Shropshire Star

5 Tips for driving safely after dark

Many people dislike driving at night, when visibility is much lower and you are at risk of getting dazzled by an oncoming car's headlights.

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Happily, there are a number of ways in which we can reduce the risks, and some simple precautions that we can take. Allianz Your Cover (www.yourcoverinsurance.co.uk) provides you with 5 tips to follow to ensure that you stay safe when you are driving at night:

1. Cut your speed. Our reactions can be slower at night-time, and our eyesight operates less well in low-light conditions - we will often not pick up peripheral hazards. If you are driving at high speeds you are quite literally "outdriving" your headlights. Typically, dipped beam headlights will illuminate the road from 50 to 76 metres ahead of you, and full beam from 106 to 152 metres. At 60 mph it takes more than 62 metres to stop, and in wet conditions that distance increases. So even driving on full beam you have little room for error.

2. Keep your headlights clean and correctly adjusted. Your safety depends on your headlights when driving at night. Dirt or grease smears can cut their efficiency significantly. Make sure that you check them before you start on any journey at night, and carry a cloth and some glass cleaner in the glove box of your car so that giving your headlights a wipe over before you set off becomes routine. Regular servicing will ensure that they are correctly adjusted. It's dangerous for you and for other road users if headlights are set too high or misaligned.

3. Keep all glass clear. The same rule applies to your windscreen and driving mirrors. Make sure that your windscreen washer is full and working properly, that your windscreen wipers are not worn, and that your driving mirrors are clean. Worn windscreen wipers can create smearing across your screen that blurs vision and can dangerously cut visibility. On cold or wet nights take a few minutes before you start your journey to demist the screen, give the rear screen heater time to work, and make sure that side windows are clear of moisture.

4. Have regular eye tests. The efficiency of our vision lessens significantly in poor light conditions – depth perception, the ability to distinguish colour, and peripheral vision all diminish. And that's if we start off with perfect eyesight! As you get older it's critical to go for regular eye tests, as you might well need corrective glasses if only for driving. A 50-year-old driver can need twice as much light to see as well as a 30-year-old.

5. Don't drive when you're tired. Spot signs of fatigue early, and don't be tempted to press on to reach your destination. Fatigue is a much greater hazard at night, so if you feel your eyelids drooping, switch off the heater, open a window to get cold air circulating, and as soon as you can safely do so, pull in. A ten-minute cat nap, getting out of the car to stretch your legs and drink a cup of coffee will all help you to feel more alert and get you safely to your destination.

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