When should you dim your headlights?

Dimming your headlights is crucial for ensuring the safety and visibility of all road users, particularly in situations where bright lights can cause glare for other drivers. Following a vehicle within a certain distance, such as 200 feet, is one of those situations. When you're close behind another car, using high beams can blind the driver ahead of you, leading to dangerous driving conditions. By dimming your headlights, you help maintain a safe level of visibility for everyone on the road.

In contrast, situations like driving downtown or parking may not strictly require dimming headlights, as lighting conditions can vary widely. When driving on a highway, the use of high beams is often permitted when there is little traffic, as it maximizes illumination for the driver, but must be adjusted to prevent glaring other drivers. The critical point is understanding when your actions can impact the safety of others on the road, which is why dimming headlights when following closely behind another vehicle is particularly emphasized.