Light assisstance

Member Joined: Feb 02, 2010 Posts: 26

Assisst me at what all instance i should use high beam light.

Site Admin Joined: Jan 06, 2010 Posts: 485

I only use full beam headlights at night on a motorway, with no traffic coming in front. Dipped headlights are normal running lights, unless you want to blind the poor guy coming towards you!

Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2010 11:19 am

Quite right MOW, thanks for answering this. Smile

Also, it's a good idea to show courtesy to the drivers traveling in the same direction with you in front of you. I am sure you are switching to low beam when you are getting closer to them, just wanted to articulate this for others Smile

Site Admin Joined: Jan 06, 2010 Posts: 485

thanks darling...! Smile

see, I DO know something about driving unlike what hubby thinks.... Rolling Eyes

And yes, I agree that this is more a matter of courtesy than anything else, and it's certainly not very nice when someone comes flashing full beam towards you...!

Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 8:55 am

Oh yeah! And towards your back either, that was my point. But then they might want to see your back better, don't they? Wink

Site Admin Joined: Jan 06, 2010 Posts: 485

oh I know that feeling alright....you can feel them drilling holes into you from behind....sends shivers up my spine...! Dipped eyes... sorry lights please!!

Seasoned Driver Joined: Jul 15, 2012 Posts: 120

A few years ago when vehicle headlights in the USA were finally allowed to catch up with the rest of the world regarding headlight technology, I experienced some problems being blinded by oncoming lights which were not on high beam. I replaced the bulbs in my 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse with Sylvania Silverstar Ultras. They performed as advertised. I was at first puzzled that I no longer experienced being blinded by oncoming lights. I did a little research and was surprised to learn that light waves of the same frequency colliding directly head on can actually cancel each other. Waves of similar frequency colliding nearly head on can produce a scattering effect. The factory headlights on my 2010 Kia produce the same effect. I almost never use my high beams.

Master Driver Joined: Mar 27, 2010 Posts: 209

wertz wrote:

Assisst me at what all instance i should use high beam light.

I cannot believe I didn't see this thread before!

First, let's get rid of the term "high beam." It's not a "high" beam - it's a "full" beam, driving beam or main beam. This contributes that the main beam is the DEFAULT beam for night driving!

Anywhere from near sunset (or even in overcast weather) and to sunrise, even in roads with street lighting - use the full beam. Only dip the full beam if:

1. You might dazzle another road user or pedestrian (dazzle happens within 600 feet).

2. If the road is very well illumanted and you feel like the main beam isn't necessary.

Even in those situations, you can resort to occasional quick flashes of the full beam to illuminate the road without dazzling anyone.

Using the full beam gives you thrince the range, about twice the spread and about ten times more the more clearity in the lighted area. It can also make you more conspicious to other road users and even help light the road for THEM.

Single Carriageway
In a single carriageway, drive on the full beam and dip once an oncoming driver comes into view (or if you follow another driver closely). When the other driver is about to get past you - undip. Because of the angle, you will not dazzle the other driver, but you will avoid transitioning from the area illuminated by his lights into the darkness.

If you are driving on a dual-carriageway and on the right lane, you can undip even earlier (when your headlamps are about 45 degrees relative to the driver of the other car).

Right-handers
Keep the full beam on and dip before another driver (or the lights of the other car - if you cannot see the car itself) comes into the area lighted by your lamps across the bend. This method illuminates the bend for the other driver and alrets them to your presence.

Left-handers
In tight corners, keep to the far end of the lane and keep the full beam on. You should manage to make it across the entire turn without dipping (or dipping momentarily) and without dazzling another driver.

Seasoned Driver Joined: Jul 15, 2012 Posts: 120

Astraist, Please no offense intended I admire your knowledge. Please realise that other people use other terminology. In the USA the common term is "Low Beam/High Beam". Low beams are aimed low. High beams are aimed high. It makes perfect sense to us. These terms are used in our state driving manuals and written driving tests.

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 11:18 am

Yep, I can confirm it - high/low beam is a proper term on this side of the pond. Nobody will understand you if you say "full beam". Smile

This actually reminds about even funnier situation. Both my former and later wives grew up in the places thousands miles away from the place I grew up. And with both we had a blank stare moments when something that was said did not register with the other side at all. Not many cases, but at least a handful of things had totally different names.

