When should you turn off your high beams?

Turning off high beams is essential when approaching oncoming traffic or closely following another vehicle because high beams can cause glare and temporary blindness for other drivers. This makes it difficult for them to see the road clearly and can lead to dangerous situations. High beams are meant to illuminate the road far ahead, but this can be blinding to other drivers. Therefore, dimming your lights in such situations ensures everyone's safety on the road.

While it is advisable to turn off high beams in foggy conditions, as they can reflect off the fog and reduce visibility, the specific emphasis in this question is on interacting with other vehicles. Entering populated areas and driving in well-lit areas are both situations where high beams are not necessary, but the focus of the answer is to prioritize safety and courtesy for other drivers when their paths intersect with yours.