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Missouri driving lesson · Special Driving Conditions

Night driving and headlights

A 3-minute lesson from the Missouri course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Special Driving Conditions
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
64

At night your headlights show less of the road ahead and its sides, and oncoming glare makes seeing harder. Drive slowly enough to stop within what your lights reveal, and dim your high beams in time.

About 350 ft

How far ahead your headlights let you see

Handbook p. 64 ↗

Know the rule

Turn your headlights on from ½ hour after sunset until ½ hour before sunrise.

Handbook p. 64 ↗

Know the rule

You must use your headlights any time weather conditions require your windshield wipers.

Handbook p. 64 ↗

High and low beams

High and low beams
SituationUse
No oncoming vehiclesHigh beams
Within 500 ft (about a block) of an oncoming vehicleLow beams
Following another vehicle within 300 ftLow beams
Handbook p. 64 ↗

Know the rule

Don't overdrive your headlights: drive slowly enough to stop or turn within the distance you can see.

Handbook p. 64 ↗

Also at night:

  • Keep your windows and headlights clean, and have headlight aim checked from time to time
  • Slow down nearing a curve if you're driving at the maximum posted speed limit
  • Use the edge line as a guide; if there's no edge line, use the center line
  • Stay awake and alert; don't drive if you feel tired
  • Watch carefully for highway signs, which are harder to see at night
  • Watch for people and vehicles stopped on the side of the road
Handbook p. 64 ↗

Put it into practice

On a dark rural highway, you're using high beams when headlights appear about a block ahead. Switch to low beams now, within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle. Later you catch up to a car ahead: dim once you're within 300 feet.

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 should you turn your headlights on, relative to sunset and sunrise?
  1. From sunset to sunrise exactly
  2. ½ hour after sunset to ½ hour before sunrise
  3. Only when it is completely dark
  4. 1 hour after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise

Answer: ½ hour after sunset to ½ hour before sunrise

Turn your headlights on from ½ hour after sunset until ½ hour before sunrise.

Handbook p. 64 ↗
About how far ahead do your headlights let you see at night?
  1. About 100 feet
  2. About 200 feet
  3. About 350 feet
  4. About 500 feet

Answer: About 350 feet

Your headlights only let you see about 350 feet ahead, so you must not overdrive your headlights.

Handbook p. 64 ↗
When should you switch to low beams when approaching an oncoming vehicle at night?
  1. Within 1,000 feet
  2. Within 300 feet
  3. Within 100 feet
  4. Within 500 feet

Answer: Within 500 feet

Use your low beams when you come within 500 feet (about one block) of an oncoming vehicle.

Handbook p. 64 ↗
When should you use low beams while following another vehicle at night?
  1. Within 300 feet
  2. Within 100 feet
  3. Within 500 feet
  4. Within 200 feet

Answer: Within 300 feet

Also use your low beams when following another vehicle within 300 feet.

Handbook p. 64 ↗
When is it legally required for you to use your headlights, regardless of the time of day?
  1. Only in fog
  2. Any time you need your wipers on
  3. Only when it is snowing
  4. Only if visibility is under 1,000 feet

Answer: Any time you need your wipers on

You must use your headlights any time weather conditions require the use of your windshield wipers.

Handbook p. 64 ↗
If there is no edge line on the road at night, what should you use as a guide?
  1. The headlights of oncoming vehicles
  2. The taillights of vehicles ahead
  3. The centerline
  4. Landmarks in the distance

Answer: The centerline

Use the edge line as a guide; if there is no edge line, use the center line to guide you.

Handbook p. 64 ↗
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