If your headlights fail while driving at night, what should you do first?

When your headlights fail while driving at night, the most prudent action is to pull over to the side of the road. This choice prioritizes safety for both yourself and other drivers on the road. By pulling over, you minimize the risk of being involved in an accident due to impaired visibility, as your vehicle will no longer be in motion where oncoming traffic might not see you.

Turning on your hazard lights is a reasonable response, but it should typically follow pulling over, as it signals to other drivers that there is an issue. While switching the headlights on and off may seem like a quick fix, it could potentially exacerbate the problem or provide no solution at all, which doesn’t address the immediate need to stop safely. Accelerating to find a well-lit area might increase the risk of an accident, as driving without headlights significantly impairs your ability to see and be seen.