You should dip (lower) your headlights from main beam to dipped beam whenever they might dazzle someone else, and you should use dipped headlights whenever visibility is reduced.

Key situations to dip your headlights

Use dipped headlights instead of full beam:

  • When you are within about 150–200 metres of an oncoming vehicle so you do not dazzle the driver.
  • When you are following another vehicle at a similar distance, because full beam will reflect in their mirrors and affect their vision.
  • At night on lit, built‑up or urban roads where street lighting gives reasonable visibility; here dipped headlights are usually the correct setting.
  • When overtaking at night: keep your lights dipped as you approach and draw level, so you do not dazzle the driver ahead or oncoming traffic.
  • When a police officer or other authorised person is directing traffic, to avoid dazzling them.

When to use dipped headlights in general

Even when you are not switching down from full beam, dipped headlights are the “default” headlights in poor conditions:

  • At night whenever visibility is reduced (typically when you cannot see at least about 100 metres ahead).
  • In bad weather such as heavy rain, fog, or snow, so other road users can see you more easily.
  • In dull daytime conditions (dark overcast skies, heavy showers, mist) where sidelights alone may not make you visible enough.

Simple rule of thumb

If your main beam could shine directly into another road user’s eyes or mirrors, dip your headlights.

If it is dark or visibility is seriously reduced and you are not alone on an unlit road, stay on dipped headlights so that you can see and be seen without dazzling others.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.