What is the proper use of headlights?

• A. Use headlights only from sunset to sunrise.
• B. Use headlights from sunset to sunrise and when visibility is reduced; use low beams in fog to reduce glare.
• C. Turn on headlights only when your battery is low.
• D. Use high beams at all times.

Answer: (B)

Using headlights properly is about visibility for you and being seen by others. In Tennessee, you should have headlights on from sunset to sunrise and anytime visibility is reduced, such as in rain, fog, or heavy clouds. When fog is present, switch to low beams rather than high beams. High beams can bounce off fog droplets and create a glare that makes it harder to see the road and can blind other drivers. Low beams focus light toward the road and reduce that glare, helping you detect lane markings, pedestrians, and obstacles more clearly.

So the best practice is to have headlights on during low-light conditions and whenever visibility is reduced, and to use low beams in fog to minimize glare. Turning headlights on only when your battery is low or using high beams all the time would undermine safety, since they either fail to improve visibility in poor conditions or end up blinding other drivers.