[nkrishnap]

My general practice during the dusk is simply take a break for 15-20 mins which will not only give you a break, also reduce the risk during the tricky times. The transition between dusk and night is not too long. And feel its a right time for a coffee break on a lighter note.

If left with no choice, Switch on the headlamps in Low beam mode and drive on.

[Snazzy]

For me, it is lights in low beam mode as it starts to get slightly dark.
Over badly lit roads, I use the fog lamps along with the headlights. Rarely use headlights in high beam mode.

[khoj]

The poll option I took is the closest to what I do when in a city. Parking on at dusk and headlights as and when the Sun goes down. Though I do switch back to parking lights if the road is very well lit.

On the Highway however I have my headlights on all of the time. I have found that not only do people notice you early on and from a greater distance but that the road crossers actually stop and not indulge in a last minute game of hop, skip and jump. The other benefit that I have accrued out of this is with the stray cattle. The lights are better at scattering them away than horns but this is only during the day time. Cattle and lights after dark are a very potent combination as they seem to act like magnets that are drawn towards each other.

[S5157]

Originally Posted by abhinav.s

+1. I too follow the same habit and this is not to save the bulbs or fuel. This is to save the agony of headlights falling on the driver's eye as mentioned by NFS. Just a courteous gesture towards other road users.

Infact in several toll booths there are sign boards stating to switchoff headlights so that the guy in the counter can read the plates.

[swapitude]

among the 5 options what is the right time to turn on the lights..??

[samarth.bhatia]

1. Headlamps are not just there to guide the driver of the car in the dark, but are definitely a marker to show the presenceof the vehicle moving on the road. It's thus quite beneficial for vehicles approaching from the opposite direction to see you in an attentive manner, even in the daylight. This is specially true for bends in the road or elevations.
2. Driving with parking lamps on is just not right. As the term parking suggests, these are to be used while the vehicle is parked.
3. The hazardous uses of Hazard lights as observed on the Mum-Pun Expressway (tunnels), or at intersections to signal going straight, are just highly misleading.

Read a lot about the fact that some things mentioned in the thread are applicable to Non-Indian conditions more than our desi conditions.
Let's just say if McDonald's can become a part of our lives as much as it has, something healthier like Road Safety and Manners should be more than welcome.

Cheers and drive safe.
Sam

[Zappex]

One thing i want to add here is that whenever one travels on the road he/she must try to use the low beam as much as possible. If one uses the high beam this can in turn trouble the people coming from the other side.

But, then one can argue that others use high beam and trouble us, That is exactly my point if all start by even taking a single step in the right direction the world can be a better place.

I for one use the low beam as much as possible.

Originally Posted by samarth.bhatia

The hazardous uses of Hazard lights as observed on the Mum-Pun Expressway (tunnels), or at intersections to signal going straight, are just highly misleading.

Again, I possible couldn't agree more. I have had a near miss because of this, you never know if the car has stalled or it is moving till you reach near it.Then you realize that it has indeed stalled and then you have to slam your brakes!

[dadu]

The headlights serve two purpose:

- Enable us to see as we as humans cannot see clearly in dark
- Enables others to see the Vehicle coming

I switch on my parking lights when I am unable to read the KM reading.

I switch on my headlights in low beam when I am not able to see small objects on the road (stones, nuts etc etc)

I switch on my headlights in high beam while travelling through non-illuminated roads so as to see the road at a distance and dim it(low beam) if another vehicle is approaching.

Artificial lights enable us to see better during darkness and that how I use it to enable me to see better when it starts getting darker.

[Vintage1]

In the United States for new cars headlights are automatically on whenever the car starts. You pay less insurance amounts for buying a car with permanently-on headlights...

[Zappex]

Originally Posted by dadu

I switch on my headlights in high beam while travelling through non-illuminated roads so as to see the road at a distance and dim it(low beam) if another vehicle is approaching.

This is exactly what i follow.

But,In case of expressways like the Mumbai-Pune stretch the traffic coming from the other side blinds one. Which makes it very risky to drive at night. It is at such places where one should try to manage driving with the headlight on low beam.

[Macfreak7]

For the most part I pretty much agree with the OP here.
I turn on my lights as soon as natural light starts to fade which is usually 15-20 minutes before sunset (thanks to the Mumbai smog!). I've noticed it's a lot better that way so other drivers are more aware of my vehicle's road presence.

I also try to NEVER use the high beam within the city, regardless of lighting conditions. Unless of course it's a highway with no street lights or lane markers, at night.

Another area which I feel should be given importance is the correct use of turn signals. This still seems to be a fairly new concept to about 90% drivers out there. I think it's incredibly important to use turn signals even while changing lanes.
Wish some auto-industry company would do a series of commercials to spread awareness about these issues.

[micrographics]

I switch it on as soon as Sunlight starts fading away to keep myself and oncoming vehicle alert.

[Urban_Nomad]

A simple rule that I follow is switching on the parking lamps and the fogs the moment I cannot see the markings on the instrument console clearly. Low beams come on if I feel that "had that car in front of me at least turned its parking lights on, it would be easier to spot".

Originally Posted by NFS

When stopped behind another car (say at a signal or toll booth), I will switch to parking lights, as headlights of the cars from the back fall directly on the rear view mirror and it focuses on the drivers eyes from all sides

There's no harm with the above practice, however I do not feel its necessary to do so. Irrespective of how low slung your car may be, as long as the person behind you has the low beam turned on, you should be fine. In fact, if even low beams bother you in a stationary car, IMO you would feel more discomfort on the move?

[libranof1987]

I generally switch the parking lights when the sun goes down. It is more to make the vehicles behind and oncoming aware of my car.

I switch the headlight on when small ditches, stones etc on the road stop becoming completely clear. I keep the headlight on low beam.

If I'm on a highway, I switch to high beam which I lower when there's an oncoming vehicle.

[horabonny]

It's more about being visible rather than adding to your visibility. Not just at sunset but also before sunrise (twilight), switching on low beam is of paramount importance.

Safety in developed countries is prime and hence this is the law. Low beam lights should be switched on at twilight unlike Switzerland where day time running lights are the law, keeping the extreme weather conditions in mind.