You are gaining on the vehicle ahead of you on a rural highway at night. At what following distance must you switch to low beams?
-
A.
Within 300 feet of the vehicle ahead. Correct
-
B.
Whenever your beams reach the rear of that vehicle.
-
C.
Only when the other driver signals with their brake lights.
-
D.
Within 500 feet, matching the oncoming-vehicle rule.
The answer is "Within 300 feet of the vehicle ahead."
The manual sets a 300-foot threshold for switching to low beams when following another vehicle. Option D is the trap; drivers carry the 500-foot oncoming figure from the line above and apply it to the following case too.
The traps in the wrong answers
B. Whenever your beams reach the rear of that vehicle.
The rule is a measured distance in feet, not a beam-reaches-bumper judgment. This answer uses a beam-reaches-vehicle rule of thumb from older driver-education materials the manual does not adopt.
C. Only when the other driver signals with their brake lights.
The switch is a distance-based requirement, not a reaction to the vehicle ahead braking. This answer waits for the other driver to signal discomfort, a courtesy habit the manual replaces with a fixed 300-foot trigger.
D. Within 500 feet, matching the oncoming-vehicle rule.
The 500-foot figure is for oncoming traffic; behind another vehicle the manual sets a shorter threshold. This answer carries the number from the previous bullet onto the following case, a common blend when two figures sit side by side on the same list.
This question tests your knowledge of Adverse Conditions in Texas. Source: Texas Driver Manual, "Chapter 9: Some Special Driving Situations, Headlights," p.47..
Related Texas questions
- When does Texas require you to turn on your headlights during a normal day-to-night transition? →
- You are driving with high beams on and see an oncoming vehicle in the distance. At what distance from that vehicle does the manual require you to switch to low beams? →
- The manual lists heavy rain, fog, sleet, snow, and dust as conditions calling for what headlight setting? →
- Your rear tires break loose and the car begins to skid. Which way does the manual tell you to turn the steering wheel? →
- As soon as your car begins to skid, what does the manual tell you to do with the brakes? →
You just took one Texas question apart. The book does it for the whole test.
The Texas book unlocks a free companion: an adaptive study plan, progress synced across your devices, a denser laminate cheat sheet, and a test-day walkthrough. Verify your copy once, usually in seconds; there's nothing extra to buy.
$18.99 paperback, free companion included.