When should you dip your headlights?

Dipping your headlights is essential for ensuring the safety of all road users. The correct practice is to dip your headlights when meeting other cars and in built-up areas. This action is crucial for maintaining visibility without blinding other drivers. Full headlights can dazzle an oncoming driver, potentially leading to hazardous situations.

In built-up areas, where street lighting is often present, dipped headlights help in avoiding glare and keeping the illumination focused ahead without affecting pedestrians or other vehicles. By doing so, you also contribute to a safer driving environment for everyone on the road, as it allows other drivers and road users, including cyclists and pedestrians, to navigate safely without the risk of being momentarily blinded by bright headlight beams.

The other situations, while important for awareness and safety, do not specifically require the headlights to be dipped in the same standardized manner as when meeting oncoming traffic.