Headlights, Night Driving and Distractions

Key points

1. Use your headlights beginning 30 minutes after sunset and until 30 minutes before sunrise.

   Source: Handbook p. 59

   “Use your headlights: ■ When a road sign states that headlights must be used. ■ Beginning 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise.”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 59

2. Dim high beams within 1,000 feet of an oncoming vehicle or 600 feet of a vehicle you follow.

   Source: Handbook p. 59

   “Dim your high beam headlights to low beams within 1000 feet of an oncoming vehicle or within 600 feet of the vehicle you are following.”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 59

3. Use low beams with streetlights, fog, rain, snow or bad weather.

   Source: Handbook p. 59

   “Use low beams where there are streetlights, fog, rain, snow or adverse weather conditions.”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 59

4. Do not overdrive your headlights; slow so you can stop within the distance you can see.

   Source: Handbook p. 41

   “Don’t overdrive your lights: adjust your speed so you can stop within the distance you can see.”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 41

5. Texting while driving is illegal in Oklahoma.

   Source: Handbook p. 61

   “As of 2015, it is illegal to text while driving in Oklahoma.”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 61

6. Permit or intermediate license holders can be suspended or canceled for using a hand held electronic device while driving.

   Source: Handbook p. 61

   “Learner's Permit or Intermediate License holders can be suspended or have their license canceled for using a hand-held electronic device”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 61

7. Never unbuckle your seat belt to reach for a phone.

   Source: Handbook p. 61

   “Do not unbuckle your seat belt to reach for a phone.”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 61

8. If another driver is targeting you, go to a safe place with people, such as a police, fire or gas station.

   Source: Handbook p. 41

   “If you suspect another driver is targeting you, go to a safe place such as a police, fire or gas station, where there are people.”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 41

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Oklahoma practice test

1. 1. When does the Oklahoma manual say headlights must be on at night?

   1. From sunset to sunrise exactly
   2. One hour after sunset
   3. Beginning 30 minutes after sunset and until 30 minutes before sunrise
   4. Only when it is fully dark
   Show answer

   Beginning 30 minutes after sunset and until 30 minutes before sunrise. Oklahoma's headlight list says to use your headlights beginning 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise, when a road sign states that headlights must be used, and with low beams in fog, rain, snow, adverse weather or where there are streetlights. Waiting for full darkness or an hour after sunset is too late, and exactly sunset to sunrise is not the stated window.

2. 2. When does the Oklahoma manual say to use high beams?

   1. Whenever it is raining or foggy at night
   2. In open country when no other cars are nearby
   3. Any time you drive on a city street with streetlights
   4. When following another vehicle within 600 feet
   Show answer

   In open country when no other cars are nearby. High beams let you see farther down a dark road. The handbook says to use them in open country when no other cars are nearby, and even then to drive slower than you would by day. Switch to low beams within 1,000 feet of an oncoming vehicle or within 600 feet of a vehicle you are following. Low beams are also the right choice where there are streetlights and in fog, rain, snow, or other bad weather. Dimming at the right time keeps your lights from glaring into other drivers' eyes.

3. 3. What does the Oklahoma manual say about reaching for a phone while driving?

   1. Reach for it only at speeds under 30 mph
   2. Do not unbuckle your seat belt to reach for a phone
   3. Have a passenger unbuckle instead
   4. It is fine if the call is short
   Show answer

   Do not unbuckle your seat belt to reach for a phone. Among its phoning tips, the manual says not to unbuckle your seat belt to reach for a phone. An unbuckled driver stretching across the seat is unprotected and not steering. Use memory dial and voice activated dialing when possible, pull off the road before calling whenever you can, and keep calls short. Speed and call length do not make an unbelted reach safe.

Source: the Oklahoma Driver Manual, Chapter 11: Driving Tips. 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.