Days of driving in the dark are over

[SuperAlly]

I’ve never been great at driving in the dark. But it was doable when I needed to.

Given lockdown, working from home etc it has been a while since I have had to do any driving in the dark. In fact between March and August I barely did any driving at all.

Tonight I drove to a different supermarket (changed because we are no longer able to leave local authority area). It was 5.30pm. Unlit dual carriageway. I was so frightened and disorientated I drove there at 50mph (thankfully the road wasn’t busy and it’s not far).

Its hard to explain. I can’t see where the white lines are to se my turn-off, and I get disorientated with the headlights and can’t tell how far away cars are and whether I can overtake etc.

I’m 35 years old. I feel really down in the dumps about it.

I've always hated driving at night, and now I understand why I find it difficult. Diagnosed with astigmatism and that first image on the link above is exactly how i see lights at night. Good to know there is a reason and I'm not just being 'delicate'

I have astigmatism but my lenses correct it well enough to have no problems. Mine is really bad in one eye but slightly better in the other.

When you can consider another few ‘lessons’ with a driving instructor to go over night driving with you.

I’m still learning and have discussed this with my instructor and he’s happy to do some early evening lessons so I get a handle on night driving rather than get thrust into it solo.

You shouldn’t be driving if you can’t see. If you have an accident whilst driving in this situation you’re going to be in a whole world of trouble.

Also feel the same, I avoid poorly lit roads in winter like the plague.
Some trips I have felt really stressed , especially when fog comes down on country lanes.
Don't think it's unusual and I know how you feel. It always takes me a bit to get used to driving on winter nights. Maybe see an optician.

I hate night driving too!
Can someone link to the best yellow glasses to get please? I'm a nervous driver anyway...

I’m the same and it’s got worse as I’ve got Older. I’m now mid 40s and have driven for 25 years including lots of night driving with no issue. So it’s not a lack of confidence or experience.

My glasses prescription is up to date. I’ve tried the night driving lenses over my glasses and it makes no difference.

Interestingly I do have astigmatism so maybe it’s that. But then I’ve always had astigmatism. Total disorientation, no depth perception, can’t judge distancing and really bad glare. I can’t see the road a lot of the time.

It sounds exactly like astigmatism. That’s amazing I never knew that. I don’t see the light in big streaks like the picture but it’s definitely more blurred than it should be.

If you haven't driven in the dark for a long time have you checked all your lights are still working properly?

Go to a decent optician and specifically say you want your sight corrected for driving, especially at night. I just don't think general sight correction does it for night driving.

The answer for me was glasses rather than lenses and a special type of glass for driving at night which cuts out all the haloing and light refraction (it really does!). I have an astigmatism too.

There are a few different makes out there but ime you have to really insist that you want specific driving support and its only then that opticians start telling you about the options.

My glasses have made all the difference to me and I actually feel relaxed about driving at night again. I went back after a month and ordered a second pair because if the first pair broke I could not face driving at night without them :)

Make sure you read up on the yellow glasses.
Basically they reduce the amount of light reaching your eyes, which is good for reducing glare but bad for seeing other things you are meant to be seeing.

FatGirlShrinking

Remember the first time I saw that picture I was gobsmacked. Like "you mean not everyone gets the flarey lines coming off lights." Had assumes everyone saw light that way - blew my tiny little mind.