The Enlightening Dangers of Nighttime Driving

Every person who’s passed their driving test at some stage in their life, will understand that, while driving out on the roads alone (finally, with no driving instructor sat next to you) can be exhilarating, it can also be extremely daunting too… particularly when it comes to night driving.

The very first command of my car after I was awarded my licence, was along a motorway (as the saying goes, 'in for a penny, in for a pound!')

Yes, it certainly was not any quiet and empty road I chose.

Despite having listening, learned, and swallowed down just about everything my driving teacher threw at me during all my practice lessons, it was actually my own mun's voice that I kept on hearing in my head, not the instructor's, when it came to switching on those headlights.

I’ve always been aware of the dangers to other road users when it comes to headlight awareness, it had been instilled in me by my own mum, when it came to alternating from those full to dipped beam. The reason being was because both my parents had experienced the harrowing and nauseous moments, of being dazzled by those oncoming drivers who didn't have a respectful bone in their body, to courteously DIP their own headlights as they drew closer.

Something that is, or certainly should be known, is rule 115 of the highway code, which is titled as 'lighting requirements,' stipulating that:-

'Keep your headlights dipped when overtaking until you are level with the other vehicle and then change to main beam if necessary, unless this would dazzle oncoming road users , slow down, and if necessary stop, if you are dazzled by oncoming headlights.'

Collision data identifies blinding headlights the factor in 216 accidents in 2023, up from 211 the previous year. Graeme Downie stressed that some drivers may be “less aware of the impact their own lighting might have on others.”

This information came to light (pun intended) after Teesside-News published an article entitled, 'little-known highway code headlight rules that could land you with fines of up to £5,000.'

In fact, as reported by Sky News, three-quarters of AA members have told the organisation that 'LED lights on vehicles are among the factors causing them to be “blinded” while driving.' This following a survey from the RAC, which shows more than four out of five (85%) drivers affected by headlight glare said the problem is getting worse.

Yet as time and technology has progressed, here too comes the daunting potency of LED headlights that are undoubtable in the making of this situation a lot worse. So much so that, Lilian Greenwood (the United Kingdom Roads Minister) stated in September 2024 that, “the Government is in the process of commissioning independent research to better understand the root causes of headlamp glare and help identify potential countermeasures.”

So, very much like that deer in those headlights that keeps on trotting back for more of the same dazzling moments, please do think more before switching on your car's full-beam headlights at night when driving around on those roads - ramping them up from your dipped-beam setting.

Think first!

1. Do you actually need to upscale your dipped-beam headlights to full-beam just yet?
2. Is the road you are driving along just too dark right now, so much so that it compromises yours and other road users safety, to continue driving with dipped lights alone?
3. Remember to dip your full-beam lights when there is traffic driving ahead of you, as this will cause dangerous dazzling in the rearview mirror of that leading car driver.
4. Remind yourself that, when overtaking any car, only reengage full-beam once you have drawn level with that car you are overtaking, and not before.
5. Entering street lit and built-up areas... you only require dipped headlights (low beam.)
6. Don't forget those deer too, and I don't just mean those animals but those pedestrians and cyclists ahead of you, as you could seriously dazzle and injure them also, which can cause them to trip, fall, stumble into the road they are walking along, potentially into moving traffic.

Let's keep our roads safe for all, by using our headlights correctly at all times.

Enjoy driving and stay safe.