When are you allowed to use your high beams?

Using high beams is appropriate primarily when driving alone on dark roads. High beams enhance visibility significantly by illuminating a larger area further down the road, which is especially beneficial in low-light conditions where there are no oncoming vehicles or traffic present. Utilizing high beams in these scenarios allows a driver to better detect potential hazards, obstacles, or animals that may be on or near the road.

In contrast, using high beams in well-lit urban areas can create glare for other drivers and is generally considered unnecessary since streetlights provide adequate illumination. During heavy rain, high beams can also reflect off the moisture in the air and create a blinding effect, reducing visibility instead of improving it. The use of high beams whenever one desires is not safe or legal, as it disregards the need to consider other drivers on the road who may be affected by the bright lights. Thus, the specific context of driving on dark roads alone presents the safest and most appropriate scenario for using high beams.