During poor weather conditions such as rain, snow, smoke and fog, how should you use your headlights?
- Leave them off
- On low beam ✓
- In any of these ways
- On high beam
Answer: B. On low beam
In rain, snow, smoke and fog you should drive with your headlights on low beam.
Why this is the answer
The handbook's advice for low visibility conditions includes using low beam headlights in rain, snow and fog. In these conditions, visibility is often reduced, and the same chapter tells you to slow down, keep extra space, scan more carefully, and even pull over and stop if visibility gets bad enough. Low beams are the setting the handbook names for this kind of weather.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Leave them off — Leaving the headlights off makes you harder for other drivers to see when visibility is already reduced, which is the opposite of what the handbook advises for rain, snow and fog.
- C. In any of these ways — The handbook does not say any setting will do here; it names low beam headlights specifically for rain, snow and fog.
- D. On high beam — High beam is not the setting the handbook gives for these conditions; the guidance is to use low beam headlights in rain, snow and fog.
Remember it
Bad weather means you want to see and be seen without blinding anyone: drop to low beam whenever rain, snow or fog cuts visibility.