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Question

Difficulty: MediumNight Driving

You are driving at night on an unlit single carriageway and decide to overtake a slower vehicle ahead. At what point during the manoeuvre should you switch your headlights from dipped beam to main beam?

  1. A
    As soon as you steer out into the right-hand lane to begin the manoeuvre
  2. When you are level with or past the vehicle you are overtakingAnswer
  3. C
    After flashing your headlights twice to instruct the other driver to slow down
  4. D
    Only after pulling back into the left lane and passing any stationary vehicles on the verge

Answer

Switch your headlights to main beam when you are level with or past the vehicle you are overtaking, provided the road ahead is clear.
When overtaking another vehicle at night on an unlit road, you must keep your headlights on dipped beam while following behind and pulling out. You should only switch to main beam once you are level with or past the vehicle being overtaken, provided there are no oncoming vehicles that would be dazzled.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Maintain dipped headlights while approaching and preparing to overtake
Your headlights do not reflect into the rear-view or side mirrors of the vehicle ahead, preventing driver dazzle.
Main beam headlights from behind reflect directly into mirrors and temporarily blind the driver in front.
2
Switch to main beam only once your vehicle is parallel with or has moved past the overtaken vehicle
Full illumination of the road ahead is restored without shining into the other driver's mirrors.
At this position, the beam angle is directed down the open road ahead rather than into the other driver's field of vision.

Key Concept

Headlight control and dazzle prevention during night overtaking
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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Topics

Night Driving

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