Night and visibility — Pennsylvania Permit Test

State law requires headlights between sunset and sunrise, in rain, snow, sleet, hail, fog, smoke or smog, when you cannot see people or vehicles 1,000 feet ahead, in work zones, and any time your wipers are in continuous or intermittent use because of the weather.

The lights are as much about being seen as about seeing.

When they cannot see pedestrians or vehicles on the highway for a distance of 1,000 feet ahead of the vehicle they are operating.

The headlight and wiper law requires headlights any time your wipers are in continuous or intermittent use because of the weather; daytime running lights are not enough, because your tail lights must be lit as well.

Daytime running lights leave the back of the car dark, which is the end another driver hits.

Daytime running lights are not enough. Your tail lights must be illuminated as well.

Failing to use headlights when required brings a fine beginning at $25, which with fees and costs approaches $100.

The fine is small; the reason for it is that nobody could see you.

Motorists who do not comply with the law may face a fine of $25

Pennsylvania law requires low beams whenever you are within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle, and within 300 feet when you are following one.

High beams fill the other driver's mirror or windshield and take their night vision away.

Pennsylvania law requires you use low beams whenever you are within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle and when you are following a vehicle within 300 feet.

If a driver coming at you does not dim their high beams, look toward the right side of the road rather than at the lights, and never keep your own high beams on to punish them.

Two blinded drivers on one road is worse than one.

If the driver does not dim their lights, look toward the right side of the road.

Low beam headlights shine only about 250 feet ahead, and it takes more than 250 feet to stop at 55 miles an hour, so on a dark road you should not drive faster than 45.

Driving faster than your lights means arriving at a hazard you had no time to see.

Low beam headlights shine only about 250 feet ahead.

Clean your headlights at least once a week, because dirty headlights may give only half the light they should.

Half the light is half the road, and you never notice it going.

Clean your headlights at least once a week

Traffic fatality rates are three to four times higher at night than in daylight.

Less light means less warning, and everything else follows from that.

Overall, traffic fatality rates are three (3) to four (4) times higher at night than in daylight.

In heavy fog use low beams and slow down enough to stop within the distance you can see; high beams bounce light back into your eyes and make it harder to see.

Fog throws your own light straight back at you, so you see less by using more.

Turn on your low beam headlights (and fog lights, if your vehicle has them) so others can see you.

If you get caught in dense fog, the best thing is to pull completely off the road, preferably into a parking lot, put your hazard lights on and keep your seat belt fastened until it clears.

Stopping on the road in fog is the same as parking where nobody can see you.

If you get caught in dense fog, it’s best to pull completely off of the road, preferably into a parking lot, to wait until the fog clears.

At what distance of poor visibility does the law require headlights?

When you cannot see 1,000 feet ahead. The lights are as much about being seen as about seeing. PA Driver's Manual, p.40: “When they cannot see pedestrians or vehicles on the highway for a distance of 1,000 feet ahead of the vehicle they are operating.”