At night, the best practice is to adjust your speed so you can stop within the distance illuminated by your headlights.

• A. Use high beams in all areas
• B. Drive with parking lights
• C. Rely on streetlights
• D. Adjust speed so you can stop within the distance illuminated by your headlights

Answer: (D)

Night driving requires your speed to line up with what your headlights can reveal. If you can stop within the distance your headlights light up, you give yourself time to see a hazard, react, and brake before you reach it. Visibility is limited after dark—glare, weather, and uneven roads all reduce how quickly you can stop, so going slower helps ensure you won’t be caught by surprise.

Using high beams everywhere isn’t safe or legal in many areas because they can blind other drivers; you’re supposed to switch to low beams when there’s oncoming traffic or when you’re close behind another vehicle. Parking lights don’t provide enough illumination to judge speed, distance, or hazards, so they aren’t a substitute for proper headlights. Relying on streetlights isn’t reliable on dark or rural roads where lighting gaps can hide unexpected obstacles. The safest practice is to tailor your speed to what you can clearly see with your headlights, ensuring you can stop within that illuminated distance.