Night Driving
See and be seen when darkness falls
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 to the left road edge
Related Scenarios
Practice Your Hazard Perception
Put your knowledge into practice with our interactive hazard perception training.
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