Nighttime and Low Visibility
Whenever natural light is low, turning on your headlights can significantly increase your vehicle’s visibility — and your safety.
Rain, fog, snowfall, dust or smoke can all make it harder to see the road and for others to see you. Many vehicles come with daytime running lights so the low-beam headlights are always on when the vehicle is running to improve visibility. While we all turn on our headlights at night to see and be better seen, turning on your low-beam headlights during the day can help make your vehicle more visible to other drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.
Whether at night or in other low-visibility conditions, follow these safety tips:
- Slow down and don’t use cruise control.
- Increase following distance.
- Keep your headlights clean and your windshield clear. Get in the habit of cleaning off your lights at the gas station.
- Eliminate distractions so you can focus on the road.
- Use your low beams in fog or during snowfall. High beam lights could reflect light back, making visibility worse for you and other drivers.
- Use your fog lights in foggy conditions — but remember, Oregon law says you must turn them off when within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle and within 350 feet when following another vehicle.
- Avoid entering an area if you cannot see a safe distance ahead.
- Pull off the pavement as far as possible if you suddenly encounter a severe loss of visibility. Stop, turn off your lights, set the emergency brake. Take your foot off the brake to be sure the taillights are not illuminated. Turn on your emergency flashers.
- In dense fog or blinding snow, if you can’t pull off the road, slow down, turn on your low beam headlights and sound the horn occasionally. Use the white fog line or roadside reflectors if necessary to help guide you and don’t change lanes or attempt to pass.
- Never stop in travel lanes.