And this is the same country! I can imagine how many language differences are between English speaking countries scattered all over the globe. Smile

Seasoned Driver Joined: Jul 15, 2012 Posts: 120

Misha wrote:

And this is the same country! I can imagine how many language differences are between English speaking countries scattered all over the globe. Smile

You got me thinking about working on British automobiles and having to translate English/English to American/English. I found this rather comprehensive list.

Examples of British vs American Automotive Translations

British Term
1. accumulator
2. actuator
3. Artic (articulated lorry)
4. baulk ring
5. bonnet
6. boot
7. bulkhead
8. choke tube
9. core plug
10. crocodile clip
11. crosshead
12. crown wheel
13. cubby box
14. damper
15. drive shaft
16. drophead coupe
17. dynamo
18. earth
19. estate
20. fascia
21. fixed-head coupe
22. Gallon (Imperial)
23. gearbox
24. hood
25. jointing compound
26. lorry
27. monocoque
28. MOT = Ministry of Transport
29. nave plate
30. nose
31. paraffin
32. pinking
33. prop shaft
34. petrol
35. prise
36. quarterlight
37. rev counter
38. ring gear
39. roadster
40. roundabout
41. RoStyle
42. saloon
43. scuttle
44. side curtains
45. silencer
46. sill
47. spanner
48. squab
49. suction advance
50. sump
51. thrust bearing
52. tickover
53. top gear
54. torch
55. trunnion
56. Tyre
57. wheel nut
58. Whitworth
59. windscreen
60. wing

American Term
1. battery
2. switch or servo
3. tractor-trailer
4. synchro ring
5. hood
6. trunk
7. firewall
8. venturi
9. freeze plug
10. alligator clip
11. Phillips
12. ring gear
13. glove box or glove compartment
14. shock absorber
15. half shaft or axle shaft
16. convertible version of 2 door coupe
17. generator
18. ground
19. station wagon
20. dashboard
21. 2-door coupe
22. 5 US Quarts
23. transmission
24. convertible top
25. gasket sealant
26. truck
27. unibody
28. DOT = Department of Transportation
29. hubcap
30. front of car
31. kerosene
32. knocking or pinging
33. drive shaft
34. gasoline
35. pry
36. vent window
37. tachometer
38. flywheel gear, or starter gear
39. car that only comes in a convertible style
40. rotary, traffic circle
41. type of steel wheel (as opposed to wire)
42. 2 or 4-door sedan
43. cowl
44. removable side windows
45. muffler
46. rocker panel
47. wrench
48. part of seat
49. vacuum advance
50. oil pan
51. throwout bearing
52. idle
53. high gear
54. flashlight
55. sliding or rotating joint (suspension)
56. tire
57. lug nut
58. British thread measuring standard
59. windshield
60. fender

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 12:23 pm

Thanks SQT, great find. Funny enough it does not have hign beam/full beam Very Happy

Oh, and I took a freedom to fix the table for you Smile

Seasoned Driver Joined: Jul 15, 2012 Posts: 120

Misha wrote:

Thanks SQT, great find. Funny enough it does not have hign beam/full beam Very Happy

Oh, and I took a freedom to fix the table for you Smile

Thanks Misha. I had never heard the term "Full Beam" prior to this forum.

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 12:52 pm

Me neither - but then I never lived in Israel, so this may be Israeli specific.

Master Driver Joined: Mar 27, 2010 Posts: 209

It's actually an English (i.e. British) term. The Israeli term, obviously in Hebrew, is "Road Beam", but the common expression is "high beam."

Sadly, people fail to use their high beams because of the risk of dazzling another driver and maybe cause they are afraid of what it might do to their gas consumption.

However, the high beams should be the DEFAULT light for night driving! Even many roads that are illuminated still offer poor visibilty. The high beams provide over thrince the range, as well as a bigger width and better clarity inside the luminated area. Also, the high beams can illuminate the road for other road users and en route alert them of your presence - before you get a chance at dazzling them.

I have trained many drivers who struggled with night driving and night vision, only to find the big shift in simply using the lights more inteligently in order to get a better view.

I even find myself using the high beams to flash into areas besides the road, like into woods or alleys that might conceal a hazard. The usefullness of the high beams at any driving enviornment other than broad daylight - including overcast weather, late evening nights and early morning hours - cannot be stressed enough!