Driving at night for the first time, or under any different conditions for that matter, can be a little confronting.
Night driving requires more concentration. Changing light conditions can cause impairment of vision and depth perception.
Common sense says follow the same road rules as during the day. But there are some extra things you can do to prepare yourself for your first night drive.
Before you hit the road
- Check all your lights are working and clean.
- Clean your windows.
- Check for any unknowns such as steep hills or sharp corners (esp. if you are driving somewhere new).
- Reconsider your need to drive. If you’ll be out late or there’s a chance you might drink – catch a taxi or public transport instead.
- Check the position of your rear vision mirror. Adjust to avoid the headlights of other cars if possible.
On the road
- Always keep to the left.
- Always drive with your headlights on.
- Make use of your high-beams. Take the time to understand how to use them correctly. Don’t high-beam oncoming drivers.
- Dip your lights for oncoming cars or when following other cars.
- Keep your eyes trained to what is happening around you. Try not to focus your vision on one point for too long.
- Keep an eye out for pedestrians, cyclists and animals – they can be hard to see at night.
- Avoid looking directly into oncoming headlights - they can blind your vision. If you can’t see properly, slow down or stop.
- Limit distractions. Phones are obviously a no go, loud music or friends can also be a distraction.
- Increase the distance between you and the car in front. This will give you more time to spot any hazards and react.
- If you have a long night drive ahead, plan stops along the way.
- If you feel tired at all, pull over and stop the car. Consider sleeping somewhere for the night. There are lots of great campgrounds around WA.
- Driving at night does take more skill than during the day and practice will help. There is no shame in choosing not to drive in conditions that make you uncomfortable, or nervous.
Last updated September 2017
FAQs
It's critical for you to give your car a check before driving at night, as this can make a significant difference, not only for you, but other motorists as well. The first thing to do would be to check your lights, which includes your headlights, high-beams, brake lights and indicators.
How to drive at night for beginners? ›
Tips for driving at night
- Avoid driving while tired. The less rested you are, the less attentive you'll be while driving. ...
- Try to steer clear of two-lane highways. ...
- Clean your windshield and mirrors. ...
- Modify interior car lights. ...
- Adjust your headlights. ...
- Use high beams when appropriate. ...
- Slow down when driving at night.
Keep Your Eyes Moving And Be Alert!
The best way to avoid an incident at night is to be watching for lights and movement and keep checking those mirrors. It is as important to keep an eye out for other cars' headlights as it is to spot other things, such as cars without headlights.
When driving at night, it is most important for you to do what? ›
When driving at night, use your high-beam headlights on open country roads or dark city streets. Make sure you can stop in the distance lit by your headlights. Do not use high-beam headlights in areas where they are illegal. Dim your high-beam headlights to avoid blinding the driver of an oncoming vehicle.
Why do I get confused when I drive at night? ›
If you have trouble with bright headlights, streetlights, or the general darkness of night, it can affect your driving. You may struggle to drive at night for several reasons, including age-related changes in vision, glare from oncoming headlights, or underlying eye conditions such as cataracts or night blindness.
Why do I struggle to drive at night? ›
One of the most prominent reasons drivers have trouble seeing at night is light from oncoming traffic. Headlights, high beams and fog lights are designed to help drivers see at night, but they can also produce adverse effects. Glare can be distracting, irritating and reduce your reaction time.
How can I drive comfortably at night? ›
Here are a few tips to make you feel more comfortable behind the wheel when the sun goes down and help you become a safer nighttime driver.
- Keep Your Lights On at Sunset. ...
- Stay Awake, Sober, and Alert. ...
- Don't Speed. ...
- Dim Your Instrument Panel. ...
- Keep Your Headlights, Mirrors, and Windows Clean. ...
- Glance to the Side of the Road.
How to stay alert
- Never drink and drive. ...
- If possible, don't drive long distances alone. ...
- Get enough shut-eye. ...
- Don't begin a trip so late that you're driving when you usually sleep. ...
- Watch your posture. ...
- Take a break at least every 2 hours. ...
- Have 2 cups of a caffeinated drink like coffee, if you can have caffeine.
According to the data, weekdays are generally safer times to drive, especially in the morning and early afternoon. On the other hand, weekends (Friday through Sunday) tend to be the most dangerous times to drive, especially in the evenings or very early hours of the morning when there's an increase in impaired drivers.
Do you use high beams at night? ›
In essence, high beams should only be used in situations where visibility is an issue. For example, driving on a rural road that has few streetlights or on a stretch of highway at night with no lighting. Though it may seem counterintuitive, you should not use high beams in extreme weather conditions.
The older you are, the more light you need to drive. To see well, a 60-year-old needs 10 times as much light as a 19-year-old. This is why it's a good idea to avoid driving at night if you can.
Should you learn how do you drive at night? ›
Night Driving Dangers
The statistics tell us that teens are disproportionately killed in crashes at night, so whatever your state's laws require, restrict your teen's initial practice hours to the daytime.
Which of the following is not a good tip for driving at night? ›
Answer. B - keeping your eyes locked on the road ahead of you - is not a good idea to do while driving at night. If you do this, you become less aware of other cars and obstacles behind and beside your car.
What is the first thing to do when you drive? ›
4 Things You Should Always Do Before You Start Driving
- Inspect the Vehicle. It's a good idea to take a quick look at the car's exterior before you get going each time. ...
- Buckle up for Safety. ...
- Check Your Mirrors. ...
- Check the Lights.
When following another vehicle, keep your headlights on low beam to avoid blinding the driver ahead of you. If oncoming drivers do not lower their beams, avoid glare by looking toward the white line marking the right edge of the road.
When driving at night what is the safest approach? ›
Driving in the dark - tips on how to stay safe
- Use your lights appropriately. ...
- Don't stare at oncoming vehicles. ...
- Keep windows clean. ...
- Watch out for children, cyclists and animals. ...
- Get your eyes tested. ...
- Don't get behind the wheel when tired. ...
- Hone your night-driving skills.
You should only use your high-beam headlights when it's difficult to see and no one is front of you, you're at least 200 feet behind a vehicle and its back lights aren't illuminating the road enough for you to see, or you're at least 500 feet from oncoming traffic and need the high beams to see the road.
