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How to use your car's high-beam headlights... properly

And how to avoid being dazzled by them.

HIGH-BEAMS OR full headlights are the really bright lights at the front of a car that are turned on by pushing or pulling the indicator stalk away from or towards you until it clicks. (On some newer cars, they’re automatically operated.)

Whenever your full-beam headlights are turned on a blue warning light shows on the dashboard.

High beams are used to increase visibility when it is dark. With dipped headlights you should be able to see about 30 metres (about 7 car lengths) ahead of you, however, with your high beams on you should be able to see 100 metres (about 25 car lengths) on an unlit road.

The RSA advises that you should always use full headlights when driving at night.

However, you should NEVER use your full headlights in the following situations:

  • in a built-up or special speed limit area where there is good street lighting
  • when stopped in traffic
  • when meeting oncoming traffic
  • when you see red lights of a vehicle in front of you
  • while parked temporarily
  • wherever they may cause annoyance or distraction for other road users

However, because high beams are so bright, you need to switch to your low beams within 150 metres of oncoming vehicles and within 60 metres of following a vehicle so you don’t blind the driver ahead of you.

It’s hard to guess such a precise distance, so use your common sense and basically switch off your car’s high beams as soon as you see the tail lights of a car in front of you or the headlights of a car approaching you.

If an oncoming vehicle has its high beams on and doesn’t turn them off, avoid being dazzled by the light by simply look toward the left at the edge of the road until they have passed and do not stare at their lights.

If the driver behind you does not dip their high beams while following you, flick the switch on your rear view mirror to night mode. If their lights are still too bright, turn the rearview mirror up toward the roof or pull over in a safe area and let them pass.

READ: 6 resolutions all Irish drivers should make this year >

READ: Getting a new car? Here’s how you can make the most of it by ‘breaking it in’

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4 Comments
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    Mute Jacob Mac Hay
    Favourite Jacob Mac Hay
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    Jan 9th 2018, 3:10 PM

    These 6 “rules” may be fine.
    But what about proper use of the mist rearlight(s)
    I can imagine that people think they will be better visible but….. if these lights are still on or turned on only when its just a little rain and kept on while there is no need for anymore they are as dazzling as a full headlight by oncoming traffic. But you have to face them longer than oncoming traffic….

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    Mute YouHaveGotToBeJoking
    Favourite YouHaveGotToBeJoking
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    Jan 9th 2018, 8:56 AM

    Whats worse is the morons that need their headlights aligned and blind you without their fulls on

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    Mute Lilly Passet-De Nais
    Favourite Lilly Passet-De Nais
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    Jan 10th 2018, 5:15 PM

    You’d think it’s common courtesy to switch your high beams to low beams when you see a car coming towards you or you’re coming up behind another car. But for some reason, I don’t know if it is ignorance, lack of knowledge or just not giving two fecks, I meet more drivers who couldn’t be arsed switching their high beams to low when coming towards me or coming up behind me. And to be honest the ones from behind are worse as their bright beams don’t only hit your rear view mirror but your side mirrors too, and I for one don’t feel safe adjusting my side mirrors while driving.

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    Mute Lilly Passet-De Nais
    Favourite Lilly Passet-De Nais
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    Jan 10th 2018, 5:17 PM

    @Lilly Passet-De Nais: continuation (as only 800 characters allowed per comment)

    People need to switch their brains on as well as the engines of their cars when they sit down behind the drivers seat. It would make everyone’s journey more pleasant and safer. Being dazzled by an oncoming cars high beams has caused accidents, so it really does have to do with safety as well as comfort…
    Well, I wish you all a safe journey. Happy Driving ,:-)

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