Free independent study reference with original examples. Not official exam questions or personal legal advice. Follow current provincial rules and on-site directions.
Free practice: Headlights, night, winter and rural roads →Match the distance to the direction of traffic
For a vehicle approaching you, the SGI handbook gives a 200 m minimum dimming distance. For a vehicle you are following, keep headlights on low beam within 100 m. Keep them on low beam when being passed as well. These are different situations; memorizing one number for all traffic gives the wrong answer.
Spotlamps and auxiliary driving lights have separate 500 m provisions. SGI also describes an oncoming-traffic exception on a divided highway where the roadways are at least 22 m apart, measured between the left shoulder markings. A centre line or a narrow median alone does not establish that exception.
Source: SGI handbook — Headlights ↗Switch on the lights that the conditions require
The legal night period stated by SGI runs from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise. Poor visibility also requires headlights, even outside that period. SGI recommends using lights during the day too; distinguish that recommendation from the stated legal timing.
Some vehicles do not illuminate the tail lamps with daytime running lights. Check the actual exterior lamps and the vehicle controls rather than assuming a bright dashboard means the rear lamps are on.
Source: SGI handbook — Headlights ↗Apply the rule before memorizing the number
Original worked cases
Following case: you are 80 m behind another car on an unlit road. Use low beams because you are within the 100 m following distance. The 200 m oncoming rule is not the relevant comparison.
Divided-road case: the opposite roadway is separated by only a narrow median. That description does not meet SGI’s 22 m exception. Do not treat every divided road as permission to keep high beams on.
Daytime fog: it is noon, but visibility has deteriorated. The time of day does not remove the headlight requirement. Turn on the appropriate lights and check that the rear lamps are illuminated.
Review lighting and visibility as separate decisions
A missed lighting question usually involves one of three details: whether traffic is approaching or ahead, whether the question concerns high beams or auxiliary lamps, and whether visibility is poor. Name that detail before retrying.
Use the night-and-winter topic for free original practice. The driving-skills questions then put observation and vehicle controls into context. A practice result does not establish that a particular lighting setup is safe or legally compliant.
Source: SGI handbook — Headlights ↗