The high beams allow the driver to see ahead on the road to prevent any upcoming troubles. Thankfully, you do not need any special tools or training to know how to turn on high beams.
You just have to learn how to use the high beams properly, which is super easy.
Contents
- The Simple Procedure To Learn How To Turn On High Beams
- When to Use Your High Beams (The Rules of the Road)
- Additional Safety Tips Concerning How To Turn On High Beams:
- FAQs
- Are there any legal requirements for using headlights and high beams?
- Are there any safety tips for using headlights and high beams?
- Can I use my high beams in the city or on well-lit streets?
- Are there any tips for adjusting my headlights’ aim?
- Why are my headlights dimmer than usual?
- Do I need to turn on my headlights during daytime rain?
The Simple Procedure To Learn How To Turn On High Beams
The headlights and high beams are essential to let other cars know about you in the dark and in low visibility. Let us begin with understanding the simple procedure by making use of these simple steps!
1. Locate the switch of headlight
Most importantly, you must be sure about the location of your headlights in your car. Generally, the headlights are located at the end of the blinker lever.
However, this position may vary depending on the model of your car. You may find the blinker lever on the left side of the steering wheel.
Besides, you also need to know the position of the headlight switch in your car. Make sure you know the exact location so as to have quick access to that in times of emergencies.
2. Switch on your headlight switch
The following step is to turn your headlight switch on from the options that it has. Generally, a typical headlight switch has the following 4 options:
- Off position; often represented by ‘O’ symbol
- Parking lights
- Headlights
- Auto option
You must be aware of this sequence to be sure of how to turn on high beams. The parking lights are mostly used by the driver when the running car is standing in the parking lot.
You can also make use of these lights to make your car more visible without turning the entire headlights on.
It is advisable to turn on your headlights so that you catch the attention of other car drivers and get protected against all possible car accidents.
You can also let your headlights be turned on during the daytime for better visibility of your car to others.
3. Turning on the high beams
To turn on the high beams in your car, you again need to use the blinker lever. The very simple way of turning the high beam on is to push the blinker lever away from you.
While pushing away the lever, you must feel the click to be sure that the high beams are turned on.
As soon as you feel the click, your car’s high beams are turned on. Further, when you are in need to turn off the high beams, you just have to bring the blinker lever back to the original position.
4. Turning the high beams for a shorter time
When you are in need to turn your car’s high beam for just a few minutes or a shorter amount of time, you have another simple way of doing so.
Just pull the blinker lever towards you and keep holding it in that position till the time you need your high beams on.
These are the simple ways of highlighting the necessary information on how to turn on high beams.
Always remember to use the high beams and the headlights to provide the necessary visibility to your car. This will provide safety to you as well as to the other driver.
When to Use Your High Beams (The Rules of the Road)
Knowing how to turn on your high beams is easy. Knowing when is what makes you a great driver.
The Golden Rule: Use your high beams to see better, but never at the expense of another driver’s vision.
GREEN LIGHT: When It’s a Good Idea to Use Them
On empty rural or poorly lit roads. This is their primary purpose—to help you see farther down dark roads and spot hazards like deer.
When you can’t see farther than 500 feet ahead. That’s about the length of one and a half football fields. If your low beams aren’t showing you that far, it’s time for high beams.
On highways with a wide median that separates you from oncoming traffic.
RED LIGHT: When to Turn Them OFF Immediately
When you see oncoming traffic. As soon as you see the headlights of an approaching car, switch back to your low beams. A good rule of thumb is to turn them off when the other car is about 500 feet away(roughly one city block).
When you are following another car. Your high beams will shine directly into the other driver’s rearview and side mirrors, blinding them. Turn them off when you are within 300 feet(a few car lengths) of the car in front of you.
In bad weather like fog, heavy rain, or snow. This is a big one. It feels like more light should help, but it makes things worse. The powerful light reflects off the water droplets, fog, or snowflakes and back into your eyes, reducing your visibility. Stick with low beams.
In well-lit cities or towns. If there are streetlights, you simply don’t need them.
Additional Safety Tips Concerning How To Turn On High Beams:
Besides the simple steps of how to turn on high beams, you must also keep in mind the necessary safety tips that will enhance the safety of your car. Care enough to know the additional safety tips? Here, have a look at the same:
- Turn on your high beams only in areas where there are no streetlights or the place is extremely dark
- Also, make sure that there is no oncoming traffic when you are using your car’s high beam
- Always remember to change the intensity of the high beams from high to low when passing by other cars or when driving behind other cars
- Do remember to turn off the high beam lights when not in use, as they may disrupt the other driver’s vision due to their high intensity
FAQs
Are there any legal requirements for using headlights and high beams?
The specific laws regarding headlight and high beam use can vary by location. Generally, you must dim your high beams when approaching or following other vehicles to avoid blinding the drivers. Failing to do so can result in traffic violations.
Are there any safety tips for using headlights and high beams?
Always remember to dim your high beams when approaching or following other vehicles to avoid dazzling their drivers.
Additionally, keep your headlights and high beams properly aimed to ensure they illuminate the road effectively without blinding others.
Can I use my high beams in the city or on well-lit streets?
It’s generally not recommended to use high beams in well-lit urban areas or on streets with other vehicles, as it can blind other drivers. Stick to low beams in such situations for safety and courtesy.
Are there any tips for adjusting my headlights’ aim?
Proper headlight aim is crucial for safe driving. You can adjust the aim of your headlights using the adjustment screws located near the headlights.
It’s recommended to consult a professional mechanic or follow your car’s manual for precise instructions on adjusting headlight aim.
Why are my headlights dimmer than usual?
Dim headlights could be due to several reasons, including a worn-out or dirty headlight bulb, a weak electrical connection, or a failing alternator. Consult a mechanic to diagnose and fix the issue.
Do I need to turn on my headlights during daytime rain?
Many modern cars have daytime running lights (DRLs) that automatically turn on when the engine is running.
If your vehicle doesn’t have DRLs, it’s a good practice to manually turn on your headlights in rainy conditions to increase visibility to other drivers.
Check out this video from ChrisFix to learn how to properly align headlights!
Isn’t it quite easy to learn how to turn on high beams? You must always be encouraged to learn about the usage of the high beams so as to be totally protected while driving in dark places.
Very good tips