Night driving, fog and floods

Key points

1. Kansas requires headlights whenever the windshield wipers are in use.

   Source: Handbook p. 67

   “Many states including Kansas require you to turn on your headlights whenever the wipers are used on the vehicle.”
   Kansas Driving Handbook, Handbook p. 67

2. Low beams show about 150 to 200 feet ahead, a safe stopping range at about 45 mph.

   Source: Handbook p. 77

   “Your lower beam headlights will let you see clearly about 150 to 200 feet ahead. Driving at a speed that allows you to stop within this distance is about 45 mph.”
   Kansas Driving Handbook, Handbook p. 77

3. High beams show about 350 to 400 feet ahead, a safe stopping range at about 65 mph.

   Source: Handbook p. 77

   “Your high beam headlights will let you see clearly about 350 to 400 feet ahead. Driving at a speed that allows you to stop within this distance is about 65 mph.”
   Kansas Driving Handbook, Handbook p. 77

4. At night add at least 1 second to your following distance, and at least 2 seconds on unfamiliar roads at night.

   Source: Handbook p. 77

   “You need to increase your following distance by adding at least one additional second for night driving conditions and at least two additional seconds for driving on unfamiliar roadways at night.”
   Kansas Driving Handbook, Handbook p. 77

5. If you cannot see farther than 100 feet in rain, snow, dust, smoke or fog, do not drive faster than 30 mph.

   Source: Handbook p. 77

   “When you cannot see any farther than 100 feet ahead due to rain, snow, blowing dust, smoke, or thick fog, you cannot safely drive faster than 30 mph.”
   Kansas Driving Handbook, Handbook p. 77

6. Dim your high beams within about one block of an oncoming vehicle.

   Source: Handbook p. 91

   “Dim your high beams whenever you come within about a one-block distance of an oncoming vehicle.”
   Kansas Driving Handbook, Handbook p. 91

7. If an oncoming driver keeps high beams on, look toward the right side of the road instead of into the lights.

   Source: Handbook p. 91

   “If the driver fails to dim their lights, look toward the right side of the road to keep from being blinded by their headlights.”
   Kansas Driving Handbook, Handbook p. 91

8. Never drive through a flooded road: 6 inches of water reaches the bottom of most cars and 2 feet of rushing water can carry most vehicles away.

   Source: Handbook p. 91

   “Remember, 6 inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars, causing loss of control or possible stalling and 2 feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles.”
   Kansas Driving Handbook, Handbook p. 91

9. If hitting an animal cannot be avoided, do not swerve.

   Source: Handbook p. 92

   “If a collision is inevitable, do not swerve to avoid the animal.”
   Kansas Driving Handbook, Handbook p. 92

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Kansas practice test

1. 1. When must Kansas drivers turn on headlights because of weather?

   1. Only after complete darkness begins
   2. Whenever the vehicle wipers are being used
   3. Only during snowfall at highway speed
   4. Only when another driver flashes headlights
   Show answer

   Whenever the vehicle wipers are being used. Kansas is among the states identified in the handbook as requiring headlights whenever the vehicle wipers are used. The rule is tied to weather visibility, so it can apply during rain, snow, or fog before nighttime. Waiting for darkness misses the daytime visibility purpose, and limiting it to snow or a signal from another driver adds conditions the handbook does not state. Wipers on for weather means headlights on as well.

2. 2. When does Kansas law require headlights to be turned on, according to the handbook?

   1. Only between sunset and sunrise
   2. Only when it snows
   3. Only on unlit highways
   4. Whenever the windshield wipers are used
   Show answer

   Whenever the windshield wipers are used. The handbook notes that some states, including Kansas, require you to turn on your headlights whenever the wipers are used on the vehicle. Rain, snow and spray cut visibility for other drivers even in daylight, and lit headlights make your vehicle easier to see. The handbook also suggests turning the headlights on a little early as it gets dark, since newer cars' automatic sensors may wait longer than is safe.

3. 3. In fog or other conditions that make the roadway difficult to see, how should you adjust your speed?

   1. Increase speed to spend less time in the poor visibility
   2. Keep the maximum limit because fog does not change the legal speed
   3. Reduce speed because the posted maximum assumes ideal conditions
   4. Drive at the minimum posted speed regardless of what you can see
   Show answer

   Reduce speed because the posted maximum assumes ideal conditions. A posted maximum is not a promise that the same speed is safe in every environment. The handbook specifically lists fog and any condition that makes the roadway hard to see as reasons to slow down. The basic speed rule also requires a reasonable and prudent speed for the road, weather, vehicle, and driver condition. Reducing speed gives you more time to identify lane edges, stopped traffic, and hazards. Use the visible roadway as your guide, not the number on the sign alone.

Source: the Kansas Driving Handbook, Section 8: Avoiding Collisions and Emergency Situations. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.