Is keeping high beams on illegal?
Since the law requires that drivers dim their headlights within 500 feet of an oncoming car, a strict interpretation of the law would indicate that flashing your high beams is only legal when you’re more than 500 feet away from the approaching car.
Is it illegal to leave your brights on?
At night, it’s generally against the law to flash high beams at nearby vehicles. For example, in Alberta, you must have high beams off if you’re within 300 metres of an approaching vehicle or if you’re following a vehicle that’s 150 metres or closer in front of you. It’s a $155 fine.
Why do high beams work but low beams don’t?
This is the most common reason we see for why a car’s high beam headlights work but the low beams don’t. The normal headlights are on far more often than the high beams, so the low beams burn out more frequently. Some vehicles have entirely different bulbs for the high beams, and other models have headlights with two different filaments.
Is it safe to drive with high beams on?
No one wants to be driving along at night and have their headlights go out. In many cases, the high beams will still work when the regular headlights stop, but it’s just not safe to drive around with your high beams potentially blinding other drivers.
How does a high beam light bulb work?
Get familiar with the fuses and relays that control your headlights. The headlight switch usually doesn’t control the headlight bulbs directly, but through one or more relays. The headlight switch powers a relay, which powers the headlight bulb. This protects the headlight switch from the high current used by the high beam headlights.
Do you need high beam headlights for night vision?
High beam headlights are an absolute must for superior night vision and driving safety. Benjamin Jerew is an ASE-certified Master Automobile Technician with over a decade of experience in auto repair, maintenance, and diagnosis.