If blinded by oncoming headlights, what is the safest action to take?

When faced with oncoming headlights that blind you, the safest action to take is to slow down and avoid looking directly into the headlights. This is crucial because looking directly at the bright lights can temporarily impair your vision, making it difficult to see the road ahead and any potential hazards. By reducing your speed, you give yourself more time to react and regain your vision.

Looking down and to the right can help minimize glare from the headlights, but without slowing down, you may not have enough control to navigate the road safely. Speeding up to get out of the way can create dangerous situations as it may lead to losing control or creating issues for other drivers. Using high beams is counterproductive in this scenario, as they can further impair your ability to see by reflecting off the approaching vehicle's headlights.

Slowing down and avoiding direct eye contact with the oncoming lights provides a safer approach by helping you maintain awareness of the road and its surroundings until your vision normalizes.