Driving with Brights?

Question

Ok folks, my husband (who is from Norway, and I guess they drive differently there) is constantly driving with his brights on even when there is no need (lit roads, sun is just setting, etc). Now he usually dims them when another car approaches, but I find the constant switching and the fact that he may blind pedestrians aggravaites me to no end!!! He refuses to believe that he shouldn't do that, or that it is possible he can get pulled over for it. PLEASE give me your input on this so I can pass it on to him... maybe he'll stop! :)

Answer 1

YOU are NOT allowed to DRIVE with HIGH BEAMS on unless you are driving in the country, on mountain roads or any streets with no CITY LIGHTs.

He can ACTUALLY get a TICKET in CA if he drives with High Beams on.

Smack him when he does it..maybe he will stop  :)  j/k

Answer 2

In Norway, it is illegal to drive without any lights on, even during the day. This means that cars with no driveing lights always have their headlights on, but they should be on dipped unless required to see by (eg darkness, you should be on dipped lights for really poor weather as you recieve less glare and the rear foglights will be operational).

Answer 3

I think he is driving correctly.  The only time when you wouldn't use your brights at all is in fog.  However, courtesy and common sense should be used when driving at night - I dim my lights when I meet pedestrians.  Bright lights must be dimmed 500 feet before meeting an oncoming vehicle or 300 feet before passing a vehicle.

Answer 4

Driving with your brights in high traffic areas is illegal in most states. If there is other sources of light( Street lights the sun etc.) there is no need for using them. Just like those idiots that have to drive with their fog lights on all the time.

Answer 5

Oy, those Norwegians!

Are his eyes okay?  My dad did strange things like that until we discovered that he couldn't really see!

Don't worry too much about blinding pedestrians...the chances are pretty slim, and not worth the worry if it really does make your husband feel more secure.  If you're still irritated, try reading a book or something instead of watching him drive.  That's what I do - and my blood pressure has gone WAY down!

Answer 6

Its not against the law to use your high beams.

Keep headlights on low beam, except where lighting conditions are poor. Dim your high beams for oncoming traffic, when approaching a vehicle from the rear or when another vehicle is passing you.

Answer 7

Sounds like he is technically not breaking the law since he dims the lights when cars approach.  I think it is just getting on your nerves and you should stop being a passenger seat driver.  On the other hand, I was in your exact situation once because a buddy of mine used to have the wipers going at the fastest speed even when there was barely a mist or sometimes after it completely stopped raining.  Of course it resulted in the most annoying screeches and I bet he was destroying the life of his blades.  We always used to complain about it but he did not seem to care.