Sometimes, momentary light blindness on a dark road is caused by oncoming vehicles due to improper usage of a high beam. To prevent road fatalities due to bright light blindness or lack of visibility, it is crucial to know how the high beam system in cars works.
The UAE traffic law mandates the proper use of car lights. Failure to obey the law results in fine and black points to the driver.
What is High Beam Assist?
Automatic high beams are forward-oriented lights that turn dimmer and brighter automatically, depending on the upcoming or leading vehicles.
The high beam system in cars operates when a vehicle travels at more than a certain speed. For instance, the high beam assist system activates when a Nissan model travels at a speed of more than 30 km/h.
Mechanism of an Automatic High Beam System
In the upper portion of a car’s windshield or the rearview mirror, a front-mounted camera is located. This camera detects light from leading or oncoming vehicles.
The high beam system switches the settings of the headlight automatically from high to low beam. Whereas, once the traffic conditions are safe, the high beam system switches on the high beam for easy navigation on a dark road.
Benefits of High Beam System in Cars
High beam assist illuminates the road that is dull lit and requires bright light for proper navigation. The benefits of a high beam assist system are listed below.
- Provide better visibility
- Reduces driving burden
- Allow early detection of distractions, like pedestrians
- Prevent bright light blindness
To make the most out of high beams, ensure that the car headlights are cleaned from the inside as part of your routine car maintenance. Keeping track of your car maintenance schedule can help increase the lifespan of car parts.
When to Use High Beams in Manual and Automatic Cars?
Among different types of car headlights, high beams keep you safe and aware of your surroundings. However, they might endanger others’ lives if used incorrectly. Whereas, driving at night without lights in the UAE will get you fined AED 500 with 4 black points. Therefore, it is important to know when to use high beams and when to switch them off.
Use High Beams When:
- Driving in areas of low visibility
- On roads with no vehicles
- On highways or their ramps with poor lighting
Switch Off High Beams When:
- Encountering other vehicles
- Driving in extreme weather conditions, like fog, snow, or rain
The above-enlisted conditions are to be considered before switching the high beams of a car manually.
On the other hand, if your car has an automatic high beam assist system then it gives you a hassle-free ride with automatic control on high beams through the light sensor.
The UAE law emphasises car lights’ importance. If the traffic laws are not followed, it results in dire consequences.
Problems with High Beam
When using the automatic high beam assist, drivers sometimes notice that the high beam headlights occasionally dip for no apparent reason. The common causes due to which auto high beam problems occur are enlisted below:
- Blown headlight bulb – Bulbs burn out eventually after completing their lifespan.
- Faulty high beam relay – The high beam switch generates a relay that powers the headlight bulb. If the relay gets damaged then it won’t switch on the high beam.
- Blown high beam fuse – The fuse might blow off due to a short circuit or incorrect wattage of the bulb.
- Faulty headlight switch – It is uncommon, but the headlight switch might wear out on constant usage.
Visibility issues might also be caused due to misaligned headlights. In such conditions, if you know how to adjust headlights you will be back on the road with a clear vision in no time.
FAQs:
What Cars Have Automatic High Beams?
The automatic high beam system can be found incorporated into many cars. These automotive giants include Ford, Porsche, Volkswagon, Toyota, Nissan, BMW, Audi, and many others.
How Do I Turn On Automatic High Beams?
To turn on the high beam assist in a Nissan, you need to turn the headlight switch to the ‘Auto’ position. Now, push the headlights lever in the forwarding direction. Doing so will light up a high beam assist indicator on the instrument gauge. Usually, the automatic high beam system in cars of other brands is turned on similarly.
Moreover, if you are driving a Toyota, you can turn on the automatic high beams by simply pressing the button saying ‘Auto’ with the headlight logo above it.
Fog Lights vs High Beams – What Should I Use?
Fog lights improved driver’s visibility in bad weather conditions like rain, snow, or fog, by directing the light low so the objects in front get illuminated, rather than the fog. Whereas, high beams are directed forward, so they create an opaque reflection when light is reflected from the fog.
The high beam system in cars is quite an amazing safety feature that controls the headlight settings automatically. If you are considering buying a modern car with advanced tech features, then you can have a look at these used cars for sale in the UAE.
Stay tuned to the UAE’s top auto blog for more information on automotive features.
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