When should a driver use dipped headlights?

Using dipped headlights is particularly important from just after dusk to just before dawn to enhance visibility on the road. During these hours, natural light decreases significantly, which can hinder a driver’s ability to see other vehicles, pedestrians, and obstacles clearly. Dipped headlights help illuminate the road directly in front of the vehicle without causing excessive glare to oncoming drivers, which is crucial for maintaining safety.

While dipped headlights can be advantageous in heavy rain, fog, and urban settings, they are essential for night driving. In heavy rain, low visibility can sometimes justify the use of dipped headlights, but it is not specifically mandated to use them only during this condition. Fog requires the use of fog lights primarily, and in urban areas, there are often street lights that enhance visibility, making standard headlights satisfactory. Thus, nighttime driving is the key context in which the use of dipped headlights is universally recommended.