Low beam is a vehicle's standard headlight , designed for use in twilight, nighttime, and poor visibility conditions such as fog, rain, or snow. It provides sufficient light to illuminate the road without blinding oncoming drivers .
1. Features of low beam
✅ White or yellow lighting → Provides clear visibility without excessive glare.
✅ Shines in a wide, downward angle → Prevents light from shining directly into the eyes of other road users.
✅ Mandatory in low light and poor visibility → Must be used at dusk, at night and in fog or rain .
✅ Switches on via the light switch → Not automatic like Daytime Running Lights (DRL) .
✅ Often combined with rear lights → When low beam is switched on, the rear lights come on automatically .
2. When do you use low beam?
📌 Always mandatory for night driving → Low beam is the standard lighting for night driving .
📌 In poor visibility during the day → Rain, fog, snow or darkness in tunnels.
📌 Instead of high beam for oncoming traffic → Prevents dazzling other drivers.
📌 Mandatory in some countries during daylight hours outside built-up areas → For example in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe.
💡 Please note: Daytime running lights (DRL) are not a replacement for low beam in bad weather, as DRL does not activate the tail lights .
3. Difference between low beam, high beam and daytime running lights (DRL)
| Feature | Low beam | High beam | Daytime running lights (DRL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usage | Standard at night and in poor visibility | Only on dark, empty roads | During the day for visibility |
| Automatically? | No | No | Yes |
| Colour | White or yellow | Bright white | White |
| Placement | Front of the car | Front of the car | Front only, no rear lights |
| Goal | Illuminate the road without glare | Maximum illumination at long distance | Make your car more visible during the day |
📌 Do not use high beam in fog , as this will reflect back and reduce visibility.
4. Types of low beam technologies
🔹 Halogen low beam → Most common, affordable and easy to replace.
🔹 Xenon (HID) low beam → Brighter than halogen, longer lifespan.
🔹 LED low beam → Energy-efficient, bright and modern.
🔹 Adaptive headlights → Low beam that moves with you in bends.
💡 LED and Xenon low beams provide brighter and more energy-efficient light than traditional halogen lamps.
5. Rules and regulations for low beam
✅ Mandatory in all countries at night and in poor visibility.
✅ In some countries mandatory during the day outside built-up areas.
✅ Mandatory in tunnels, in fog, snow and heavy rain.
✅ Incorrect use may result in fines.
💡 In short:
Low beam is the standard headlight for driving at night and in poor visibility . It provides bright, downward-facing light without blinding other road users. Low beam is mandatory at dusk, night, and in poor weather and may not be substituted for daytime running lights (DRL) .