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Top safety tips for driving in the dark

Top Safety Tips for Driving in the Dark

You may think you need safety tips for driving in the dark during the winter months once the clocks change from British Summer Time to Greenwich Mean Time, but our top tips are useful for all year round[TW1] . In summer, we might drive for weeks on end without ever using our headlights but commutes at both ends of the day will soon be undertaken in darkness. But what should you do differently to stay safe in the dark? Here are our top tips.

How to Drive Safely in the Dark

Adjust Your Lights

Let’s start with the obvious: lights. Put your dipped headlights on before it is fully dark (or when visibility is poor, such as in heavy rain). Luckily, many new cars have automatic lights, but it still makes sense to check they are enabled, and they have come on as dusk falls.

Cars and small vans from 2011 onwards are fitted with day running lights (DRLs). These are for daytime safety, permanently illuminating the front of the vehicle. However, there is no rear vehicle illumination making your car invisible from behind, so you need to be aware and switch on your headlights in the dark.

On unlit roads, don’t forget to use your high beam when it is dark ahead and there are no oncoming vehicles. If another vehicle does approach, remember to dip your lights promptly.

Don’t use fog lights just because it is dark or rainy as they will dazzle other road users. Do use fog lights at night if it is foggy and you are struggling to see beyond about 100 metres.

Even though driving with just sidelights is permitted on roads with streetlamps, usually in a 20 or 30mph zone, it makes sense to use dipped headlamps all the time in the dark because your car will be more visible. It’s also easy to forget to revert to dipped headlamps when leaving a 30mph zone so you could end up being both at risk and driving illegally.

If you have rarely used your lights over the summer, you should check they all work properly. Some cars indicate bulb failures to the driver with a clear message; others require a walk around the vehicle (which should be done regularly).

Do keep your lights clean. As we approach winter, the dirty water thrown up from our roads by other vehicles has a tendency to dry onto the warm lamp lenses, ultimately reducing the lights’ effectiveness.

Headlights should be properly aligned so as not to dazzle other road users. They are checked annually at the MOT test once your car is three years old but can be knocked out of alignment so it is useful to check the pattern, they throw on the road: they should cast light to the same distance and be directed toward the pavement so as not to dazzle oncoming traffic.

Clean Your Windows!

Dirty windows will reduce visibility and smeary windscreens can cause considerable glare. Use a good glass cleaner - even a household product will work - to clean the inside of your windows.

Ensure the outsides of the windows are clean too and that your windscreen wipers are in good condition. Also check you have enough screen washer fluid and that its concentration is correct for the time of year. Check the specific instructions on your washer fluid product; you may need to use equal parts washer fluid to water at the coldest part of winter.

Winter is often accompanied by damp weather so ensure your car’s air conditioning is switched on because it has a built-in dehumidifier which will help clear misted windows.

Be Aware & Stay Alert

If you walk around your house in bare feet in the dark, you’ll tend to it more slowly, so you don’t stub your toes. You should take a similar approach to night driving. Even in well-lit urban areas, pedestrians in dark clothing and bikes without lights are all too common. Out on dark county lanes there are added hazards of wildlife.

Acclimatise

It takes about five minutes for a human’s eyes to adapt fully to the dark. Your night vision will be reduced if you have your car’s driver display and infotainment screens set brightly so ensure they are dimmed or in night mode. Similarly, try not to stare into oncoming vehicles’ headlights as this will temporarily impair your vision.

Weather Conditions

As we approach winter, the weather becomes more challenging. It tends to be wetter - so there could be heavy rain and hard-to-see floods - and the temperature will be lower with the risk of frosts. So, while you are warm and cosy inside your car, be aware of the temperature outside. Most cars give a warning if the temperature drops below three or four degrees Celsius but it’s worth checking the weather forecast before you drive. Look out for telltale signs of frost: if the gritters have been out and there is fresh salt on the road, it is probably due to freeze.

Fitness to Drive

As people get older, eyesight tends to deteriorate. Sometimes this can be corrected with glasses, but it can still make driving at dusk or at night more difficult - and therefore puts road users at risk. At the first sign you are struggling to see as well as you should, have an eye test and ensure you have the right glasses (some have an anti-glare coating).

Prepare for Emergencies

Even though your car will be warm, remember to carry sensible clothing in case of a breakdown or accident. We’d recommend carrying a charged mobile phone, hi-vis jacket, breakdown cover details, charged mobile phone, water and food, a torch, and access to a route planner.

How to Drive Safely on an Unlit Road

When driving on an unlit road, it is vital to ensure your lights are affective and used correctly. You can switch and use your full beam when driving down road which aren’t supported by streetlamps or oncoming traffic. Always remember to switch back to your dipped beam when you can see the light from oncoming traffic.

On of the main concerns when driving in the dark is potential cyclists and pedestrians also using the road at night. Unfortunately, you cannot guarantee that these road users will be wearing visibility clothing, and therefore making it hard to see them in the dark. Therefore, by being aware and mindful that people and animals may also be using the road and may not be visible.

How to Drive Safely in the Dark for the First Time

Slow Down

In addition to the steps mentioned above, drivers who are experiencing driving in the dark for the first time may want to consider their speed. By reducing the speed whilst driving in the dark you are increasing you reaction time to other drivers, wildlife, and pedestrians who may also be on the road.

Stay Awake, Sober, and Alert

The darkness can indicate that it is nighttime, and for us humans, this is our signal that it might be time for bed, which isn’t what you want when behind the wheel. Therefore, it is strongly advised to plan ahead and factor in regular breaks, stay hydrated, and more importantly do not drink and drive, or drive after a heavy night out.

Driving in the dark is a skill with additional challenges. New drivers need to build up their experience and should consider a Pass Plus course which covers night driving.

When Should You Use Dipped Headlights?

Dipped headlights are the strongest lights your car has that won’t cause disruption to other drivers. You should use your dipped headlights when visibility is poor. The majority of drivers find dipped headlights useful during dusk and dawn, when the sun isn’t fully risen or fallen on the given day. It is also useful to switch your dipped headlights on when weather conditions are bad.

*Image credit: DVSA Crown copyright*