High beam is a vehicle's most powerful headlight mode, intended for maximum illumination of the road over long distances . It is used for nighttime driving on dark, deserted roads with no oncoming or preceding traffic, as high beams are very bright and can blind other drivers .
1. Features of high beam
✅ Bright white light with long range → Can shine up to 200 meters or more .
✅ Shines straight ahead and wide → Illuminates the entire road and surrounding area.
✅ Manually switch on and off → Must be switched off when encountering oncoming or passing traffic.
✅ Not permitted in fog, rain or snow → May reflect and reduce visibility.
✅ Sometimes automatically controlled (Adaptive high beam) → Modern cars automatically dim the high beam when you pass oncoming traffic.
2. When do you use high beams?
📌 On dark, empty roads without streetlights.
📌 On country roads or highways without other road users.
📌 When extra lighting is needed to see obstacles.
🚫 Do not use in case of:
🔹 Oncoming or preceding vehicles nearby → May blind them.
🔹 Fog, snow or heavy rain → Reflection reduces visibility.
🔹 Within built-up areas → Street lighting makes high beams redundant.
💡 Tip: Use low beam instead of high beam in fog, as high beam can reflect fog particles and reduce visibility.
3. Difference between high beam, low beam and daytime running lights (DRL)
| Feature | High beam | Low beam | Daytime running lights (DRL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usage | On dark, empty roads | Standard at night and in poor visibility | During the day for visibility |
| Automatically? | Sometimes (adaptive high beam) | No | Yes |
| Colour | White | White or yellow | White |
| Scope | 100-200 meters | 30-50 meters | For daytime visibility only |
| Placement | Front of the car | Front of the car | Front only, no rear lights |
| Goal | Maximum illumination at long distance | Illuminate the road without glare | Make your car more visible during the day |
📌 High beams are not intended for continuous use and must be switched off in time to avoid dazzling other road users.
4. Types of high beam technologies
🔹 Halogen high beam → Cheap and easy to replace, less bright.
🔹 Xenon (HID) high beam → Brighter and more energy efficient than halogen.
🔹 LED high beam → Very bright, energy-efficient and durable.
🔹 Laser high beam → Extremely powerful and used in luxury cars.
🔹 Adaptive high beam → Automatic dimming function when approaching traffic.
📌 Modern cars often have adaptive LED or laser high beams, which dim only parts of the beam to prevent glare.
5. Rules and regulations for high beams
✅ Allowed on dark, empty roads outside built-up areas.
✅ Mandatory to switch off when encountering oncoming or preceding traffic.
✅ Do not use in fog, snow or heavy rain.
✅ Incorrect use may result in fines.
💡 In short:
High beams provide maximum illumination over long distances and are ideal for dark, deserted roads without traffic . They should always be switched off when oncoming or preceding traffic is detected, and are unsuitable in fog and rain . Modern cars often have adaptive high beams that adjust automatically.