Most of us have had the unfortunate experience of driving at night only to be temporarily blinded by someone else’s excessively bright high beams but is this dangerous annoyance becoming more common?
New generation vehicles often boast bright LED technology capable of lighting up the road for drivers but what happens when drivers forget to dip their lights for oncoming vehicles or vehicles travelling ahead of them?
The Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania (RACT) has put out a release raising members’ concerns over the impact these lights can have on other drivers on the road.
“The LED light bars are an aid to safety in regional areas and off-road, but many drivers are telling us that they are being blinded by vehicles failing to dip these lights,” says the RACT article.
Drivers are expected to dip their high beams when:
- less than 200 metres behind a vehicle travelling in the same direction or,
- less than 200 metres from an oncoming vehicle
Lights cannot be used in a way that they can dazzle other road users (this includes other motor vehicle drivers, bike riders and pedestrians).
Fog lights and additional lights which are fitted to the front of a vehicle to improve illumination of the road in fog, snowfall, heavy rain or dust clouds can only be used in low visibility situations.
When driving at night be mindful of other road uses and remember to dip your high beams when appropriate.
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