John Cletheroe's
USA and Canada Holiday Hints
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Driving In The USA And Canada - Headlights
The information on this page, although extensively checked and believed to be correct, is completely unofficial and is provided for general guidance purposes only.
High beam headlights are called "brights" in the USA and Canada.
Modern Canadian cars have "daylight running lights" - in other words their headlights are on whenever the engine is running (although possibly at a reduced brightness). Most drivers in Canada always have their headlights on when using their vehicles and this would probably be the best policy for visitors as well. As far as I know this isn't actually a regulation, though.
Some American states and Canadian provinces have a law saying that whenever weather conditions require that you need to use the windscreen wipers, you should also switch on the headlights. For example, the Oct-98 printed edition of the Illinois Driver's Manual "Rules Of The Road" says: "Your headlights must be on when operating your wipers. Parking lights are not acceptable." (Chapter Ten: Safe Driving Tips - Weather Conditions)
Some stretches of roads have signs indicating that headlights should be switched on, even during the day. This is presumably because the road is frequently subject to mist and fog. In fine weather most motorists ignore these signs.
As in the UK and most other countries, driving on sidelights (parking lights) only is illegal.
The flashing of headlights is open to interpretation but usually has the same meanings as it has in the UK and Europe, depending on the situation:
- At night, for no apparent reason: Turn on your lights!
- At night, by a vehicle coming in the opposite direction: Dip your lights!
- From behind on the open road: Speed up or get out of my way!
- By a vehicle coming in the opposite direction, for no apparent reason: There's a police car, a speed check, or some danger or obstruction up ahead - slow down!
- At a four way stop, from a vehicle which draws up to the intersection at the same time as you: After you!
- As in Europe, many US and Canadian drivers, when overtaken on a high speed road by a large tractor-trailer truck, will flash their headlights to indicate to the truck driver that he's far enough ahead to merge in front of them. This is because it's often difficult for truck drivers to judge the length of their long vehicles, and because drivers sharing the road with trucks don't wish to be hit by trucks whose drivers have pulled into their lane in front of them too soon. Most truck drivers appreciate headlight flashes and will flash their "marker" lights (those on the corners of their vehicle) as a way of saying "thank you."
If a police car draws up behind you and flashes its lights then you must pull over and stop immediately. See the Police page.
Related Subjects
American English To British English Dictionary - Driving
Driving
Driving - Cars And Their Features
Driving - Regulations
Safety
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Most recently modified 21-Jul-02