How should you use headlights and high beams appropriately?

• A. Use low beams at night, in poor visibility, and in city; use high beams only on dark rural roads when no other traffic is present.
• B. Use high beams at all times for maximum visibility.
• C. Use high beams in fog.
• D. Never use high beams.

Answer: (A)

Using headlights appropriately means matching the beam to the driving situation so you can see well without blinding others. Low beams are the standard choice at night, in poor visibility, and in city driving because they illuminate the road enough to spot hazards while keeping glare to a minimum for approaching and following drivers. High beams should be used only on dark, rural roads when there is no oncoming traffic and no vehicle ahead to reflect the light back toward you. They offer the farthest visibility, but they can blind or dazzle others, making them unsafe in populated or traffic-heavy areas. Fog is a special case: high beams actually reduce visibility because the light reflects off the fog droplets, so low beams are preferable there. So the recommended practice is to use low beams in night, poor visibility, and city settings, and switch to high beams only on dark rural roads with no traffic nearby.