when driving in rain, you should turn headlights on high beam, turn on windshield wipers and make adjustments gently and smoothly?

Short answer: No — do not use high beams in rain. Use low beams, turn on windshield wipers, and make smooth, gentle steering and braking adjustments. Explanation and practical guidance

Why not high beams?

• High beams reflect off raindrops and fog, causing glare and reduced forward visibility.
• Most road-safety authorities and driver manuals recommend low beams (or fog lights where fitted) in rain and low visibility.

Correct actions in rain

• Low-beam headlights: Improves your visibility to others and avoids glare.
• Windshield wipers: Use an appropriate intermittent or continuous speed so you can see clearly without excess streaking.
• Defog/air conditioning: Use demister or A/C to clear interior fog quickly.
• Smooth adjustments: Accelerate, steer, and brake gently to avoid hydroplaning or losing control.
• Reduce speed: Lower speed to match visibility and road surface conditions.
• Increase following distance: Allow considerably more space — typically double or more than normal.
• Avoid sudden moves: No sharp lane changes or hard braking.
• Avoid standing water: If possible, steer around deep puddles to prevent hydroplaning or engine damage.
• If visibility becomes very poor: Pull off the road safely, turn on hazard lights, and wait until conditions improve.

Mini example (how to handle a sudden heavy shower)

1. Slow down gradually, signal, and move to the right lane if appropriate.
2. Switch headlights to low beam and turn wipers to a speed that clears the windshield.
3. Turn on the rear fog lamp only if your vehicle has one and visibility is severely reduced (check local rules).
4. Maintain a larger gap from the car ahead and avoid braking suddenly.

Multiviewpoint note

• Some drivers mistakenly use high beams thinking they help — they briefly illuminate more distance but create backscatter from droplets and worsen visibility for everyone.
• Modern adaptive headlights and fog-lamps: If your car has “auto” lights, they usually select low beams in rain. Fog lamps help in very poor visibility but should be used per your local laws.

Trending/temporal context

• Recent vehicle safety guidance (2020s onward) and driving courses continue to emphasize low beams and smooth control in wet conditions. Newer cars add driver aids (rain-sensing wipers, auto headlights) that help but don’t replace cautious driving.

Meta note

• For local rules, check your country or state road code; some jurisdictions regulate fog lamp use and headlamp settings.

Bottom note
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here. Would you like a short checklist you can print and keep in your glovebox?