When can you legally use your vehicle’s high beams?

Using your vehicle’s high beams is legal and appropriate in situations where there are no oncoming vehicles and you are on an open road. High beams provide increased visibility by illuminating the road further ahead, which is especially useful in rural or less populated areas. This allows drivers to see obstacles, animals, or other hazards that may not be visible with standard low beams.

In heavy city traffic, using high beams can blind other drivers due to proximity and reflections from surrounding vehicles, making it unsafe and generally illegal. Similarly, using high beams in inclement weather, such as rain or fog, is discouraged because they can create glare and reduce visibility instead of improving it. High beams should be reserved for conditions where they enhance safety without compromising the ability of other drivers to see.

Thus, the best time to utilize high beams is when driving on open roads at night and when you are sure there are no oncoming vehicles.