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Rhode Island driving lesson · Sharing the Road Safely

Night Driving & Headlights

A 3-minute lesson from the Rhode Island 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
Sharing the Road Safely
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
52, 53, 58

Driving at night is more dangerous than in daytime because you can't see as far ahead. Rhode Island law spells out exactly when your headlights must be on and when your high beams must come down.

Headlights must be on:

  • From sunset to sunrise
  • Any time you can't see 500 feet ahead
  • Whenever your windshield wipers are in use (rain, sleet, snow, etc.)
  • In the daytime when bad weather reduces visibility
Handbook p. 52 ↗

Know the rule

Use low beams in snow, rain, fog or any condition that reduces visibility. High beams reflect off the precipitation and shorten how far you can see.

Handbook p. 52 ↗

The 500/200 rule for dimming high beams

The 500/200 rule for dimming high beams
SituationDim high beams
Approaching an oncoming vehicleAt least 500 feet away
Following another vehicleWithin 200 feet
Handbook p. 53 ↗
High beams vs low beams
High beams vs. low beams
60 ft

Your rear license plate must be lit and readable from at least this far behind

Handbook p. 52 ↗

Glare recovery time

The temporary blindness after staring into bright headlights (or sunlight) while your eyes regain sight.

Handbook p. 53 ↗

Know the rule

To avoid glare from oncoming headlights, glance at the right edge of the road (the white fog line) until they pass. This also helps you spot pedestrians near the road edge.

Handbook p. 53 ↗

Know the rule

Headlights must be on in conditions that reduce visibility to less than 500 feet.

Handbook p. 58 ↗

Put it into practice

On a dark highway you have high beams on and see headlights coming over a hill about 600 feet away. Dim to low beams now—at least 500 feet before you meet—and glance toward the right fog line as the car passes.

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 your headlights on, per Rhode Island law?
  1. From 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise
  2. From sunset to sunrise, and anytime you can't see 500 feet ahead
  3. Between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., and in heavy fog
  4. Anytime you can't see 1,000 feet ahead

Answer: From sunset to sunrise, and anytime you can't see 500 feet ahead

Headlights are required from sunset to sunrise, and anytime you cannot see 500 feet ahead of you.

Handbook p. 52 ↗
At what distance should you dim your high beams when approaching an oncoming vehicle?
  1. At least 200 feet ahead
  2. At least 100 feet ahead
  3. At least 1,000 feet ahead
  4. At least 500 feet ahead

Answer: At least 500 feet ahead

Dim your high beams promptly at a distance of at least 500 feet when approaching another vehicle.

Handbook p. 53 ↗
At what distance should you dim your high beams when following another vehicle?
  1. 200 feet or less
  2. 500 feet or less
  3. 50 feet or less
  4. 1,000 feet or less

Answer: 200 feet or less

When following another vehicle at 200 feet or less, dim your high beams so you don't blind the driver ahead.

Handbook p. 53 ↗
How far must your rear license plate be visible and legible from behind your vehicle at night?
  1. At least 100 feet
  2. At least 60 feet
  3. At least 20 feet
  4. At least 500 feet

Answer: At least 60 feet

Your rear license plate must be lit so it can be seen and read at least 60 feet from the back of the vehicle.

Handbook p. 52 ↗
What should you do to avoid temporary blindness from oncoming headlight glare?
  1. Look toward the center line
  2. Squint and keep looking at the oncoming lights
  3. Glance toward the right edge of the roadway (fog line)
  4. Switch your own lights to high beams

Answer: Glance toward the right edge of the roadway (fog line)

Glance at the right edge of the roadway or fog line until the bright lights pass, rather than staring into them.

Handbook p. 53 ↗
Why is driving at night described as more dangerous than driving in daytime?
  1. Traffic laws are stricter at night
  2. Vehicles must travel slower by law at night
  3. Traffic signals are harder to see at night
  4. You cannot see as far ahead at night

Answer: You cannot see as far ahead at night

It is more dangerous to drive at night because you cannot see as far ahead as you can during the day.

Handbook p. 52 ↗
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