How to use driving beams correctly? Traficom’s tips on the use of car lights in the darkest time of the year

When using main beams (driving beams), drivers should be careful not to dazzle others. The use of main beams is completely prohibited in roads with satisfactory lighting. The following tips help you use main beams correctly and minimise the dark blind spots:

1. When encountering an oncoming vehicle: Switch to dipped beams (passing beams) when the beams of your vehicle and the oncoming vehicle meet. This minimises the blind spot between the vehicles.  
2. When parallel to an oncoming vehicle: Switch back to main beams just before reaching the oncoming vehicle or, at the latest, when parallel to the vehicle. This gives you immediately full visibility ahead. 
3. When catching up a vehicle: Switch to dipped beams when you see the outline of the vehicle ahead, not just the tail lights.

Daytime running lights are a risk to bicycles, pedestrians and vehicles coming from behind  

Efficient and correct use of car lights is important to traffic safety. When using so-called daytime running lights, the light ahead of the vehicle is scattered and tail lights may not be on. Daytime running lights do not illuminate pedestrians’ reflectors, and the car is difficult to detect from behind in the dark or in poor weather conditions if the tail lights are off.  

“Every driver should familiarise themselves with the lights of their vehicle and their operation in different conditions,” Pohjonen says. “The easiest way to do this is to read the vehicle’s manual and to simply test how the lights change when you turn the light switch to different positions.”