

What lights to use on the highway at night?

Your high-beam headlights can make things easier to see and illuminate the road surface farther ahead than your regular headlights. If the road is clear ahead of you and there's no oncoming traffic nearby, feel free to use your bright lights.

As per the Highway Code, you must use dipped headlights “when visibility is seriously reduced”, i.e., when you are able to see less than 100m in front of you. So basically, any time you're driving at night or during bad weather.

Interstate highways

There may be long stretches of road that are only illuminated by your headlights. In those low-visibility conditions, use your high-beam headlights to increase your viewing range. However, dim your high beams when you're near other vehicles, even on divided highways.

When driving on the motorway at night, you should always use your headlights, regardless of how well lit the road is.

Use your low beams when you come within 500 feet (about one block) of an oncoming vehicle. Also use your low beams when following another vehicle within 300 feet. Slow down when nearing a curve if you are driving the maximum posted speed limit. Use the edgeline as a guide.

High beams are meant for nighttime use in empty areas when no other vehicles or lighting is present. Because of their brightness, headlights should be switched to the low beam setting when an oncoming driver is within 150 metres.

Dr. Bullough confirmed this, stating “There is still a reason that yellow lights might be better than white lights for driving in fog/rain/snow, and it has to do with the visual system. At lower light levels experienced at night, our visual system seems to be more sensitive to shorter wavelengths.

High mast lighting refers to light pole standards or derricks that typically range from 60 feet to 150 feet tall. Conventional roadway light poles range from 25 feet to 50 feet above the roadway surface. High mast lighting for highways has its origins in Europe in the 1950s.

Highway lighting is lighting found on the side of a roadway or car park. Generally speaking this would be to an adoptable standard, in other words is opened by the local council or borough. Highway lighting sole purpose is to offer a safe environment to all road users including pedestrians and vehicular movement.

California Required Headlight Usage

They must be turned on when driving in the dark and/or in inclement weather. The law clearly defines “inclement weather” as a weather condition when: The driver cannot clearly see a person or another vehicle on the highway from 1,000 feet away, OR.

How can I make driving at night easier?

Drivers typically turn their sidelights on when it is dark or cloudy and the natural lighting is low but not dark enough to put their dipped beams on. They also serve another purpose. Sidelights should always be on if you park on a road at night with a speed limit that is over 30mph.

Protect yourself from blue light at night

Red light is less likely to shift circadian rhythm and suppress melatonin. Avoid looking at bright screens beginning two to three hours before bed.

If you're driving on the highway or country roads, you often have long stretches of straight roads, less light, and less traffic, making for a better environment to use your car's high beams. Just remember that you have them on and switch back to low beams when other vehicles are in front of you.

Keep your beam use straight: low for lower speeds, suburban areas, and rain or fog. High for higher speeds and highways, but only when you can maintain at least 500 feet between your vehicle and the rest of us.

You should not use your high beams in the following situations: When cars are approaching you. This includes highways where the traffic is on the opposite side of the median. Don't risk blinding or distracting oncoming traffic; turn your beams off until you're sure no one is ahead of you.

According to the California vehicle code, vehicles should have both low beams and high beams working correctly. The California vehicle code also states that a driver also needs to use the high beams correctly so that drivers in oncoming traffic are not blinded by the bright light causing a visibility issue.

In many countries, low-beam headlights must be on any time the vehicle is in motion, regardless of the time of day. Even when the headlights won't help you see better, they may help others see you. Make sure to use your low-beam headlights when driving at night, even if driving on a well-lit street!

High beams are designed to provide better visibility when driving in rural areas where street lights aren't common. You should use your high beams if you're driving at night and you aren't within 200-300 feet of another driver. If you do approach another car, switch to your low beams until you're safely out of the way.

Driving can cause a strain on your eyes especially at night because of the lights of oncoming traffic. So what is considered the best lens color for night driving…well, there are 2 options; either a clear lens with an AR (anti-reflective) coating or a yellow lens with an AR coating.

What color light should I use at night?

The best night light colors for sleeping are red light and amber light as they are warm relaxing colors that promote good sleep. Avoiding artificial blue light and bright lights in the evening can definitely help you avoid sleep related issues such as insomnia.

Wearing yellow-lens glasses for night driving doesn't make it easier to see the road at night. So-called night driving glasses may make night vision worse. For decades, research has shown that yellow-tinted lenses fail to improve visual acuity while driving at night.

In the above cases, use dipped headlights instead. These should also be used at the beginning and end of lighting-up hours - that is, just after sunset and just before sunrise - and during daylight hours if your car isn't fitted with daytime running lights. No headlights should be used while a car is parked.

Explanation: Only use your fog lights when visibility is seriously reduced. Use dipped headlights at other times when visibility is poor. Your headlights and tail lights help others on the road to see you. It may be necessary to turn them on during the day if visibility is reduced; for example, due to heavy rain.