How to stay safe when driving at night

Driving at night, or whenever it's dark can be unnerving for anyone on the road regardless of experience. When darkness falls, there are unique challenges that can test your driving ability.

Despite this, there are lots of useful tips and actions you can take to make the experience a little more pleasant. Minimising the dangers of driving in the dark can help to keep both you and other drivers safe on the road.

Why driving at night is tougher?

There are a set of challenges you can experience behind the wheel at night, you're unlikely to face in the daytime.

It can be more dangerous because of factors such as:

• Limited visibility

• Headlight and street lighting glare

• Increased fatigue

Common challenges when driving at night

• Glare: In the dark your pupils dilate to allow more light, so headlights, streetlights and reflections can be disorientating.
• Fatigue: Most of us are tired late at night, or in the early hours of the morning. Fatigue affects everyone, so just make sure you take regular breaks to stay alert.
• Reduced visibility: Road lighting and headlights can only do so much, the low light reduces your visibility and reaction time compared to daytime.
• Greater presence of dangerous drivers: Drivers under the influence of drugs and alcohol are more likely to be present on the roads at night.
• Conditions such as Astigmatism: It's a common cause of blurry vision at any distance. So glare caused by headlights and road lighting can be even more intense.

Get your car ready for night driving

Check your lights

Make sure all your lights – headlights, rear lights, fog lights – are working properly. You should consider investing in brighter bulbs if you're not completely satisfied with your visibility at night. Clear lights make a world of difference!

Clean your windscreen and mirrors

You'd be surprised just how impactful cleaning your windows inside and out can be. A dirty windscreen can amplify glare, making it harder to see. You might not notice it during the daytime, but keeping everything squeaky clean can really make a difference.

Know when to use your lights

As sun begins to set, you should begin using your low-beam headlights. Full-beam headlights can enhance your visibility, but you should be vigilant when switching. You should only adjust to full-beam when there are no oncoming cards as far as you can see. If there are, you should switch to low-beam until any oncoming traffic passes you.

Top tips for safer night driving

Despite the challenges posed by driving in the dark, there's plenty you can do to make car journeys a little more straightforward while staying safe:

Slow it down

Your reaction time decreases at night with less visibility. You should take it easy on the accelerator, even if you're in a rush. Maintaining a sensible distance between yourself and the car in front of you should give you plenty of time to slow down if necessary.

Avoid distractions

The chances of you spotting a hazard in your peripheral vision, as you could in the daytime, is less likely when the sun sets. It's important to keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. Never touch your phone until you've pulled over and stopped in a safe place. Read our guide on mobile phones, driving and the law.

Dealing with bright lights

It's easy to be drawn to the headlights of oncoming cars heading the opposite direction. But doing so can impair your vision temporarily and leave you dazed. If oncoming lights are dazzling, look slightly to the left of the road to avoid the glare and focus on the road markings.

What else to watch out for while driving at night

Rural driving at night

Roads in rural areas can be narrow and may not be well lit with street lighting. If you're on a road with no street lights, use your high-beam headlights – but don’t forget to dip them when other cars approach.

Bad weather

Rain, fog, and ice are no joke - especially when it affects how you drive. Bad weather conditions slow your stopping speed, impair your visibility and in extreme cases can cause you to lose control of your vehicle.

Animals on the road

In rural areas, it's not uncommon for livestock to wander onto roads and stay put. It's likely many of these areas signpost the potential of these occurrences, so be prepared to alter how you drive. If you're passing by animals, drive slowly, allow plenty of room and be prepared to stop. Animals aren't humans, so refrain from sounding your horn!

Keep your eyes sharp

Glasses for night driving

If you need glasses, consider asking your optician about a pair with anti-glare lenses - these are also known as polarised lenses. Wearing these glasses while driving can stop you from experiencing glare, allowing you a more comfortable adventure on the road in the dark.

Regular eye tests

You may think that squinting your eyes is part and parcel of driving at night. But it may actually be a sign that you suffer with Astigmatism. Always speak to an optician if you notice any issues with your vision while driving in the dark. It's also worth considering having an eye test every two years - an optician could suggest specific glasses to help.

What about your car insurance?

Generally, a standard car insurance policy should permit you to drive at night without affecting what you pay. However, if your occupation involves driving in the dark often, or you have a telematics policy, it could have an impact. Some telematics policies could insert a night-time curfew, others might negatively score your driving if you're behind the wheel at night often.