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Should you only use your high-beam headlights when driving at night?

I don’t understand why people use low-beam headlights when your high beams work so much better. Should you always use your high beams, or are there conditions where low beams are better?

avatar
Liz Jenson · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
When you’re driving at night, you should only use your high-beam headlights if there are no other vehicles in your path. If you’re following another vehicle or if there is another vehicle coming towards you from the other direction, switch to your low-beam
headlights
 instead.
While your high beams may help you see better, they can blind other drivers and make it difficult for them to see the road ahead. This actually makes night driving more dangerous for you and others on the road!
It’s also usually better to use your low-beam headlights in certain bad weather conditions, like fog or heavy snow. This is because the water in the air can reflect your headlights back at you, making it far more difficult to see.
Since you’re taking some time to learn more about driving safety, why not take an extra minute to learn about your insurance options, too? It only takes a minute when you use
Jerr​​y
. Download the app to see competitive quotes for insurance policies that work for you.
MORE: How to clean foggy headlights
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