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Driving Tips > The 60-Second Driver
Headlights
Your headlights provide you with the ability to see and be seen by others. Here are some tips and rules regarding the proper use of lights. Let’s start with the laws.
The Highway Traffic Act requires us to turn on our headlights:
- one half-hour before sunset
- one half-hour after sunrise
- when visibility is reduced to less than 60 metres due to snow, fog or heavy rain
When using headlights
in bad weather, like fog, always keep them on the
low beam to reduce the glaring reflection.
Many vehicles are equipped with fog lights and these are meant to light the road in poor visibility conditions. They should not be used at any other time in conjunction with high beams.
Be aware of your headlight use when driving at night because many highway accidents are caused by drivers being temporarily blinded by the improper use of high beams.
If your speed requires a total stopping distance that exceeds the range of your headlights, you are over-driving your headlights. You will not be able to stop your vehicle before reaching a possible hazard. Reduce your speed so you can stop comfortably within the range of your headlights.
To reduce glare, do not look directly at the headlights of oncoming traffic; instead, look to the right edge of the roadway.
To cut glare from the rear, adjust your mirror or use a day-night mirror. Reduce your speed until your eyes have recovered from the glare.
When another car approaches in the other direction, you should dim your high beams at about 450 metres. When you come up behind another vehicle, switch to low beam about 60 metres back.
Clean your headlights, tail-lights and signal lights to make sure that you can see and be seen.
Here's a tip if you're traveling and encounter a tunnel - your headlights should be turned on before, not after, you enter the tunnel.
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