When should you use your high beams?

Using your high beams is most appropriate in open country driving situations. This is because high beams provide greater illumination over a larger area, which is particularly useful when there are few streetlights or surrounding buildings to light the road. In open country, where visibility can be limited due to darkness or unlit roads, utilizing high beams helps to enhance your ability to see obstacles, animals, or other vehicles from a greater distance, ensuring safer navigation.

In contrast, conditions such as foggy weather or driving through well-lit urban areas can create visibility issues due to glare or reflection. In these situations, using high beams can actually reduce visibility rather than enhance it, as light from the high beams can bounce back off the fog or other obstacles. Likewise, in city driving, where traffic is denser and streetlights provide sufficient illumination, high beams are not necessary and could be distracting or blinding to other drivers. Thus, reserving high beams for open roads where they can be most effective is the best practice.