35.73. If an oncoming vehicle is approaching you with high beam headlights on, you must:
UAЯкщо назустріч вам наближається транспортний засіб з увімкненим дальнім світлом фар, Ви повинні:
Question without image
This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine about safe driver behavior at night during an oncoming encounter, when there is a risk of being blinded by headlights. The topic is directly related to road safety: a brief loss of normal vision due to bright light reduces the ability to assess speed, distance, and keep the car within its lane, thereby increasing the likelihood of entering the oncoming lane or hitting an obstacle.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the Traffic Rules regarding the use of external lighting devices (in particular, the requirement to switch off high beams, clause 19.2), as well as the general duties of the driver to be attentive and control the traffic situation (clause 2.3) and to act in case of danger by reducing speed up to stopping (clause 12.3). For the theoretical exam, it is important to understand not only the rule about high beams, but also the correct self-protection tactics when an oncoming driver violates the traffic rules.
The analysis of the options in this exam question comes down to where to direct your gaze so as not to look at the source of glare and at the same time maintain control of your trajectory. Looking away "in any direction" is too vague: if you intuitively look to the left, you will actually continue to look toward the oncoming headlights and increase the glare. Looking to the left side of the road in right-hand traffic is the wrong tactic precisely because of the proximity to the oncoming flow. The safest solution for the driver is to shift their gaze to the right edge of the roadway, the right marking, or a landmark near the roadside: this reduces the blinding effect and helps keep the car within its lane.
In a real situation, this habit works together with other safety actions: smoothly reduce speed, increase the distance to vehicles ahead, be prepared for a pedestrian or cyclist to appear on the roadside, and in case of severe glare, stop in a safe place. This logic corresponds to the requirements of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine and explains why the correct tactic during glare is to control the right edge of the road, not to try to "peer" into the headlights of the oncoming car.
Clause 19.2
The high beam headlights must be switched to low beam no later than 250 m before an oncoming vehicle, as well as in cases where it may dazzle other drivers, including those moving ahead in the same direction.
Brief application: this clause explains the reason for the situation in the question (the oncoming driver is obliged not to dazzle). The driver who is dazzled must act to maintain control over the direction of movement (in particular, not to look at the source of the dazzling).
Clause 2.3 (b)
To ensure road safety, the driver is obliged to: be attentive, monitor the traffic situation, respond appropriately to its changes, monitor the correct placement and securing of cargo, the technical condition of the vehicle, and not be distracted from driving while on the road.
Brief application: when oncoming headlights dazzle, "being attentive" and "monitoring the traffic situation" means choosing a direction of gaze that allows you to control the position of the car in the lane (focusing on the right edge of the roadway/shoulder), rather than looking directly at the source of the dazzling.
Clause 12.3
If a danger to traffic or an obstacle that the driver can objectively detect arises, he must immediately take measures to reduce speed up to stopping the vehicle or safely bypassing the obstacle for other road users.
Brief application: being dazzled by high beams is a danger (it sharply worsens perception of the situation), so the driver, if necessary, should additionally reduce speed up to stopping, while simultaneously reducing the effect of the dazzling (including turning the gaze to the right to control the trajectory).
That is, the correct answer is "Turn your gaze to the right side of the road," given that, according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, the driver is obliged to be attentive and control the traffic situation (clause 2.3 (b)), and in case of danger (dazzling) — immediately take measures for safe driving (clause 12.3), while the high beam itself must not dazzle and must be switched in time (clause 19.2).
While driving at night, the high beams of an oncoming vehicle can temporarily “disable” your normal vision of the road. This is dangerous because for several seconds after being dazzled, the driver is less able to judge distance, speed, and may even struggle to keep the vehicle accurately within their lane.
The Traffic Rules require drivers to switch from high beam to low beam headlights, in particular no later than 250 meters before meeting an oncoming vehicle, as well as in any situation where there is a risk of dazzling others. However, in practice, there are situations when the oncoming driver does not do this, and then your main priority is to maintain control over your direction of travel.
In right-hand traffic, the most reliable way to avoid being dazzled is not to look at the light source, i.e., the headlights, but to shift your gaze to the right: to the edge of the roadway, the right marking, or a landmark near the roadside. This way, you avert your eyes from the “bright spot” that dazzles you, and at the same time control the position of your vehicle relative to the right edge of the road, preventing an involuntary shift to the left into oncoming traffic.
For example, if on a country road an oncoming car approaches with its high beams on, trying to “peer” into its headlights often leads to the driver losing orientation within the lane. Instead, looking at the right edge of the roadway allows you to calmly maintain your trajectory, wait for the oncoming vehicle to pass, and continue driving safely.
Therefore, the correct answer is “Shift your gaze to the right side of the road,” as this reduces the dazzling effect of the oncoming car’s headlights and helps you maintain control over the position of your vehicle within your lane.