Roadwise States District of Columbia Driving lessons Headlights: low & high beams District of Columbia driving lesson · Driving Rules: Turns, Passing & Lights
Headlights: low & high beams A 2-minute lesson from the District of Columbia course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 2 minutes
Course unit Driving Rules: Turns, Passing & Lights
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 37, 42 Headlights help you see and help others see you. DC law says when you must turn them on and when you must dim them.
You must turn on your headlights: From one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise Any other time you can't clearly see persons or vehicles 500 feet away or less When driving in a tunnel Whenever your windshield wipers are on Handbook p. 42 ↗ Know the rule
Use low beams when approaching or closely following other vehicles, with streetlights, and in fog.
Handbook p. 42 ↗ Know the rule
Use high beams on dark roads to see persons or vehicles ahead, whenever needed, with two exceptions below.
Handbook p. 42 ↗ 500 feet Switch to low beams at least this far before meeting an oncoming vehicle
Handbook p. 42 ↗ 300 feet Switch to low beams when following a vehicle at this distance or less
Handbook p. 42 ↗ Know the rule
When following a truck at night, always dim your headlights; bright lights reflect off its big side mirrors into the driver's eyes.
Handbook p. 37 ↗ Save fuel by driving carefully: Accelerate gradually Drive smoothly and at moderate speeds Anticipate stops to minimize hard braking Avoid unnecessary driving Combine trips and carpool when possible Handbook p. 42 ↗ Put it into practice
You're on a dark road with high beams on and see headlights over a rise ahead. Dim to low beams at least 500 feet before you meet. Catching up to a car ahead? Dim when you're 300 feet or closer.
Check your understanding Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.
When must you turn on your headlights in DC, based on time of day? Only after 9:00 pm From sunset to sunrise 30 min after sunset to 30 min before sunrise Only when it is raining Answer: 30 min after sunset to 30 min before sunrise
You must turn on your headlights from one-half hour after sunset until one-half hour before sunrise.
Handbook p. 42 ↗ Outside the sunset-to-sunrise window, you must also use headlights when you cannot clearly see persons or vehicles at what distance? 1,000 feet or less 500 feet or less 300 feet or less 100 feet or less Answer: 500 feet or less
You must turn on your headlights when you cannot see persons or vehicles on the highway clearly at a distance of 500 feet or less.
Handbook p. 42 ↗ When must headlights be used in a tunnel? Always, when driving through a tunnel Only in tunnels longer than a quarter mile Only if the tunnel lighting is off Headlights are prohibited in tunnels Answer: Always, when driving through a tunnel
The handbook requires headlights whenever driving through a tunnel.
Handbook p. 42 ↗ At what distance before meeting an oncoming vehicle must you switch from high beams to low beams? At least 100 feet At least 500 feet At least 1,000 feet At least 50 feet Answer: At least 500 feet
You must change to low beams at least 500 feet before meeting an oncoming vehicle.
Handbook p. 42 ↗ At what following distance must you switch from high beams to low beams behind another vehicle? 100 feet or less 500 feet or less 300 feet or less 1,000 feet or less Answer: 300 feet or less
You must switch to low beams when following a vehicle at a distance of 300 feet or less.
Handbook p. 42 ↗ Low beams should be used in which of these situations? On dark roads with no one ahead Near other vehicles, streetlights, or fog Only on interstate highways Only between midnight and dawn Answer: Near other vehicles, streetlights, or fog
Low beams are appropriate near other vehicles, under streetlights, and in fog conditions.
Handbook p. 42 ↗ Previous lesson U-turns, turnabouts & keeping right Next lesson Parallel & hill parking More in Driving Rules: Turns, Passing & Lights About the source Roadwise’s District of Columbia course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 37, 42. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
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