Car experts highlight 7 tips for driving safely in darker nights

The winter solstice is approaching (30th October) which means the days are getting shorter. Driving in the dark can be daunting for some drivers – especially in cold, wet and sometimes icy conditions.

“Driving in the dark can be a sensory overload after a summer of light nights,” says Mike Thompson, COO at Leasing Options, “If you’re not feeling confident when driving in the dark, consider going for a practice drive on a Sunday evening when the roads are quieter.”

“The safest way to approach driving at night is ensuring you have a clear view ahead of you, try not to stare at the headlights of oncoming vehicles and make sure you’re not distracting other drivers.

As we approach the clocks going back, the car experts at Leasing Options have provided their top seven tips for uneasy drivers to prepare for their dark night drives this winter.

Ensure your headlights aren’t misaligned, which can cause accidents
Before your journey in the dark, make sure your headlights, taillights and indicator lights are clean and working properly. It’s also important, when your car is in for its service, to ask the mechanic to check the alignment of your headlights. Headlights that are misaligned can blind other drivers and reduce your ability to see the road.

Clean and adjust your mirrors so you aren’t blinded by other drivers
Dirty exterior mirrors can distort light in the reflection, so keep them a thorough clean.

Even when clean, the position of your mirrors is extremely important during the darker months. Headlights of those overtaking you can catch the reflection in your exterior mirror and beam into your eyes, temporarily blinding you. Take care to adjust them so you can have a clear view of cars overtaking while still being able to see a clear, undazzled view of the road ahead.

If needed, you can switch your rear-view mirror to the night setting which darkens the mirror to prevent glare from cars behind, too.

Turn on your lights at the RIGHT time
By definition, ‘night time’ starts half an hour before sunset. To avoid blinding fellow road users, when driving at night you should switch from full beam to dipped headlights when other road users are driving toward or in front of you.

However, if you overtake a vehicle in front of you, you can then put your full beam lights back on to better illuminate the road ahead, provided there is no oncoming traffic or other vehicles in front. Legally, you can use your sidelights if you’re driving under 30mph in a well-lit area but most drivers use dipped headlights anyway for increased visibility on the road.

If you are on the receiving end of dazzling headlights, you should slow down or, if necessary, stop. Avoid looking directly into the headlights and look to the slight left of the road, following the white line.

Keep the inside of your car dark to avoid distracting other drivers
While there’s no specific law that says you can’t have interior lights on in the car, it can still cause a distraction to other users. Always keep your interior lights turned off while you’re driving at night time to avoid confusing other drivers and if you can, dim your dashboard lights too.

Clear windows of dirty air-con film build up
Whether they’re steaming up or dirty, there’s plenty of barriers between you and having clear visibility in winter nights. It’s important to regularly clean your windows, as car heaters can blow dirty air at the glass and cause a hazy and distracting film. Keeping them clean and streak-free will also prevent condensation from clinging to dirt, grime and dust.

Have regular eyesight checks
The human eye naturally adjusts to the darkness, but it can take up to 30 minutes for your eyes to adapt fully. Driving at night puts strain on your eyes to see more in the dark and handle bright lights from oncoming traffic. What’s more, is when the roads are wet and icy the reflections can cause us to miss important signs or traffic lights.

Get regular eyesight checks and wear any necessary eyewear to improve your visibility. Your optician may even recommend an anti-reflection coating to reduce headlight glare when driving.

Always slow down in busier areas
When visibility is reduced, it’s advisable for motorists to reduce their speed. Slowing down is one of the best ways to avoid collisions, especially at night when your vision distance is limited by your headlights.

Other vehicles, animals and pedestrians aren’t easy to spot when it’s dark outside. Watch out for pedestrians, especially near pubs around closing time. In rural areas, watch out for animals that roam once the sun goes down. It’s advisable to be vigilant and slow down, even if you know the road well.