11 June 2025 Concept Car
Driving at night comes with its own unique set of challenges.
Not only is it much darker, reducing visability, but it can also cause headlight flare and fatigue.
It’s important you know how to stay safe on the roads and adjust your usual driving habits, especially if you’re a new driver.
From vehicle maintenance to making the most out of your headlights, here are the dos and don’ts of driving at night.
We know it sounds like an obvious one, but headlights are the number one rule when driving at night.
Make sure to turn them on around 30 minutes before sunset to aid visability. Dip your beams when in full traffic, put on your full beams when on empty roads and make sure to dip them for oncoming cars.
A smudged and dirty windscreen is even more of a problem in the dark.
They increase glare from other drivers’ headlights, reduce overall visability, and let’s face it, it’s pretty annoying having a dirty spot on your windscreen.
Make sure to clean both interior and exterior glass and mirrors regularly, and don’t forget to fill up your screenwash to clean away any marks during your drive.
The roads tend to be much quieter at night, but don’t get too excited and think you’re a professional racer.
Your reaction times are generally much slower at night, with hazard spotting only possible in well-lit areas or when your headlights catch something.
Driving a bit slower than you’re tempted to gives you a chance to slow down if anything does find its way onto the road.
If you’re driving a bit later than usual or embarking on a longer journey, it’s important to rest often. Fatigue can cause slower reaction times and a lack of concentration, leading to bumps and collisions.
Every two hours or so, stop at a service station or a safe side road for some fresh air, food, and some caffeine.
Cabin lights can create more reflections for other drivers, and can also distort light flow for yourself.
Make sure to turn them off when your vehicle is moving if they don’t go off automatically.
If a driver is taking their time in front of you, don’t be tempted to tailgate or overtake when light is at a minimum. Poor viewing range increases the risk of collisions, so make sure to maintain a large following distance at night.
Sadly, some drivers don’t know how to stay safe in the dark and drive with full beam at all times.
If this happens, don’t stare directly at them as it can cause temporary blindness and disorientation.
Focus on the left-hand side (kerb line) to stay steady.
If your current car isn’t cutting it for nighttime driving, it may be time to move on.
Here at Concept Car Credit, we supply used car models on finance, specialising in getting our customers behind the wheel no matter their experience or credit score.
For driving at night, we recommend models with:
Just because we sell used models, it doesn’t mean they lack on tech and safety features. Browse our available cars today, and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need a helping hand picking out a car suited to nighttime driving.
11 June 2025 Concept Car
