Japanese road traffic law requires high beams when driving at night?
Hello, we are JumboTaxi.com and we operate mainly in Tokyo and Saitama. Our service provides jumbo taxis (wagon taxis) for more than 5 to 9 passengers to and from all over Japan and airports. Throughout our daily operations, our drivers focus on the safety of our customers. Especially when driving at night, the proper use of headlights (front headlights) is extremely important. This article therefore provides an in-depth look at the correct use of high and low beams when driving at night, and we hope it will help you to drive safely.
Night driving light basics.
Car headlights play a very important role when driving at night. Headlights not only provide visibility for the driver, but also alert other vehicles and pedestrians to the presence of their vehicle. High beams are basically used to illuminate the road ahead and to detect obstacles and pedestrians in the distance more quickly. However, when passing another vehicle or travelling directly behind another vehicle, it is necessary to switch to low beams, as the strong light of high beams can obstruct the vision of others. Proper use of these lights is essential for safe night-time driving.
| high beam | low beam |
|---|---|
| headlights for driving | Side-by-side headlights |
Amendments to the use of front lighting by the National Police Agency in 2017.
The partial revision of the Instructional Rules and Regulations enforced by the National Police Agency in March 2017 aims to raise awareness on the correct use of high beams, which is expected to improve road safety at night. This is due to data showing that the use of high beams contributes to accident prevention. However, this recommendation is not unlimited and requires the use of high beams while maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles and taking care not to dazzle other vehicles.
Use of high beams and their effectiveness in deterring accidents.
Active use of high beams is effective in detecting pedestrians and obstacles at an early stage and preventing accidents. Analysis by the National Police Agency suggests that many accidents could have been prevented if high beams were used appropriately. In particular, when driving at night or on roads with few street lights, the use of high beams is believed to help detect pedestrians and obstacles at an early stage and prevent accidents.
References:. National Police Agency
How to switch between appropriate high and low beams.
High beams should be switched appropriately according to road conditions and the presence of other vehicles. Specifically, it is recommended that high beams should be used when there is a distance of more than 500 m from oncoming or front-running vehicles or when other vehicles are not affected, and that low beams should be switched to low beams in other situations. It is also important to use passing to tell oncoming vehicles when they leave their headlights on high beam or when driving without lights at night.
Low-beam safe driving speeds and their importance.
The beam range of low beams is defined as approximately 40 m. Based on this beam range, the safe driving speed is below 40 km/h. When driving at speeds above 60 km/h, the use of high beams is mandatory, because the beam range of high beams is more than 100 m. Thus, the use of appropriate headlights and the associated adjustment of driving speed is very important for safe night-time driving.
| Distance to pylon 100 m. | Distance to pylon 60 m. | |
| high beam |  |  |
| low beam |  |  |
summary
This article focused on the proper use of high and low beams when driving at night. Knowing how to use the appropriate lights makes night-time driving safer, and provides important information on the background to the Police Department's 2017 partial revision of the Instruction, the accident deterrent effect of high beams, how to switch between the appropriate lights, and safe driving speeds with low beams. Proper headlight use is key to safer night-time driving.
Thank you for staying with us until the end of this article. At our jumbo taxis (wagon taxis), which operate mainly in Tokyo and Saitama, the safety and comfort of our customers is always our top priority. As I write this article, I myself feel the importance of continuing to learn through my daily work. The theme of this issue, the use of high and low beams, has been an opportunity for us to remind not only you, but also our staff. We hope that you will continue to enjoy safer and more comfortable journeys with us.
