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. 6 inches of water reaches the bottom of most passenger cars, and 2 feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles.

   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. How much should you add to your following distance when driving at night on an unfamiliar road?

   1. Nothing; night following is the same as day
   2. Half a second
   3. At least two additional seconds
   4. At least five additional seconds
   Show answer

   At least two additional seconds. Add at least one second for night driving and at least two additional seconds on an unfamiliar road at night. Keeping your daytime gap ignores how much headlights limit what you can see. Half a second is less than even the basic night adjustment, and five seconds is not the handbook's figure. Slowing to match your headlight distance matters just as much.

3. 3. What does the Kansas handbook say may be the safest choice when a deer is suddenly in your path?

   1. Swerving into the other lane
   2. Hitting the animal rather than taking drastic action that could cause a worse crash
   3. Braking hard and turning toward the shoulder
   4. Speeding up to get past it
   Show answer

   Hitting the animal rather than taking drastic action that could cause a worse crash. Big game animals, mostly deer, are large enough to damage a vehicle, and their size may tempt a driver to take drastic action. The handbook warns that this can cause a more serious crash than colliding with the animal, so the safest alternative may be hitting the animal. Do not swerve into oncoming traffic or off the roadway, and concentrate on retaining control of the vehicle before, during, and after the collision. Use caution at dawn and dusk and where deer crossing signs are posted.

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.