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Wyoming driving lesson · Defensive Driving & Conditions

Driving at night

A 3-minute lesson from the Wyoming 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
Defensive Driving & Conditions
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
77, 78

Darkness cuts how far you can see, adds glare and brings animals onto the road. Wyoming law sets exact rules for when headlights go on and when high beams must be dimmed. Learn the numbers.

Know the rule

Headlights must be on from one-half hour after sunset until one-half hour before sunrise.

Handbook p. 77 ↗
1,000 feet

Also use headlights whenever people and vehicles can't be clearly seen at this distance

Handbook p. 77 ↗

Know the rule

Turn on low beams whenever the light begins to fade, so others can see you and judge what you're doing.

Handbook p. 77 ↗

Know the rule

Never drive with only parking lights. They can't be seen until your vehicle is clearly visible, and it's illegal when headlights are required.

Handbook p. 77 ↗

Know the rule

If you can't see clearly, increase your following distance by at least three or four seconds.

Handbook p. 77 ↗
55 mph

Above this at night, you can't stop within the distance you can see

Handbook p. 77 ↗

Know the rule

Use high beams on rural highways. Use low beams when following other vehicles, meeting oncoming vehicles and driving in town.

Handbook p. 78 ↗

When to dim your high beams

When to dim your high beams
SituationDistance
Meeting an oncoming vehicleAt least 500 ft (about 4-5 seconds)
Approaching from behindWithin 300 ft of the vehicle
Handbook p. 78 ↗

Know the rule

If an oncoming driver doesn't dim and you're more than 500 feet away, use a beam aimed so the glare doesn't hit the other driver's eyes. Low beams must always be aimed to avoid glare.

Handbook p. 78 ↗

Fight glare and fatigue:

  • Keep your windshield clean inside and out to cut glare
  • Keep headlights clean so they give more light
  • Keep your eyes moving instead of staring at the spot your headlights make
  • Scan for animals, pedestrians and bicycle riders
  • Check the sides for lights of vehicles about to cross or enter the road
  • Watch lights of vehicles ahead for changes in speed or lane position
Handbook p. 78 ↗

Put it into practice

On a dark rural highway you have your high beams on. An oncoming car appears in the distance. Switch to low beams at least 500 feet before you meet it. Later, you catch up to a truck; dim when you get 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.

If you cannot see clearly at night, it makes sense to increase your following distance by at least three or four seconds.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

If you cannot see clearly, increase your following distance at least three or four seconds.

Handbook p. 77 ↗
When must headlights be used, according to Wyoming law?
  1. Only after full darkness has set in
  2. Half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise
  3. From sunset to sunrise exactly
  4. From half an hour before sunset to half an hour after sunrise

Answer: Half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise

Headlights must be used from one-half hour after sunset until one-half hour before sunrise, and any time visibility is reduced below 1,000 feet.

Handbook p. 77 ↗
About how far before meeting an oncoming vehicle should you dim your high beams?
  1. At least 100 feet
  2. At least 1,000 feet
  3. At least 500 feet
  4. At least 50 feet

Answer: At least 500 feet

You should dim your high beams at least 500 feet, about four to five seconds, before meeting an oncoming vehicle.

Handbook p. 78 ↗
If you are within how many feet of the rear of a vehicle you are following, should you dim your lights to their lowest beam?
  1. 500 feet
  2. 100 feet
  3. 1,000 feet
  4. 300 feet

Answer: 300 feet

If you are within 300 feet from the rear of a vehicle you are approaching, dim your lights to their lowest beam.

Handbook p. 78 ↗
An oncoming driver fails to dim their high beams and remains more than 500 feet away. What should you do?
  1. Aim a composite beam away from their eyes
  2. Keep your full high beams on until they dim
  3. Flash your brights repeatedly until they dim
  4. Pull completely off the roadway and stop

Answer: Aim a composite beam away from their eyes

If the oncoming driver fails to dim and is more than 500 feet away, use a distribution of light aimed so glaring rays are not projected into their eyes.

Handbook p. 78 ↗
Why should you never use only parking lights while driving?
  1. They use too much battery power
  2. They're not visible until very close
  3. They glare into oncoming drivers' eyes
  4. They are illegal to switch on at any time

Answer: They're not visible until very close

Never use parking lights while driving; they cannot be seen until after your vehicle is clearly visible, and it is not legal when headlights are required.

Handbook p. 77 ↗
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