The end of October and the descent into darker, colder weather spells one of the most difficult times of year to get behind the wheel.
There's plenty of data to show that this is the time when road accidents increase, which is why we've gathered together a few top tips to help keep you safe in the dark.
Got to have your wits about you.
Get Your Eyes Tested
Before you even step into your car for a spot of night driving, it's essential to make sure that your vision can cope with it.
Be sure to get your eyes checked regularly (or semi-regularly) by a qualified optician. They should be able to advise you on whether you need glasses for driving. They may recommend an anti-reflection coating on your lenses in order to reduce glare.
Or . . . some motorists opt for so-called 'driving glasses'.
Thing is, there's very little scientific evidence to suggest that driving glasses actually work, and some suggest that the yellow tint can actually reduce visibility when nighttime driving.
Check Your Lights
Without them, you're practically a sitting duck.
Which is why it's important to do regular visual checks on all of your vehicle's exterior lights: headlights, indicators, number plate bulb, etc.
Not only is this sensible and for your own safety, but the law also requires that all of your lights be in good working order. So there's that too.
Of course, if a light ever does go out, make sure to have it replaced as soon as possible.
Don't Drive When Tired
Tiredness can be just as much of a threat to safe driving as alcohol.
You'll be a danger both to yourself and other road users, so take a break if you begin to feel drowsy.
If you have to drive through the night on a long journey, be sure to schedule rest stops at least every couple of hours.
There's no hard-and-fast rule here, but generally speaking, it's maybe best that you take a 15-minute break for every 2 hours of driving.
Oh, and grab yourself a strong coffee!
Watch For Wildlife
Nobody wants to hit a deer.
It usually happens at night – and usually between the months of October and January.
If one does step out in front of you, the safest thing to do is slow down and stop, and NOT swerve. Otherwise you too could end up as roadkill.
As long as the road is fairly quiet, switching on your high beam headlights can be a massive help here.
Speaking of which . . .
Use High Beams When Appropriate
Maybe you're hesitant to use them for fear of blinding and/or annoying oncoming drivers, but full beam headlights are on your car for a reason.
You'll find that they can be particularly useful in rural areas or on open roads when driving at night. Just remember to switch to dipped headlights when within 500ft of an approaching vehicle, and don't use them when you're right behind another car (that WOULD be annoying!).
Some cars even have adaptive lighting systems which automatically adjust your high beams depending on whether other cars are around.
Neat, right?
Avoid Two-Lane Carriageways
Two-lane carriageways can be a worst-case scenario when driving at night due to the glare, headlights from oncoming vehicles, lower overall light, as well as the fact that they tend to have sharper hills and curves than a standard motorway.
So yeah, best avoided. Take a safer route if you can.
Slow Down
An obvious bit of advice.
You can't see as well as you can during the day, so why would you go as fast?
Speeding-related accidents account for at lease 35% of nighttime driving fatalities compared with about 21% of daytime fatalities.
Lower visibility means shorter reaction times, which means more that can go wrong.
So take the hint and make sure you adjust your speed to suit the conditions around you.
Take Regular Breaks
Tiredness is a common cause of road traffic collisions and should probably be taken more seriously than it is, even if you're in a mad rush to get to your destination.
Unlike bats, hedgehogs and badgers, we humans are hard-wired to work during the day and sleep at night.
Which means we'll naturally become tired when driving at night.
Remember that all motorway service stations in the country are open for 24 hours a day to all road users, just in case you ever need to take a quick rest on your journey.
Don't Stare at Oncoming Traffic
In the words of Gollum in the Dead Marshes . . . don't follow the lights.
Yep, when driving in the dark, never look into the headlights of other cars unless you want to be dazzled.
The resulting glare can temporarily impair your vision, meaning you're more likely to lose your bearings and . . . well . . . crash.
The best way to keep track of your position during night driving is to look at the left-hand side of the road and keep tabs on the white line marking (if there is one).
Keep Windows Clean
A build-up of dirt or condensation on your car windows can impair visibility, especially during night-time driving, so be sure to get them clean before setting off. and dirt on the outside can also impair visibility, so it’s important to take time to clean them before setting off.
Windscreens in particular are prone to steaming up on the inside when it's cold outside, whilst car heaters can blow dirty air at the glass, leading to haziness on the inside. This can have the effect of increasing glare from the headlamps of oncoming traffic.
Moral of the story: get cleaning!
Consider Taking Pass Plus
Pass Plus is an optional scheme for drivers who have passed their practical test but feel the need for extra learning in more challenging types of conditions. It focuses on skills which are important but that you don't necessarily 'need' to pass your test.
Driving at night is one of those skills.
Included in the Pass Plus lessons are night-time driving modules in towns, country roads, and different types of weather conditions, as well as on motorways and dual carriageways.
You're Driving On a Motorway at Night, When May You Switch Off Your Headlights?
The correct answer: never.
You should always use your headlights when driving in the dark on the motorway, even if the road is well lit.
The only time your headlights should be switched off is if you break down on the hard shoulder. But even then, you should have your hazard lights and sidelights on.
So yeah, bottom line: it's always important to have some form of lights on when driving at night on the motorway, or when you're on the motorway but not driving!
Can Learner Drivers Drive at Night?
Yep, sure can.
It's perfectly legal for learner drivers to be driving at night, as long as you've got an experienced, qualified driver at your side and suitable insurance to have you covered.
Summary
Well, that's your lot!
To be frank, you're probably better off not driving at night if you can help it.
But we know that life doesn't always make that possible, so if you do have to drive at night, it's still good to at least know the tips and tricks that'll help make things easier.