Night Driving
See and be seen when darkness falls
VisibilityMedium Risk
Driving at night presents unique challenges: reduced visibility, glare from oncoming vehicles, and increased fatigue. Adapting your technique for darkness is essential for safe nighttime travel.
Why This Matters
Night driving accidents are disproportionately fatal despite lower traffic volumes. Your reaction time to hazards is significantly reduced when you can only see within your headlight range.
Key Actions to Take
- Ensure all lights are clean and working
- Use full beam on unlit roads, dip for oncoming traffic
- Reduce speed so you can stop within your headlight range
- Keep windshield clean inside and out
- Take regular breaks to combat fatigue
- Scan beyond your headlights for animal eye reflection
- Avoid looking directly at oncoming headlights
Do
- Have your eyes checked regularly
- Use dashboard dimmer to reduce eye strain
- Keep glasses clean and use anti-glare coating
- Flash headlights to alert wildlife
Don't
- Drive when overly tired
- Use interior lights while driving
- Overdrive your headlights (going too fast to stop)
- Stare at oncoming lights - look to the road edge
Pro Tips
- Eat lightly before night driving to stay alert
- The 2-second rule becomes 4 seconds at night
- If dazzled, slow down and look toward the edge of the road on your own side, away from the oncoming lights
Test your judgement
Reading about it is not the same as reacting to it. Try ten real questions.
Question 1 of 10
What does this blue sign with a red border and one red diagonal mean?
Practice Your Hazard Perception
Put your knowledge into practice with our interactive hazard perception training.
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Practice Your Hazard Perception
Put your knowledge into practice with our interactive hazard perception training.
Start Training