An exterior light control system is provided for controlling exterior lights of a vehicle. The system includes an imaging system configured to image a forward external scene and to generate image data corresponding to the acquired images; and a controller configured to receive and analyze the image data and for generating an exterior light control signal that is used to control the exterior lights in response to analysis of the image data and in response to a selected mode of operation. When in the motorway mode, if the controller detects headlamps of one or more oncoming vehicle, the controller generates an exterior light control signal for reducing the brightness of the exterior lights, determines a relative location within the acquired images of a headlamp closest to a central feature of the acquired images, and selects a delay that varies dynamically in response to the relative location of the headlamp.