Alabama · Handbook chapter 7 · 4 min read
Chapter 7: Night, weather and driving emergencies
Alabama headlight rules, dimming distances, glare, winter and wet roads, skids, hydroplaning, fog, hills, carbon monoxide, and what to do in emergencies from blowouts and brake failure to stalling on railroad tracks.
Why this chapter matters
About half of Alabama's fatal crashes happen in darkness, and emergencies leave no time to think. The manual's basic rule for every emergency is think before you act, because the instinctive reaction, such as slamming the brakes in a skid, is often wrong.
Night driving
- Headlights must be on from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise, and whenever you cannot see clearly for 500 feet. Parking lights alone are not enough. When in doubt, use low beams.
- High beams light about 350 feet ahead. Do not overdrive your headlights: you must be able to stop within the distance you can see.
- Switch to low beams when an oncoming vehicle is within 500 feet, or when you are within 200 feet behind another vehicle. Keep them dimmed even if the other driver does not.
- For glare from oncoming lights, look toward the right edge of the pavement. For glare from behind, use the day-night mirror setting.
- In a night breakdown, pull well off, use four-way flashers, raise the hood and stay with the car. Place flares or reflectors 100 to 500 feet behind the car on the right edge of the road. If you must walk, carry a light and walk facing traffic.
Rain, snow and ice
- Headlights are required when the wipers are on because of rain, sleet or snow (intermittent use does not count).
- On snow or ice it can take three to twelve times as far to stop as on dry pavement.
- Start gently. On packed snow or ice brake gently; if you must stop quickly and the wheels lock, release and squeeze again.
- Snow tires help on snow but not on ice; chains are best on ice and deep snow.
Skids
- In a skid, do not brake until you have regained control of your direction; braking makes the skid worse.
- With rear-wheel drive, ease off the gas. With front-wheel drive, light pressure on the gas helps the front catch up.
Hydroplaning
- Partial hydroplaning starts at about 35 mph and can become total at about 55 mph.
- If you hydroplane, take your foot off the accelerator and let the car slow. Good tires with deep tread help prevent it.
Fog, hills and carbon monoxide
- In fog or snow use low beams, slow down, and pull completely off the road if you cannot see.
- On narrow hilly roads, use your horn on blind curves. Coasting downhill in neutral is against the law.
- Carbon monoxide has no smell. Warning signs are sudden tiredness, yawning, dizziness and nausea. Never warm up the car in a closed garage, and keep the exhaust system checked.
Emergencies
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Blowout or lost wheel | Hold the wheel tightly, steer straight, ease off the gas, do not brake until in control |
| Steering failure | Ease off the gas, do not brake; brake very gently as you slow |
| Brake failure | Pump the pedal; then use the parking brake gently; shift down |
| Wheels off the pavement | Stay on the shoulder, slow down, then turn back gently |
| Car in your lane | Pull right, slow, sound the horn or flash lights; do not swerve left |
| Car passing you cannot finish | Slow to help it finish, or speed up to let it drop back if it must; use the shoulder only if a crash is near |
| Stalled on tracks, train coming | Get out and walk alongside the tracks toward the train |
| Car in deep water, still afloat | Escape through a window at once |
| Engine fire | Pull off, turn off the ignition, smother with dirt or sand, never water |
| Overheating | Pull over, turn off the engine, do not open the radiator cap |
| Headlights fail | Try parking lights or turn signals and leave the road |
| Stuck accelerator | Try to lift the pedal with your toe; otherwise turn off the engine |
Frequently asked questions
When must headlights be on in Alabama?
From 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise, whenever you cannot see 500 feet ahead, and when wipers are running because of rain, sleet or snow.
When must I dim my high beams?
When an oncoming vehicle is 500 feet away or closer, and when you are 200 feet or less behind another vehicle.
What should I do if my car hydroplanes?
Ease off the accelerator and let the car slow down. Do not brake hard.
What do I do if a tire blows out?
Hold the wheel firmly, steer straight and ease off the gas. Do not brake until the car is under control.
Based on the Alabama Driver Manual (November 2024), published by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Driver License Division.