Being a new driver is an exciting time, but with your new-found freedom comes a lot of responsibility. While you may be keen to get out on the road as often as possible, certain conditions can take time to get used to and require you to adapt the way you drive. Driving at night is arguably more difficult than in daylight – dazzling lights, altered depth perception, and decreased visibility make it a whole new experience.
Nighttime also naturally makes us more sleepy and less alert, which is a high risk factor for collisions. One study found that despite only 9% of driving taking place at night, 49% of fatal accidents happen between sunset and sunrise.
Here, we explore three ways new drivers can acclimatize to driving at night, to keep both themselves and other road users safe in the dark.
Prepare for safe driving
To drive safely at night, preparation is key. The glare from headlights and lamposts can amplify blemishes and dirt on glass, so ensuring you have clean windows and mirrors is essential. Conduct a visual inspection of your car to check all of your lights are working properly, including your indicators.
Personally, you should also make sure that you’re not too tired to drive. If you aren’t well rested, your reaction time will be reduced and there’s a risk you could fall asleep at the wheel. It’s also important to never drive when you’re feeling highly emotional – being overwhelmed, upset, stressed, or angry can lead to you making irrational decisions, heightening the risk of dangerous driving.
Practice smart driving habits
Distraction accounts for a huge number of crashes – the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that there were 3,275 people killed and 324,819 people injured in crashes involving distracted drivers. Whenever you drive, whether it’s at night or during the daytime, get into the habit of putting your phone away and not touching it until you stop the car.
At night, it’s also good practice to drive a little slower than you would in daylight and keep the music quieter too. By reducing the amount of distractions, you allow yourself to focus solely on the road, other drivers, pedestrians, and any other potential hazards.
Grow your confidence
Learning to drive safely at night requires time and patience. You can begin by practicing during twilight hours, heading home in darkness for a short amount of time. Make use of technology if it helps – if you wear glasses, you can have a special coating put on to help reduce glare.
It’s also important to not become distracted or riled by other people on the road who are showing signs of road rage or driving aggressively. Especially at night, keep your distance and don’t allow yourself to feel pressured into driving faster than you’re comfortable with.
Conclusion
Learning to drive doesn’t end when you pass your test – it’s a continuous process of adapting your skills to changing road conditions and learning to be comfortable behind the wheel – regardless of the external situation. Whether it’s darkness, torrential rain, snow, strong winds, or heavy traffic, there’s plenty of times that even experienced drivers can feel less than content behind the wheel. Be kind to yourself as you learn to drive at night, and always stop if you begin to feel overwhelmed or stressed out.
