When should a driver use dipped headlights?

Using dipped headlights is essential for ensuring both visibility for the driver and safety for other road users. Dipped headlights should be used from just after dusk to just before dawn because, during these hours, natural light decreases significantly, making it difficult for drivers to see clearly and for others to see their vehicle. This period encompasses times when it’s essential to enhance visibility on the road, preventing accidents and ensuring safe driving conditions.

In terms of the other scenarios, while using dipped headlights during heavy rain, in foggy conditions, and in urban areas is important as well, they are situationally dependent and not as universally required as the timeframe specified. In heavy rain, fog, or urban areas, the use of dipped headlights primarily enhances visibility but does not have the same blanket necessity as in dense darkness encountered between dusk and dawn.