New York Drivers Have No Idea How to Use High Beams.

Every Sunday, I trek from New England to New York, and it’s like clockwork:

Everything’s fine on I-90 in Massachusetts.

Drivers dim their high beams, follow the rules, and avoid acting like jerks.

Then, I cross the New York border, and all bets are off.

For the next hour on the Taconic Parkway, I endure a parade of drivers who either don’t know or don’t care about headlight etiquette.

It doesn’t get any better when I hit the backroads of The Salt Point Turnpike.

The blinding lights continue as if the rules of the road don’t apply once trees and deer surround you. Meanwhile,

I play musical visors to avoid The Batsignal coming from car behind me or the one coming head-on.

I didn’t grow up here, and I’ve never driven these roads before in my life.

Yet somehow, I manage to navigate them just fine with my normal headlights.

So, what’s your excuse? You’ve been driving these roads your whole lives!

Here’s the thing: New York State law is pretty clear about high beams. You’re supposed to dim them when you’re within 500 feet of oncoming traffic or 200 feet behind another car.

If this is news to anyone, it’s right there in the DMV handbook.

And if you still think you’re exempt, remember that improper use of high beams can get you ticketed.

The most frustrating part? The drivers back in Massachusetts seem to have no problem with this concept. They get it. They dim their lights when they’re supposed to.

But the second you’re on the Taconic, it’s like a Wild West showdown, and everyone’s packing high beams.

So, to the folks out there lighting up the road like it’s a search-and-rescue mission: dim your lights. It’s not just courteous—it’s the law. Let’s all survive the deer gauntlet without needing sunglasses at night.