Driving in the dark: Our top safety tips

How to make nighttime driving safer for everyone

Let's face the inevitable: the days are getting shorter.

Gone are the evenings where you could sit outside at 9pm, turn to your friend/partner/dog and say, ‘isn’t it so light for 9pm?!’.

No. It is dark now. And it will only continue getting darker, earlier, for some time.

But it’s not all doom and gloom – the shorter, darker days bring with them the joy of the spooky and festive seasons, long winter walks and plenty of hot drinks to warm up afterwards.

You’ll just need to adjust your driving style in the evenings when the light is fading.

Unfortunately, driving in the dark has been proven to be more dangerous, even when there’s fewer people on the road.

Reduced vision is the biggest danger, making it more difficult to anticipate hazards and see other road users. 

And there’s the increased likelihood that, if you’re driving later at night, you’ll be tired – and less alert. The risks are higher for newer, more inexperienced drivers and those who are older, but these risks can catch us all out if we’re not careful.

But with a few simple steps, you can be better prepared for nighttime driving, and feel a little more comfortable when you do venture out after hours.

Here are our top tips for safe driving in the dark.

1. Clean your lights and windows

The quickest way to eliminate some of that risk? Sparkling clean windows and lights.

You can prep for driving in the dark by cleaning your headlights, rear lights, indicators, and all your windows and mirrors. This will make sure that you have maximum visibility in all directions, even in the dark.

Removing any dirt and debris will also minimise the glare from other vehicles that often – and annoyingly – renders you temporarily unable to see.

You should also make sure the inside of your car is dry to avoid misting when temperatures are lower. Your floor mats are likely to be the biggest culprits here, so make sure they’re left out to dry thoroughly after being subject to muddy boots or spilt drinks.

2. Use your headlights

If you're in any doubt about whether you should have your headlights on (and your car doesn't do this automatically), just flick them on anyway. As the saying goes, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

The light from your headlights might not always make the biggest difference to your visibility in the early evening, but they will make you more visible to other road users.

Just make sure you’re using them on dipped beam, so you’re not blinding others with full beam by mistake.

It’s illegal to drive without fully functioning front and rear lights, so always double check yours are working before you set off.

3. Check your headlight level

Good visibility isn’t just about what you can see on the road – it’s also about helping out your fellow motorists.

In other words, don’t blind them with badly aimed headlights.

If they’re aimed too high, they can dazzle other road users and not show you the road ahead properly. Too low, and your wider visibility will be restricted. So before setting off, do a quick check to test where your headlights are aimed on the road in front of you.

Need to make an adjustment? Aim them straight to get the best of both worlds.

If you need it, you’ll find the location of your headlight level control in your vehicle handbook.

4. Take your time

You might need to take it a little slower at night, no matter how badly you want to get home.

Speed and distances are harder to judge in low light, so increase your following distance when driving in the dark and start braking earlier.

If you can’t tell how fast an approaching car is heading towards a junction, you can’t take the turn safely. Keep your foot on the brake, indicators on, and only move when you are confident there’s a wide enough gap in the traffic.

5. Take regular breaks

According to Brake (the road safety charity) 10-20% of all collisions are likely caused by driver fatigue, with one in eight drivers admitting to falling asleep at the wheel.

For those of us driving at night during unsociable hours, or even after a poor night’s sleep, making sure you take enough rest breaks is crucial.

On longer journeys, more frequent stops for snacks, a coffee and a leg stretch can help to keep you focused and alert.

If you feel so tired that you can’t keep your eyes open, it’s not safe for you to drive. Change your plans, get someone else to drive, or stop somewhere to have a longer rest.

6. Dim your internal lights

At night, lights in the cabin can cause reflections that hamper your view of the road ahead. And if you’ve ever tried to peep out the window at night from a well-lit room, you’ll know what we’re on about here.

It’s not what you want when you’re behind the wheel.

But the tech and connectivity in newer lease cars can come with added distraction, with features like ambient lighting. Great for setting the mood, less great for visibility – so if you don’t need them, maybe keep them off at night.

Plus, reducing the strength of your dashboard and infotainment lights can lead to a more comfortable nighttime driving experience. Just remind passengers to keep interior lights switched off unless it’s absolutely necessary.

7. Have regular eye tests

We all struggle with visibility once the sun has set and the lights come on.

But without having regular eye tests, it’s impossible to know whether your own eyeballs are making the problem worse.

Getting your sight checked regularly gives you the best chance to spot dangers when out and about – and could improve your wider quality of life too. It’s quite astounding what the right pair of glasses can do when your sight is starting to get a little worse.

Eye tests are useful for spotting underlying health conditions, too. 

Even if you’re not aware of any problems, you should have your eyes tested every two years. 

What to do if you're dazzled by another road user

Sometimes it’s not our own actions that makes nighttime driving more dangerous.

Drivers who forget to dip their headlights can create an unavoidable and frustrating hazard on a dark night.

Yes, full beam is essential to see properly on a road with no streetlights – but if they’re not dimmed for oncoming traffic, or if they reach the car in front, then the risk of dazzling someone is high.

So how do you avoid being dazzled in this situation?

If you’re approaching an oncoming vehicle and the driver has forgotten to dim the lights, you should try to avoid looking at the headlights directly.

Instead, focus your attention on the left-hand curb (if there is one) and reduce your speed slightly to keep you on course and avoid crashing into the nearest hedge.

Charging your electric car at night

If you’re heading off cross-country in your new electric car lease, you’ll want to factor in charging your car.

It’s always a good idea to start your journey with a fully charged EV, if you can, to limit the number of stops you’ll need to rejuice your car.

But if you do need to stop and recharge, it’s worth bearing in mind that although the stations will likely be quieter, there may not be anywhere to sit down with a coffee and a bite to eat.

Plan ahead, and make sure you’ve got something on hand to keep yourself and your family occupied.

Like a car picnic.

We love a car picnic.

Now you’ve learned everything you need to know about safe nighttime driving. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll never fear driving in the dark again.