When should you dip your headlights if driving at night with high beams on?

Dipping your headlights when within 200 meters of an oncoming vehicle or a vehicle ahead is essential for safety and communication on the road. High beams are designed to illuminate the road further ahead in dark conditions, but they can also cause significant glare for other drivers. By switching to low beams when approaching another vehicle, you help to ensure that their visibility is not compromised, reducing the risk of accidents.

This rule is part of the road safety regulations aimed at preventing blindness from headlight glare, which can lead to dangerous situations. Maintaining this distance is critical as it allows enough time for both drivers to react appropriately. When both drivers can see clearly, it promotes safer driving conditions for everyone on the road.

Other situations, such as seeing a streetlight or approaching a roundabout, do not necessarily require immediate action regarding headlights, as they do not pose the same visibility issues as being within close proximity to another vehicle. Dipping headlights only when signaled by another driver is not a reliable practice because it relies on the responsiveness of others rather than following safety regulations proactively.