Night driving — Iowa Permit Test

At night, lower your speed and increase your following distance to make up for reduced visibility.

You can see less far ahead in the dark, so you need more time and room to stop.

To compensate for reduced visibility, lower your speed and increase your following distance.

To reduce glare from oncoming headlights, look toward the right side of the road and adjust the rearview mirror.

Staring into bright lights leaves you unable to see. Looking right keeps your eyes on your own path.

Looking toward the right side of the road and adjusting the rearview mirror can help to reduce headlight glare.

Turn your headlights on before the sun goes down to make your car more visible.

At dusk your car blends into the gray light, and lights help others see you.

Headlights should be turned on before the sun goes down to make the car more visible.

Use high beams only when other drivers will not see them, such as on isolated roads with little traffic.

High beams blind the driver in front of you or coming at you, and a blinded driver can crash into you.

High beams should only be used when other drivers won’t see them, such as isolated roadways with little traffic.

If another vehicle's headlights blind you, slow down and watch the white stripe at the right edge of the pavement.

The edge line keeps you in your lane while your eyes recover from the bright light.

If you are blinded by another vehicle’s headlights, slow down and watch the white stripe at the right edge of the pavement.

What should you do with your following distance at night?

Make it longer than by day. You can see less far ahead in the dark, so you need more time and room to stop. Iowa Driver's License Manual, p.56: “To compensate for reduced visibility, lower your speed and increase your following distance.”