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Topic 4 · Section 12

Light Conditions

🌙 Night Driving

  • Depth perception and color recognition are reduced at night.
  • Avoid overdriving your headlights — this means going so fast that you can’t stop within the lit area ahead.
  • On low beams, you may only see about 160 feet ahead clearly. Adjust your speed so you can stop within that distance — typically 45–50 mph max on dark, winding roads.
  • On well-lit highways or when using high beams, it may be safer to drive closer to the speed limit — but still be ready to react to anything outside your light range (like an animal or stalled vehicle).
  • Be extra cautious at night because drunk or drowsy drivers are more common after dark.

✅ Key tip: Drive only as fast as your visibility allows. If you can’t see it in time to stop, you’re going too fast for the conditions.

Check you have it

179 practice questions cover defensive driving and safe driving practices, each explaining the reasoning behind its answer.

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Source: California Driver's Handbook (DL 600, rev. 6/2025). Edited by Fernando Aguilera. Aprobify is not affiliated with the California DMV.

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