When Should You Dip Your Headlights? - Driver Knowledge Test

Driver Knowledge Tests

• Car tests
• Motorbike tests
• Truck tests
• Tourist quiz
• Resources

Menu

• Home
• Car tests
  • Car tests
  • Alcohol and Drugs
  • Core
  • Defensive Driving
  • General Knowledge
  • Intersections
  • Negligent Driving
  • Pedestrians
  • Seat Belts/Restraints
  • Speed Limits
  • Traffic Lights and Lanes
  • Traffic Signs
• Motorbike tests
  • Motorbike tests
  • Bike-specific Questions
  • Alcohol and Drugs
  • Core
  • Defensive Driving
  • General Knowledge
  • Intersections
  • Negligent Driving
  • Pedestrians
  • Rider Safety
  • Speed Limits
  • Traffic Lights and Lanes
  • Traffic Signs
• Truck tests
  • Truck tests
• Tourist quiz
  • Tourist quiz
  • General Knowledge
  • Alcohol and Drugs
  • Defensive Driving
  • Intersections
  • Traffic Lights and Lanes
  • Pedestrians
  • Speed Limits
  • Traffic Signs
  • Negligent Driving
• Driving tips

You are driving at night with your headlights on high beam. When should you dip your headlights? You are driving at night with your headlights on high beam. When should you dip your headlights?

• A. When within 200 metres of an oncoming vehicle only

• B. When within 200 metres of the vehicle ahead or an oncoming one

• C. Never, you are allowed to drive with your lights on high beam at all times.

• The correct answer is B Correct. High beam headlights can dazzle other drivers and make it difficult for them to see the road and any dangers.

Using high beam headlights

High beam headlights can dazzle oncoming drivers making it difficult for them to see the lanes and hazards on the road, and they can also affect drivers you are following by being too bright in their rear view mirror. You should be at least 200m behind the vehicle in front to have your headlights on full beam. If an oncoming vehicle is closer than 200m away you need to dip your headlights, too.

You can use your full beam headlights even if there are streetlights, but be courteous to road users other than cars, such as cyclists and pedestrians.

You should dip your headlights if a police officer is directing traffic.

If you want to park your vehicle for a short time, and it is night time, keep the vehicle as visible as possible without compromising other road users - pick a visible position and leave your parking or hazard lights on.

High beam headlights can usually be activated by pushing the headlight control wand forwards, after which a blue light will appear on your dashboard; some vehicles differ in how this operates, though.

Avoid looking at the headlights of oncoming vehicles because it will cause your pupils to contract and make you less able to see hazards. If you are dazzled, look at the left of the road, slow down and stop if necessary until your eyes recover.

You are allowed to briefly flash your headlights immediately before starting an overtaking manoeuvre to help warn the driver ahead of you that you are overtaking.

Some new cars have automated cancellation of the high beam headlights, though these systems are still not perfect, and have the problem of drivers getting out of the habit of checking their lights themselves.

Other new technology uses an LED matrix to mask the high beam light from other drivers while still allowing the beam to illuminate the road ahead.

Car

• Alcohol and Drugs
• Core
• Defensive Driving
• General Knowledge
• Intersections
• Negligent Driving
• Pedestrians
• Seat Belts/Restraints
• Speed Limits
• Traffic Lights and Lanes
• Traffic Signs

Motorbike

• Bike-specific Questions
• Alcohol and Drugs
• Core
• Defensive Driving
• General Knowledge
• Intersections
• Negligent Driving
• Pedestrians
• Rider Safety
• Speed Limits
• Traffic Lights and Lanes
• Traffic Signs

Heavy Vehicles

• Combination Vehicles
• Rigid Vehicles
• Alcohol and Drugs
• Core
• Defensive Driving
• General Knowledge
• Intersections
• Load Restraint
• Negligent Driving
• Pedestrians
• Seat Belts/Restraints
• Speed Limits
• Traffic Lights and Lanes
• Traffic Signs

Learner's Permit Tests

• Homepage
• Driver Knowledge Tests Android App
• Driver Knowledge Tests iPhone App
• About us
• Contact us
• Privacy & Terms
• Getting your learner licence
• Driving on a Foreign Licence in Australia
• Road signs

© 2010-2026 DriverKnowledgeTests.com. All rights reserved. Questions and images are copyright Roads and Maritime Services.PO Box 12541, Penrose, Auckland, 1061