CDL Combination Vehicles TestDriving Combination Vehicles SafelyMedium
A commercial driver is operating a combination vehicle on a two-lane road at night. They notice an oncoming vehicle with excessively bright high beams. What is the most appropriate defensive driving action for the commercial driver to take?
- ALook directly into the oncoming headlights for a brief moment to confirm they are high beams.
- BSlow down significantly and move as far left as possible within their lane to avoid the glare.
- CLook to the right edge of the road or the fog line until the vehicle passes.
- DFlash their own high beams rapidly to signal the other driver to dim their lights.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Look to the right edge of the road or the fog line until the vehicle passes.
Looking at the right edge of the road helps to avoid the direct glare of oncoming high beams, preventing temporary blindness while still allowing the driver to monitor their lane position until the vehicle passes.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Looking directly into bright lights will cause temporary blindness (flash blindness), which is extremely dangerous.
- B. Moving left might put the combination vehicle too close to the center line or into an oncoming lane, and slowing significantly could be dangerous if traffic is behind.
- D. Flashing high beams back can escalate the situation, potentially causing both drivers to be blinded.
Dealing with Glare
When faced with bright oncoming headlights, drivers should look to the right edge of the road to avoid temporary blindness while maintaining awareness of their lane.
- Avoid direct glare.
- Maintain peripheral vision.
- Stay in your lane.
Memory trick: Right Edge Gaze, Safety's Maze.