There are several ways you can boost your safety when driving at night, and most of the steps are pretty straightforward. To keep you and your loved ones safe on the road at night, check out the nine following tips for safe driving in this guide.
Why Is It Dangerous to Drive at Night?
Night driving can be dangerous for a variety of reasons. First of all, low light conditions put you at risk in several ways. Human depth perception becomes limited in low light, along with colour recognition and peripheral vision. As a result, the driver becomes less aware of their surroundings. They may drift out of the lane, not see obstacles, or become distracted.
Dangers include oncoming cars, wildlife, and more. This is without considering the effects low light has on other drivers, specifically older drivers who may have degenerative eye conditions.
Drowsiness is another critical risk when driving at night, with most people feeling sleepy while driving in the dark. The glare of oncoming lights is not usually enough to wake you up, but it can make you feel disorientated.
With all the dangers associated with driving at night, it's vital for drivers to know how to drive safely at nighttime.
9 Tips for Night Driving
There are many ways to increase your safety while driving at night. Here are nine tips to help you get started.
1. Angle Your Headlights
Driving at night requires functioning headlights. Whether you have regular lights or high beams, you will need some sort of added light to help you see the road.
Some cars allow you to adjust the angle of the headlights using a switch inside the car. If they are angled too low, your car's headlights won't illuminate the road ahead, leaving you driving blind. If you struggle to see the road clearly when driving at night, consider having the headlights adjusted to better suit your driving.
It's no use having high beams if you can't use them to see the road. You should also make sure your headlights are cleaned and working properly.
2. Use High Beams Safely
When using high beams, it's important to do so safely. The bright lights from high beams are great for illuminating the road and ensuring you can see everything you need to. However, when there's oncoming traffic, you risk blinding other drivers and creating a hazard.
That said, it's important to have some lights on. Headlights not only help you see, but they also help other nighttime drivers see you, which is why you should ensure your headlights are working at all times.
Some drivers also choose to add extra lights, such as fog lights. These can add more light and help you see more of the road, but they are not always necessary. Be mindful of other cars, and only invest in extra bright lights if you do a lot of night driving. Furthermore, always be conscious of other drivers and don't use excessive lights in built-up areas.
3. Drive Safely and More Slowly
When driving at night, you should use all the same safety precautions you normally would, such as buckling up your seat belt, indicating properly, and driving within the speed limit.
At nighttime, these things become even more crucial. It's important to remember that your reaction time will be slower, and therefore you should drive slower to account for it. That said, it's still important to drive around the speed limit since driving too slowly can also pose a danger to other drivers on the road.
4. Avoid Fatigue
It's difficult to avoid driver fatigue while driving at night, but it's essential to try and limit drowsiness as much as possible. Take frequent breaks to ensure you are well-rested and not straining your eyes.
You can try to avoid eye fatigue by keeping your eyes moving rather than focusing on one area. It can also be beneficial to listen to music or podcasts, turn on the A/C, roll the windows down, and talk to yourself.
If there is more than one person in the car, do not be afraid to pull over and switch drivers if you need to rest. Or, if driving at night by yourself, feel free to take frequent, long breaks. It's better to reach your destination slower but in one piece.
5. Look Out for Wildlife
Driving at night in Australia can be a huge risk in rural areas outside of towns and cities. Kangaroos and wallabies are more likely to roam at night and may cross roads and become hazards. If you hit one, it's not only a risk to the animal but also to you. You should also look out for echidna, emus, cattle, and other animals.
During times of drought, animals are more likely to wander into built-up areas, too. Keep an eye out no matter where you are driving.
Those who drive at night often should be on the lookout for light reflected in the retinas of animals. High beams will pick up on animal eyes in the distance, so keep an eye out.
When you see an animal, it's safest to slow down and stop rather than swerve to avoid it and potentially end up in the path of an oncoming vehicle. Remember that the bright lights of your high beams usually only illuminate what's within stopping distance, which is why driving slowly is so important.
6. Adjust Inside Lighting
Distracting lighting inside the car can also hamper your ability to see and drive. Make sure bright lights inside the cabin are minimised as much as possible. If you can, set the GPS and infotainment screens to night mode to reduce their lighting. The critical controls should be easily visible but not distracting.
You may also get a bright light or glare from the beams of vehicles behind you. Consider adding an anti-reflective coating to your rearview mirror to avoid potential danger. Some newer models have mirrors that automatically dim lights, but if not, there are options available on the market to combat bright lights.
Furthermore, always set your cell phone to night mode and turn off notifications so that the screen doesn't switch on unexpectedly.
7. Avoid Two-Lane Highways
When driving at night and your eyes are tired, you are likely to focus heavily on the bright lights you encounter. This includes the high beams of an oncoming vehicle or the reflective light from a road sign.
Busy roads, therefore, become greater hazards, with a greater potential for glare from headlights. If you can, avoid driving on two-lane highways where there is a lot of traffic and glare from other motorists.
Night-time driving also includes risks from other drivers on the road. You are more likely to encounter drunk driving at night and other motorists experiencing fatigue. As a result, busy roads can be more dangerous. Try to avoid them if possible, and always remain aware of the drivers and vehicles around you.
8. Keep Your Eyes on the Road
Similarly, you need to always keep your eyes on the road. This is the same as driving during the day, but due to reduced visibility and reaction times, it becomes even more important at night. Watch out for pedestrians, poor drivers, or other obstacles carefully.
9. Clean Your Windshield
Visibility is key when driving at night, and bright lights are not the only thing you need to consider. Smudges that you don't notice on your windshield during the day can turn into a hazard during a night drive. Dirty windshields can create an added, unnecessary glare that adds to drowsiness and reduced vision.
Give your windshield a thorough polish before driving at night time. However, don't wipe it with your hand, even if it's just to remove a speck. The oil from your skin can create extra smears that make it even more difficult to see.
Final Thoughts
We hope the tips in the article helped you feel more comfortable driving at night. If you are an inexperienced driver, it's crucial to exercise caution when driving at night while you build up your confidence.
As long as you stay aware of your surroundings and give yourself time to react to potential hazards by slowing your speed, you should be able to make your journey safely. Above all, always take a rest if you need to. It's better to arrive at your destination safely than to get there fast.
