California DMV Motorcycle Knowledge Test (M1)Lane Position and VisibilityMedium
You are riding on a two-lane road at night. An oncoming car fails to dim its high beams, blinding you temporarily. What is the best immediate action to regain your vision and maintain control?
- ALook down and to the right edge of your lane, focusing on the white line.
- BLook directly at the high beams and flash your own high beams.
- CBrake hard and swerve to the right to avoid the oncoming vehicle.
- DClose your eyes tightly for a few seconds to let them recover.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Look down and to the right edge of your lane, focusing on the white line.
When temporarily blinded by oncoming high beams, shifting your gaze down and to the right edge of your lane, focusing on the white line, allows you to maintain a sense of direction and position without looking directly into the glare. This helps your eyes recover more quickly and safely.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Looking directly at the high beams will prolong the blinding effect.
- C. Braking hard and swerving can lead to loss of control, especially when blinded.
- D. Closing your eyes completely means losing all visual input, which is dangerous.
Night Blindness Recovery
To recover from temporary blindness caused by oncoming high beams, shift your gaze down and to the right edge of your lane, using the white line as a guide.
- Avoid direct glare.
- Maintain peripheral vision for lane guidance.
- Allows eyes to adapt more quickly.
Memory trick: Blinded by Brights? Gaze Right, Guide Light.