It is recommended that all the lights of your car are checked daily. Before you go driving perform a walk around of your car.
Check that the following are all in good working order.
1) Side lights or parking lights
2) Headlights or Dip beam
3) Main light or High beam
4) Signals
5) Fog lights
6) Reversing lights
7) Brake lights (reverse up to a reflective surface and check in your rear view mirror) Replace any bulbs not working as soon as possible.
The headlight switch on your car usually have four settings,
Automatic
Parking light also known as your side lights
Dip beam also known as your headlight
High beam also known as your main beam
Automatic:
If you have this setting on your car it will turn your headlights (dip beam) on automatically when the ambient lighting around has dropped below a certain level.
Parking light:
This setting turns on your side lights or sometimes a very low light on your headlight. This light should be used when you have pulled in and intend to be stopped for a prolonged period of time. By switching on your parking lights any traffic that might be travelling toward your car will not be blinded or dazzled unnecessarily and will also be able to see beyond your car if pedestrians or cyclists are intending to step out or pull out into the flow of traffic.
Dip beam:
This setting allows you light up the road ahead when in poor light conditions. It is also recommended that you drive on dipped headlights as a matter of course even when driving during daylight hours. By driving on dipped headlights during the day it makes it a lot easier for other road users to see you in good time.
High beam:
This setting can be used when driving in very dark or unlit areas. Be careful when using the high beam (main headlight) that you do not become a danger to other road users by blinding oncoming traffic. The following are some of the times when you will not use the high beam.
1) When following other traffic
2) When there are oncoming vehicles
3) When approaching dangerous bends on the road
4) When approaching the brow of a hill
5) When driving in heavy fog
6) When driving in heavy snow
Fog lights:
This light is a high intensity light and can be dazzling to other road users when used incorrectly.
They can be located on the front and back of your car or only on the back depending on the make and model of your car.
This setting should only be used when driving in fog or heavy snow.