| Night driving is responsible for thousands of | | | | |
| accidents a year, and many of the UK's road | | | | It goes without saying that you always should |
| deaths. Here is a quick and straight-forward | | | | drive slower at night. A good rule of thumb |
| guide to making sure that your after-dark | | | | is to never drive beyond your range of vision |
| journey does not end in disaster. | | | | - that is, you should be able to stop under |
| | | | within the length of road illuminated by your |
| Why is night driving dangerous? | | | | headlights. Therefore, if you are driving |
| | | | with low or dipped beams you must reduce your |
| Because there are fewer cars on the road at | | | | speed commensurably. Following distances |
| night there are fewer accidents after dark | | | | should also be increased, and the car ahead |
| than during the day. However, the proportion | | | | should be kept in the far limit of light from |
| of fatalities caused by night driving is much | | | | a dipped beam. |
| higher. According to the AA, the main causes | | | | |
| of these night accidents are tiredness, | | | | Don't blind other drivers |
| inattention, driving whilst under the | | | | |
| influence and reduced visibility. Darkness | | | | Always dip your headlights before an |
| also means depth perception is reduced, which | | | | approaching car comes within range. If the |
| can cause impaired judgment and delayed | | | | other driver fails to realize you are |
| reflex actions. | | | | approaching, flick the beam back to high for |
| | | | an instant before dipping it again. Do not |
| How do our eyes work at night? | | | | keep the high beam on - having two blinded |
| | | | drivers instead of one just doubles the risk. |
| When you walk out of a brightly-lit place, | | | | When approaching a car traveling in the |
| such as your own living room, it can take up | | | | opposite direction on a right-hand bend, |
| to 30 minutes before your eyes start working | | | | remember to dip the beam early. Otherwise it |
| at even 80 per cent efficiency again. It can | | | | will sweep across the curve and blind the |
| take double that for your night vision to be | | | | other driver. Conversely, on a left-hand turn |
| at its best. Approximately one in five adults | | | | your headlights shine away from approaching |
| has defective vision - from mild | | | | traffic. However, it is good road manners to |
| short-sightedness to night-blindness. | | | | always dip your lights when another motorist |
| Motorist who find night driving a severe | | | | approaches. |
| strain on their eyes should consult a doctor | | | | |
| or optician, and consider avoiding night | | | | Make sure your headlights point the right way |
| driving all together. | | | | |
| | | | Headlights should be adjusted periodically, |
| Busy eyes see better | | | | especially when your car is loaded more |
| | | | heavily than usual - this adjustment can be |
| When you are driving at night, try not to | | | | done at a garage. Having passengers in the |
| focus at a single distance because this | | | | back seat or heavy items in the boot can |
| increases eye fatigue. Instead glance around | | | | cause a dipped beam to shine too far ahead. |
| at different distances and focus on objects | | | | This has the double disadvantage of dazzling |
| on the edge of your headlight beam. A | | | | oncoming drivers and failing to properly |
| poorly-lit object is easiest to see if you | | | | light the road. Always remember to |
| focus slightly to one side of it - peripheral | | | | reconfigure the beams when driving with a |
| vision is less affected by poor light than | | | | normal load again. Likewise, always adjust |
| central vision. | | | | your tyre pressure before loading your car |
| | | | before holiday traveling. |
| Reduce your speed | | | | |