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Question

Difficulty: MediumNight Driving and Headlight Usage

You are driving on an unlit two-lane road at night using your high-beam headlights. As you approach a sharp blind curve where your forward vision around the bend is obstructed, which action should you take regarding your headlights and speed?

  1. Switch to low-beam headlights before entering the curve and reduce your speed to match your illuminated stopping distance.Answer
  2. B
    Keep your high-beam headlights on until you see oncoming headlights, while maintaining your current speed through the turn.
  3. C
    Maintain the posted speed limit and flash your high beams repeatedly to warn any potential oncoming vehicles.
  4. D
    Accelerate slightly with low-beam headlights on so you can clear the dark curve quickly.

Answer

Switch to low-beam headlights before entering the curve and reduce your speed to match your illuminated stopping distance.
Switching to low-beam headlights before entering a blind curve avoids blinding oncoming motorists before they become visible. Reducing speed ensures that your stopping distance remains within the distance illuminated by your headlights, complying with safe night driving principles.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Assess the risk of glare to oncoming traffic around a blind curve.
Determine that high beams will blind an approaching driver before their vehicle comes into direct sight.
Headlights illuminate ahead in a straight line, which projects across the curve into the path of oncoming drivers.
2
Adjust speed and illumination appropriately.
Switch to low-beam headlights and decrease speed so total stopping distance does not exceed sight distance.
The basic speed law requires driving at a speed that permits stopping safely within the visible distance illuminated by headlights.

Key Concept

Safe Headlight Selection and Speed Control at Night Curves
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Night Driving and Headlight Usage

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