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When to use high beams in Canada: on dark roads with no one close by, then dip to low beams when another vehicle comes within the distance your province sets. In Ontario that is 150 metres for oncoming traffic and 60 metres when you are following. Alberta and the Northwest Territories set 300 metres oncoming and 150 metres following. The distances differ more than most learners expect, so check the table below for your province.
High-beam dipping distances by province
| Province or territory | Dip for oncoming vehicles within | Dip when following within | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 150 m | 60 m | MTO handbook |
| British Columbia | 150 m | 150 m | ICBC Learn to Drive Smart |
| Alberta | 300 m | 150 m | Use of Highway and Rules of the Road Regulation, s. 56 |
| Saskatchewan | at least 200 m in advance | 100 m (also when being passed) | SGI handbook |
| Manitoba | at least 450 m | 60 m | MPI handbook |
| Northwest Territories | 300 m | 150 m | NWT Driver’s Manual |
| Nova Scotia | 150 m | 60 m | Using the Road Regulations, s. 76 (on a divided highway you only need to dip for oncoming traffic if your lights could affect the other driver) |
| Prince Edward Island | 150 m | 60 m | PEI Driver’s Handbook |
Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon and Nunavut: check your provincial handbook for the exact figures.
A few extra rules from the handbooks:
- Ontario: the rules apply on all roads, including divided ones. On country roads, switch to low beams at curves and hilltops so you can see oncoming lights and will not dazzle anyone.
- Saskatchewan: you do not need to dip for oncoming traffic on a divided highway where the roadways are 22 metres or more apart. Turn off spotlamps within 500 metres of oncoming traffic.
- NWT: use low beams for oncoming traffic even on divided highways.
- PEI: use low beams in city driving except on unlit streets where traffic allows. Do not wait for the other driver to dip first.
When headlights must be on
| Province or territory | Headlights required |
|---|---|
| Ontario | From half an hour before sunset to half an hour after sunrise (as the handbook words it), and when you cannot clearly see people or vehicles within 150 m |
| British Columbia | From 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise, and when visibility is under 150 m |
| Alberta and NWT | “Night time” is defined as one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise; also when you cannot see clearly 150 m ahead |
| Saskatchewan | Half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise, and whenever visibility is poor |
| Manitoba | Half an hour before sunset to half an hour after sunrise (handbook), and when visibility drops to 60 m |
| Nova Scotia | At night, and any time fog, rain, snow or poor light limits visibility (Using the Road Regulations, s. 72, in force 19 October 2026) |
| PEI | Sunset to sunrise, and when visibility is poor |
The simple habit that covers every province: if it is getting dark or visibility is poor, headlights on.
Daytime running lights are not headlights
Many learners assume their car is lit because the dashboard is lit or the daytime running lights (DRLs) are on. Often the tail lights are off.
- Ontario: DRLs must not be used as headlights in poor light. They do not turn on other required lights such as tail lights. Use the automatic setting if your car has it.
- British Columbia: it is illegal to drive at night with parking lights or DRLs instead of headlights.
- NWT: DRLs are only at the front; the tail lights and dash lights will not be on.
- Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia: both warn the same and tell you to switch headlights on at night.
- PEI: parking lights are for parking only.
What does overdriving your headlights mean?
You are overdriving your headlights when you are going so fast that your stopping distance is longer than the distance your lights show you. If something appears at the edge of the beam, you cannot stop in time.
| Handbook | Low beams light about | High beams light about |
|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | 30 m | 100 m |
| Manitoba | 30 m | 110 m |
How to avoid it:
- Slow down at night, especially on unlit roads (Ontario).
- Be careful on curves: BC says overdriving is especially dangerous there.
- Do not be fooled by reflective signs. Ontario warns they can make you think you can see further than you really can.
- Saskatchewan suggests you should be able to see about 12 seconds ahead at night, which means using high beams most of the time on open roads and looking beyond the lit area.
Watch for wildlife at the edges of the beam on rural roads: see moose, deer and caribou.
Glare from oncoming lights and low sun
At night
- Do not look at oncoming headlights. Ontario says look up, beyond and slightly to the right of them; NWT, Manitoba and PEI say look toward the right edge of the road.
- If the other driver does not dip, keep yours on low beam anyway (Nova Scotia).
- For glare from behind, adjust your mirror or flip a day-night mirror to “night” (Manitoba, Saskatchewan).
- Saskatchewan says it can take up to five seconds to recover from glare, and up to 25 seconds as people age. If you think you have a problem, see an optometrist or ophthalmologist.
- Keep the inside of the windshield and your headlights clean. Keep interior lights off so your eyes stay adapted (Manitoba).
In daytime
- Use your sun visor and keep good sunglasses in the car (Ontario, Nova Scotia).
- Entering a tunnel or underground garage on a bright day: slow down, remove sunglasses and turn on your headlights.
- Nova Scotia: if glare is so bad you cannot see, stop on the roadside well away from traffic until you can drive safely.
Night driving and new driver rules
Several provinces limit when new drivers can drive at night or who can ride with them. Those curfews are compared in Canadian graduated licensing compared. Night driving also makes tiredness more likely; see drowsy driving in Canada. For fog and rain, which cause the same visibility problems, see driving in rain, fog and floods. If your headlights fail while driving, see car emergencies in Canada. The full licensing path is in learning to drive in Canada.
Sources
- Government of Ontario, “The Official MTO Driver’s Handbook: Getting ready to drive” (ontario.ca)
- Government of Ontario, “The Official MTO Driver’s Handbook: Driving at night and in bad weather” (ontario.ca)
- ICBC, “Learn to Drive Smart” (icbc.com)
- Alberta King’s Printer, “Use of Highway and Rules of the Road Regulation, AR 304/2002” (kings-printer.alberta.ca)
- SGI, “Saskatchewan Driver’s Handbook” (sgi.sk.ca)
- Manitoba Public Insurance, “Manitoba Driver’s Handbook: Night Driving, Reduced Visibility” (apps.mpi.mb.ca)
- Government of the Northwest Territories, “NWT Driver’s Manual: Basic” (idmv.inf.gov.nt.ca)
- Government of Nova Scotia, “Driver’s Handbook” (novascotia.ca)
- Government of Prince Edward Island, “Driver’s Handbook” (princeedwardisland.ca)
- Government of Nova Scotia, “Using the Road Regulations” under the Traffic Safety Act, in force 19 October 2026, sections 2, 72 and 76 (novascotia.ca)