During the day, when should dipped headlight be used?

When driving through narrow streets

During the day, wh… — When there is poor visi…

The answer options

When parking
Constantly
When there is poor visibilityCorrect
When driving through narrow streets

Why the other options are wrong

“When parking” is a distractor. It does not meet the standard the question is testing, which when there is poor visibility does. Picking it in the real test costs a mark you cannot get back, and with a pass mark of 43 out of 50 you only have seven to spare.
“Constantly” is a distractor. It does not meet the standard the question is testing, which when there is poor visibility does. Picking it in the real test costs a mark you cannot get back, and with a pass mark of 43 out of 50 you only have seven to spare.
“When driving through narrow streets” is a distractor. It does not meet the standard the question is testing, which when there is poor visibility does. Picking it in the real test costs a mark you cannot get back, and with a pass mark of 43 out of 50 you only have seven to spare.

Why that is the answer

You must use dipped headlights during daylight whenever visibility is seriously reduced, such as in fog, heavy rain, or spray. This helps other road users see you more clearly. According to official guidance, you must switch on your headlights if you cannot see for more than 100 metres. You do not need them constantly in good daylight, and driving through narrow streets only requires lights if visibility is poor.

What vehicle handling covers

· Front and rear fog lights and the 100-metre visibility rule
· Descending steep hills in a lower gear and engine braking
· Traffic calming, humps, and driving over tram rails
· Night driving, dipped headlights and dazzle from oncoming traffic

Mistakes learners repeat on this topic

· Leaving rear fog lights on after visibility improves
· Coasting downhill in neutral to save fuel
· Using full beam on a lit motorway or behind another vehicle
· Accelerating between speed humps instead of holding a steady speed

Instructor tip: Any question with fog in it usually turns on the 100-metre rule — check visibility before you check the lights.

How this comes up in the real test

Questions from vehicle handling appear throughout the 50-question multiple-choice section, and the wording changes between versions. Learn the rule rather than the sentence: the DVSA can ask the same point from the opposite direction, and a memorised answer falls over the moment the phrasing moves.

The pass mark is 43 out of 50, so seven wrong answers is your entire margin. If a whole category is shaky, run the topic practice below until you are getting every question right for the right reason, then go back to full mocks under the clock.

Practise Vehicle Handling Sit a full mock test