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The cold and dark nights are still ahead of us for some time in the UK, and even with the dark nights ‘officially’ ending after the winter solstice, which falls on December 21st, that doesn’t mean that it’s over immediately. And these conditions can prove a challenge to many of us, especially drivers.
According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), approximately 40% of all road accidents in the UK occur during the night, so staying safe when driving is so important.
Although safety is vital every single time we sit in the drivers’ seat, driving at night can be more dangerous, as low-visibility and nighttime driving conditions can bring various challenges.
And whilst we have features that aid us when driving in the dark, such as our headlights, they can actually cause issues for other drivers on the road.
As such, the team here at Dick Lovett has shared 5 tips to stay safe when driving in the dark, including headlight adjustment, using rear-view mirror night mode, avoiding headlight glare, and more.
1. Clean your windows and mirrors—and switch your rear-view mirror into ‘night mode’
Even though this is still hugely important during the day, having dirty windows at night can obstruct your view, making it more difficult to see when driving in the dark.
This is especially important during nighttime events such as Bonfire Night, as when ash from fireworks mixes with water - or rain - it becomes a paste-like substance, which can further impact visibility, and make it tricker to remove from your glass.
We also recommend switching your rear-view mirror night mode, a feature that has been in cars since as early as the 1980s. However, one Reddit user claimed that their passenger was totally unaware of this feature, meaning other road users may also not realise how beneficial this is.
Rear view mirror night-mode makes your mirror darker and minimises the intensity of any reflections during the night to avoid any potential headlight glare from vehicles behind you.
On modern cars, your rear-view mirror will turn into night mode automatically, so there’s no need to turn this on and off yourself. But, for cars who don’t have this automatic feature, to turn your mirror into night mode, simply locate the small lever or tab at the bottom of the rear view mirror and flip it towards you. Then, to switch back to normal, flip it back.
2. Adjust and use your headlights correctly
When driving at night, you must ensure your front and rear lights are properly functioning, as it’s actually illegal if they aren’t. To check your lights are working properly, simply turn them on before your journey to make sure they are functioning correctly.
As well as this, ensure that you use dipped headlights and full beams where appropriate. Dipped headlights should be used when visibility is poor, such as at night, and in bad weather, with full beams used when roads are dark and empty, as the incorrect settings can be a hazard to other drivers, and they may experience headlight glare.
Just last week, headlight glare research from the RAC found that a quarter of drivers (25%) who find other driver’s headlights too bright are actually choosing to drive less at night. A further three-quarters (75%) of those saying they’re choosing to drive less because of the intense headlights from other vehicles makes driving uncomfortable or more difficult.
Furthermore, the research found that 79% of people say they find it hard to tell when some vehicles are indicating, with 77% saying it’s difficult to judge the position of oncoming cars on the road when their headlights are so bright.
So, be sure to use your headlights correctly by turning to your dipped headlights when other road users are around, especially if they are in oncoming traffic, as this can dazzle them, and bring other risks.
It’s also important to adjust your headlights correctly, so the angle of the headlight beam is in the right place, as misaligned headlights can reduce your ability to see clearly at night and may dazzle oncoming drivers.
Most modern cars will do this for you automatically, but there are some ways you can adjust the headlights manually as well. So, how do you adjust the headlights? Typically, the headlight adjustment button can be located on the steering wheel, represented by the headlight symbol (a dome shaped symbol with downward pointing lines) and a dial with numbers. This will alter the angle of the headlights as you turn the dial.
If you’re unsure on how to adjust the headlights correctly for your vehicle, the user manual should contain the specifications.
However, there are other ways to adjust the headlights without using this feature, and below, we’ve outlined the key steps you should follow for headlight adjustment:
- Park on level ground – First, position your car on a flat surface, around 5-7 metres away from a wall or garage door.
- Mark the beam pattern – Then, turn on your headlights and use masking tape to mark the centre of each beam on the wall.
- Adjust the screws – Next, locate both the vertical and horizontal adjustment screws, and alter the beam so it aligns just below the marked level, as this will help to avoid dazzling other drivers.
- Test the lights – Finally, take the car for a short drive to ensure your visibility is improved, without any excessive glare.
For more information, and advice on how to set up automatic headlights when driving in winter, check out our guide.
3. Wear anti-glare driving glasses
Anti-reflective coated glasses are most effective for night driving, as the coating on the lenses minimises any glare and reflections, which can enhance contrast and overall visibility in dark conditions. You can purchase these glasses from many retailers.
As well as this, many drivers may struggle with driving at night with astigmatism, as this can cause blurred vision, halos around lights, and reduced contrast sensitivity.
But for those with astigmatism driving at night, there are solutions available, such as anti-glare driving glasses. Information from Specsavers says that mild astigmatism can be corrected with ordinary gas-permeable lenses, while others with higher amounts of astigmatism might benefit from special 'toric' soft lenses to fit your eye shape. Be sure to keep these lenses clean to avoid any further glare.
4. Wear prescription glasses
With visibility already low during the night, ensuring that you wear your glasses is more important than ever.
In fact, you can receive a fine for not wearing glasses while driving, as driving without prescription glasses when you legally need to wear them is against the law. The fine for this can be up to £1,000 as well as potentially leading to three penalty points on your driving license.
Make sure to wear your glasses when driving, or, keep a spare pair of glasses in the car in case you forget to take them with you.
5. Reduce speed and stay alert
As mentioned, approximately 40% of all road accidents in the UK occur during the night, and whilst you should never speed under any circumstance, this is even more so at night.
Drive at a moderate speed, and leave extra space between you and the vehicle ahead to allow for more reaction time. This is also important when keeping an eye out for any pedestrians or hazards in the road that could be harder to see when driving at night.
We also recommend checking that other car features, such as your brakes, are properly working before setting off on journeys. In fact, our previous research revealed that 3 in 10 (30%) drivers don’t perform safety checks on their car’s brakes, so knowing what to do when your brakes fail is vital. For more information, read our guide.
