Ever been blinded by the light? I’m not referring to the Manfred Mann song, but when driving down a dark highway and an oncoming driver does not dim their bright lights. When this does happen, it not only affects night vision, but also increases the potential of getting into a crash.
Headlight use is required from sunset to sunrise as well as any time visibility is reduced, such as rain, snow, sleet, hail or if smoke or fog is present. Headlight use is also required when there is a lack of light making a person or vehicle not clearly visible at a distance of 1,000 feet. Low beams allow drivers to see about 200 feet ahead, about a half of a city block. High beams allow drivers to see about 350-400 feet ahead, the equivalent of a full city block. In other words, high beams let you see twice as far as low beam lights.
High beams are generally used outside cities and in rural areas. High beams must be turned off with 500 hundred feet of an oncoming vehicle. When following another vehicle, high beams must be turned off within 300 feet to the rear of that vehicle. When traveling on the Interstate or on a divided highway that has a center median, high beams do not have to be turned off for approaching vehicles traveling the opposite direction. However, high beams do need to be turned off when approaching another vehicle from the rear, using the 300 feet rule.
When headlight use is required, at least two lighted lamps must be displayed, one on each side at the front of the vehicle. If a vehicle is equipped with any auxiliary lights, no more than four lights on the front of a vehicle may be lighted at any one time when driving on a highway. Vehicles equipped with auxiliary lamps must have the ability to dim or project a lower beam of light, following the rules stated above.
The mission of the North Dakota Highway Patrol is to make a difference every day by providing high quality law enforcement services to keep North Dakota safe and secure. The North Dakota Highway Patrol invites you to "Like" our Facebook page for more traffic safety, tips, and North Dakota Highway Patrol news: www.facebook.com/northdakotahighwaypatrol/.
For more information about North Dakota Century Code regarding motor vehicles: http://www.legis.nd.gov/cencode/t39.html