Statistically, you are much more likely to have an accident while driving in the dark. However, there are certain measures you can take to make yourself safer and here we take a look at some of those.
1. Clean your car
Keep your lights and indicators grime-free so that you can see and be seen.
2. Correctly position your headlights
Even new cars can come with headlights which are unevenly positioned or pointed too much towards the ground. Your owner’s manual should tell you how to adjust your lights or you can take your car to a garage to have it done.
Once your lights are correctly positioned you might want to invest in a dashboard car or truck camera so that any incidents that occur will be filmed. You can get some great deals on dash cams from retailers such as http://www.backwatch.co.uk.
3. Dim your panel
Most cars have a dashboard dimmer so that you can reduce the glow of your instrument panel at night. This prevents your forward vision from being reduced and prevents stray reflections. Internal lights should also always be switched off while driving.
4. Wear the right specs
There are glasses on the market specifically aimed at night-time drivers but they are to be avoided at all costs. If you are a glasses wearer then you should use your prescription glasses with an anti-reflective coating. Clearly, sunglasses at night are a big no-no.
For more information on why night-time glasses are a bad idea, see http://www.laramyk.com/resources/education/dispensing/the-dangers-of-night-driving-glasses/.
5. Keep an eye out
Country roads can be full of wildlife at night as nocturnal animals such as badgers, deer and foxes become active. Hitting an animal such as a deer can be extremely dangerous, whereas smaller animals can be distracting and cause you to swerve. Keep a look out for tiny bright spots up ahead, these are likely to be the eyes of animals near to the road. However, a deer can run out from the side of the road in a flash so it’s best to keep your speed down at night.
Staying safe on the road after dark is really just about using common sense. You need to both be seen and be able to see and you will have less time to react at night so keep your speed down at all times.
