Practice question

If your headlights fail while driving at night, what should you try first?

  1. Turn on your fog lights
  2. Try your turn signals or emergency flashes
  3. Pull over and wait for help
  4. Use high beams

Answer: B — Try your turn signals or emergency flashes

When your headlights fail while driving at night, the most immediate and effective action to take is to try your turn signals or emergency flashes. This approach enhances your visibility to other drivers, signaling your presence on the road, which is crucial for safety in low-light conditions. By using your turn signals, you can indicate your intention to maneuver or a potential hazard, while emergency flashers alert surrounding vehicles to your compromised situation, prompting them to exercise caution. Utilizing fog lights is not the best first step since fog lights are designed to illuminate the road directly in front of you when visibility is poor due to fog, rain, or snow, but they do not provide adequate lighting for distance or general visibility like headlights do. Pulling over and waiting for help might be necessary later, but it is not the first action to ensure safety. Lastly, using high beams would not be appropriate because without functioning headlights, high beams would provide no light while also potentially blinding oncoming traffic. Turning on your emergency flashes improves safety until you can safely stop or seek further assistance.

Practice more: New Hampshire Drivers Practice Test →