How Can We Avoid Problems Of High Beam While Driving?

While driving at night the temporary blindness of drivers because of the glare produced by the headlights of the car coming from the opposite direction with high beams can lead to major accidents.

When the bright light from the opposite direction directly enters into their eyes, they lose their peripheral vision, and also they get a blurred vision. The driver who faces the glare from the headlights of the car from the direction can escape from the effect of the glare just by going slow and maintaining the speed of the car within reach of its headlights. By maintaining the low speed, the driver will be able to stop the vehicle when an obstacle is detected beyond the reach of the headlights.

Also, the driver may avoid the beams falling directly into his eyes just by looking down towards his right side of the road till the vehicle passes. However, in case of an accident due to glare created by the high beam, the driver who had come from the opposite direction with high beam headlights will be more responsible for it. A driver or a car owner has the right to insist for low beam just by flashing his headlight.

The Various Precautions To Be Taken To Avoid Problems Due To High Beam:

The car manufacturers should strictly adhere to the guidelines for providing headlights to the vehicles. They should install 50/60W lamps. Enforcement of the laws is also equally important. When the windscreen of the car is contaminated with dirt or mist, the glaring effect will be more, and so the driver should ensure to keep the glass clean and clear.

Drivers who are less experienced may maintain a low speed until they become expert drivers. Breaking of rules just for the reason that others are breaking the rules is not going to be a solution to this problem.

A Few Tips To Reduce Glare While Driving At Night

When a car with high beam approaches you to look to the right keep the eyes on the white line. By doing this, you can avoid the glare, and at the same time, you will be able to see the vehicle coming from the opposite direction. The rearview mirror should be changed tonight setting so that you will be able to see the lights of the car behind you which will be dimmer.

One should completely avoid lights inside the car. The headlights of the car also should be clean to ensure maximum visibility.

Apart from cleaning the windshield, the driver should ensure that the windshield is free of streaks, smudges, chips, and cracks. All drivers should see to it that the drivers who come from the opposite direction are not blinded. They should use their high beams carefully and considerately.

They may rely more on low beams and may use high beams only when it is very necessary. On seeing the other driver who is approaching is using high beams and not dimming the same, one may slow down his car and keep the vehicle under his control.

Ensure Proper Use Of High Beam Lights

High beams are very bright lights that are installed at the front of a car. There will be a blue warning light on the dashboard whenever the high beam headlights are on. When it is dark, the high beams increase the visibility, and high beams enable the driver to see 100 meters ahead on the read.

Normally, high beams are used while driving at night. However, high beams may be avoided in a place which is speed-limited and also has sufficient street lighting. The beams may be switched off when the vehicle is stopped in traffic.

Whenever a red light appears in front of the car, the driver should switch off the high beams.

When the vehicle is parked somewhere temporarily, the high beams are not required. The driver should ensure the high beams of his vehicle do not cause distraction or discomfort to others on the road. Since the high beams are too bright, the driver may switch over to low beams within 150 meters of the vehicle that comes from opposite direction and within 60 meters of the vehicle which is ahead of you.

Those who find it difficult to correctly guess the above distances may ensure to switch off their high beams the moment they see the tail light of a car in front of their car or the moment they see the headlights of a car that is approaching them. If the driver of the vehicle which is coming from the opposite direction is not dimming their high beams, look towards your left until the vehicle had passed.

When the driver who is following you is not dipping his high beams put your rearview mirror to night mode. If the light of the other vehicle continues to be too bright, divert the car to a safer place and let the car of the culprits pass through.

Read also: More about high and low beams and learn when should headlights be used.

Minimize The Impact Of Headlight Glare

The new technology headlights produce very bright light, and these lights create the problem of headlight glare. The HID and LED lights are very uncomfortable to the eyes when viewed head-on. Even when the lights are of low beams, the drivers of other cars repeatedly flash under the wrong impression that the headlights of the car that approaches are on high beam.

The moment a driver experiences headlight glare the driver may look at the white line on the right side of the road.

This will enable the driver to see the vehicles around, and at the same time, his eyes will not be much affected by the glare of the high beams.

By way of changing the rearview mirror to “night time” setting, the angle of the rearview mirror will be changed, and the headlight rays that enter the eyes of the driver will be deflected. Some of the latest cars are provided with mirrors that are self-dimming and they will detect high beams light automatically and will make adjustments accordingly.

While driving at night, the drivers are advised to take rest frequently so that the strain due to headlight glare will be reduced considerably. Drivers who prefer to have brighter headlights for their vehicles may replace the headlights as per recommendations by the manufacturer of their vehicle. They may avoid using aftermarket headlights.

Relevant Resources:

1. Which Headlights Are The Best For A Motorcycle: Halogen, HID (Xenon), Or LED?
2. How Much Does It Cost To Replace Car Headlights?
3. Projector Vs. Reflector Headlights