A Guide to Driving at Night

Short winter days mean more time driving in night-time conditions. Poorly lit roads, reduced visibility and glare from dazzling lights all mean driving at night is both daunting and dangerous. In fact, 19% more collisions occur at night-time than during the day.

This guide will make sure you are not another statistic by telling you everything you must know about night-time driving. It will allow you to feel more in control and therefore safer. Go one step further and take out breakdown cover for more peace of mind.

Rest Up

Fatigue related conditions contribute up to 20% of collisions and driving when tired is as dangerous as drink driving . Between midnight and 6am, natural alertness is at a minimum and with that comes significantly reduced concentration, awareness and reaction times. If the quality of these dips, you become a danger to yourself and to others.

To prevent this, it is imperative that you take breaks when driving long distances in the dark. Regular stops allow you to hydrate, eat and get some fresh air before returning to the road rejuvenated and alert.

It is even more important that you take breaks as soon as you feel tired – it may be worth considering booking an overnight stay.

Whilst it seems obvious, making sure you are well-rested, and vigilant is essential for safe night driving.

Are You Using Your Lights Correctly?

You must check all your lights are in good working order before taking to the road in the dark. Also check the amount of grime and dirt that has built up on your headlights and this can affect their brightness and range.

If you do need to replace your lights, think about investing in brighter bulbs capable of putting 150% more light onto the road – they will help you out significantly.

When you begin your nighttime journey it is a legal requirement to use your dipped headlights. If visibility is severely reduced and you cannot see for more than 100 metres, you must use your full beam lights and fog lights, just as you would during the day. As soon as visibility improves you must switch them both off.

Look Away

Of course, never take your eyes off the road but do avoid looking at oncoming headlights. More people than ever are concerned about the glare of other vehicles’ headlights and 85% of dazzled drivers believe the problem is getting worse.

Bright lights can dazzle you and temporarily impair your vision for up to five seconds . If this does happen don’t panic, just gradually slow down until the effects have stopped. Avoid stopping abruptly as this could cause a collision.

You can avoid being dazzled by looking at the left-hand side and following the white line marking the edge.

Minimising the light from inside the car is also beneficial. Turn off additional lights such as the dashboard, satnavs and phones and set them to night mode.

Take Your Time

There’s no rush! Reaching your destination safely should be your priority, not how soon you can get there.

As it is dark your eyes will take longer to see potential hazards. Reduce your speed and increase the distance between your car and the one in front so that you can safely anticipate any potential dangers.

Watch Out!

Be particularly careful when driving through residential areas as people are more likely to step into the road. The same goes for quiet country lanes with less traffic where you may encounter oblivious pedestrians or animals darting across the road that are not instantly obvious.

Cyclists are also important to anticipate. Whilst they should be wearing reflective clothes and have bike lights on, this is not always the case and without them, they are not immediately visible. It is important that you slow down and give them plenty of space when passing. This will help make other motorists aware of their presence too.

Night-time Driving Essentials

As with any journey that is not your regular daytime drive, it is important to be prepared for every eventuality. If you do end up breaking down, you will thank yourself for bringing these things:

1. Food and drink
2. Any medication you may need
3. Spare bulbs for your headlights
4. Blanket
5. Torch and spare batteries
6. Warm clothing
7. Fully charged mobile phone
8. In-car charger or power bank
9. Ice scraper and de-icer in case the temperature drops

Final Thoughts

Driving at night requires you to be extra cautious. You must be considerate of other road users and not panic if you do find yourself dazzled by the lights of oncoming vehicles. Remember, staying alert and attentive is fundamental to safe driving in the dark. Happy driving!