"If you see the high beam indicator(typically blue light) glowing in your instrument panel, while driving at night, you could be violating the law and endangering lives"
One can't help but think, how drivers can blaze their headlights to incoming traffic or use blinding white halogen lamps or use powerful fog lamps in addition to high beam lights during night driving, and that too within the city! The craziness doesn't stop there - there are people who even do the same in heavy rains. Science (and common sense) says: use of high beam during rainy/ foggy conditions will only reflect back the light and make life more difficult for the driver!!
As per studies conducted by the Police, major culprits for night time accidents are the drivers’ reluctance to dim headlights, misuse of high-beams and use of halogen bulbs in headlights. The bottom-line is this: it is a pain (and unsafe) to drive in the night, not just on highways, even in the city!! And the situation only seem to be worsening as days pass..
Section 360 (3) of the Kerala Motor Vehicle Rules bans the use of high beam in well-lit urban areas. The law also specifies that motorists should not use headlight beams that illuminated a distance of more than 7 metres in urban areas. The rule book also bans the use of halogen lamps which has a luminescence above specified limits. As per rules, improper use of high beam can draw a fine of Rs.100.
Despite the rules and numerous campaigns by the police, the situation has not shown any signs of improvement. Awareness seem to be the foremost reason for this - awareness of not just the rule, but also on why and how to use headlights properly. It would be interesting to do a survey on the new drivers to check if they know how to dim their headlights and why they should do so. Audio/ visual media needs to be effectively used to convey the message to the public. The government, media and automotive companies can certainly do that as part of their social responsibility!
The figure below shows how low beam and high beam light is directed. It goes without explanation that high beam strikes incoming traffic right on the face , can temporarily blind the driver, and can thus lead to fatal accidents. High beams are to be used while driving on ill lit roads, especially highways, where the vehicle moves at higher speeds and there is no incoming traffic.
Even though the figure shows a car, the rules are applicable to trucks as well as two-wheelers. New generation two wheelers have powerful headlights and can be as lethal as that of a bus or truck.
To keep things simple, here are some basic rules and ethics that need to followed while using headlights:
Rules
- Do not use high beam in the city
- Dim headlights for incoming traffic
- Use only standard OEM headlights
Ethics (for simple, safe and sane driving)
- Dip headlights when an approaching vehicle is within 200 meters or when the other vehicle’s head lights dip, whichever is sooner
- Dip headlights when driving 200 meters or less behind another vehicle
- Do not use fog lamps (or anything more than dim lights) for normal weather conditions
Tail piece:
Despite there being NO rule, there is one signal (even though it is completely wrong!) religiously followed by many motorists. The use of hazard lamps for driving straight!!
