If blinded by an approaching motor vehicle at night, what is the recommended action?

If you find yourself blinded by the headlights of an approaching vehicle at night, the recommended action is to slow down and avoid looking directly into the lights. This response is critical for maintaining safe driving practices.

When you encounter oncoming headlights, looking directly at them can impede your ability to see the road ahead, as your eyes become overwhelmed by the bright light. By slowing down, you allow yourself more time to adjust to the brightness and regain your vision as the vehicle passes. This approach enhances your overall situational awareness, enabling you to react appropriately to any unexpected obstacles, pedestrians, or changes in the roadway conditions.

In contrast, speeding up to pass the vehicle can increase the risk of an accident; turning on high beams would not help in this scenario, as it would make the situation worse for you and the other driver; and closing your eyes while continuing to drive presents an extreme danger, as it eliminates your ability to see anything at all, leading to a high likelihood of a collision.