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DRIVING - NIGHT DRIVING

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Print this page DRIVING - NIGHT DRIVING

Your lamps, indicators, reflectors and number plate lighting must be in good working order and should be kept clean so that you can see clearly and be seen at all times. A clean windscreen is also important when driving at night. You should drive at a speed that enables you to stop within the distance covered by your lights.
In a typical car, the headlamps enable you to see for about 100 metres on an unlit road. Dipped lights will enable you to see for about 30 metres on an unlit road. Both of these examples assume good driving conditions.

Even with the best headlamps, visibility at night is poorer than in daylight. Pedestrians and unlit bicycles are extremely difficult to see in the dark, particularly if a driver has to contend with the glare of undipped headlamps. If you are dazzled slow down and stop if necessary. To avoid dazzle, look towards the verge until the oncoming car has passed. Always watch for pedestrians or cyclists on the near side of the road.

Badly adjusted (or dirty) headlamps will limit your range of vision and may dazzle on-coming traffic even when dipped. Keep them clean and adjusted properly.

When driving at night you must use your full headlamps except -
• for a short period just after the beginning or before the end of lighting up hours (the period commencing half an hour after sunset on any day and ending half an hour before sunrise on the following day) provided visibility is adequate.
• when stopped in the course of traffic.
• in a built-up or special speed limit area where there is good street lighting.

You must dip your headlamps -
• when meeting other traffic,
• when driving in a built-up or special speed limit area except where the roads are unlit,
• on continuously lit roads outside built-up or special speed limit areas,
• when following close behind another vehicle,
• at the beginning and end of lighting up hours,
• where there is dense fog or falling snow,
• generally to avoid inconveniencing other traffic.

It is good practice to use dipped headlamps or dim-dip lights, where fitted, to further improve visibility when driving in a built-up or special speed limit area where there is good street lighting as opposed to using sidelights only. Remember that even in day time if, due to failing light or atmospheric conditions (e.g. dusk, dawn, fog, snow, heavy rain etc.), visibility is reduced to that obtaining at night-fall or night time, the use of sidelamps, rear lamps and number plate lighting is required. In addition, if the conditions are such that the use of your headlamps is necessary for safe driving, you must use your headlamps. When in doubt, use your headlamps (dipped or main beam, as appropriate).

Finally, don't drive on the tail lights of the car in front. It gives a false sense of security and may lure you into driving too close or too fast or both.