Night glare and low beams — Tennessee Permit Test

The time your eyes need to readjust after the glare of oncoming headlights is called glare recovery time, and during it you are virtually driving blind.

For a few moments after a bright car passes you cannot see what is in front of you. Slowing down buys back that lost time.

This is called glare recovery time.

To avoid the glare of oncoming lights, watch the right edge of the road and use the white line or road edge to steer by.

Staring into bright headlights leaves you blinded once the car passes. Looking at the right edge line keeps you in your lane.

Avoid the glare of oncoming lights by watching the right edge of the road and using the white line or road edge as a steering guide.

Do not flash your high beams to warn another driver; the flash can distract that driver and cause a collision.

A sudden burst of light can blind the other driver for a moment, which turns your warning into the crash you feared.

Avoid flashing your high beams to warn the other driver as it might serve as a distraction and interfere with their driving resulting in a collision.

When driving in cities and towns, always use your low beams.

Streetlights already light the road in town, and high beams there only blind the many drivers and walkers around you.

Driving in cities and towns always use your low beams

Clean your headlights and your windows, inside and out, at least once a month.

A film of dirt on the glass scatters oncoming light into a blinding haze and dims your own headlights.

Clean your headlights and the windows (inside and out) at least once a month.

What is glare recovery time?

The time your eyes need to readjust after glare. For a few moments after a bright car passes you cannot see what is in front of you. Slowing down buys back that lost time. Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, p.74: “This is called glare recovery time.”