When to use main vs dipped beam, how to handle dazzle, and why you drive slower in the dark.
At night you only see as far as your headlights reach. Dipped beam lights ~40-50 m ahead, at 90 km/h stopping distance is about 75 m. You are driving blind toward any obstacle beyond the beam's reach. Rule of thumb: reduce speed so your stopping distance does NOT exceed the beam's reach.
Main beam (high beam): lights 100 m+ ahead. Use on dark rural roads with no oncoming traffic. Dipped beam: lights 40-50 m, aimed down so oncoming drivers aren't dazzled. Use in all other cases. Switch to dipped: IMMEDIATELY when you see an oncoming vehicle (up to 300 m away) or when you're close behind another car.
1. Look at the right road edge (the white line), not at the light 2. Slow down immediately: you see less than usual 3. Do NOT flick on main beam at oncoming (now both are dazzled) 4. If dazzle comes from behind (headlights in mirror): tilt the mirror to night mode Return to normal speed only after eyes have re-adjusted (10-30 sec).
On rural roads, especially in wooded areas, the risk of moose, deer, or wild boar is highest at dusk and early morning. Dipped beam reveals their eyes (red/green reflection), actively scan for them at the road edge. If an animal appears in front: brake hard, steer straight. Do not swerve, ditching or head-on with oncoming traffic is worse than the collision.