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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to hate driving at night?

95 replies

bejeezus · 15/12/2011 21:41

I've been driving for 2008 years and I've just admitted this to myself after an awful 3 hour journey home in the dark;

I can't bloody see. I feel dazzled by on coming cars and after they've passed, its so dark and the head lights are still burning in my retinas. And when there are no oncoming cars, its just dark!

I'm often driving 5-10mph less than the speed limit with traffic building up behind me! I find it so stressful

How come everyone else can see well enough to drive at normal/daylight speeds?

OP posts:
michglas · 15/12/2011 21:43

Some people can't see as well in the dark, me being one of them. I'm blind as a bat in the dark. I am about to start driving lessons but need to wait until the days get longer, as the only time i can have them is after work and it's always pitch black then.

Kayano · 15/12/2011 21:45

Yanbu! I hate it! I can't see for shit in the dark and I panic! I can barely stand being a passenger inthe dark!

HMTheQueen · 15/12/2011 21:46

There is something called night-blindness.... maybe you have that?

Original poster
bejeezus · 15/12/2011 21:48

I haven't been driving for 2008 years (that would explain poor eye sight!)- 20 years!

mich I'm thinking maybe I should just accept it and not do it. WHY can some people not see so well in the dark? More carrots?!

OP posts:
TheLastNameLeft · 15/12/2011 21:48

I hate it too, especially when idiots dont remember to turn their full beam off Xmas Angry and even more if its raining and dark too.. my stress levels go through the roof!

NettoHoHoHoSuperstar · 15/12/2011 21:50

I only got my car yesterday but I've said to my fiend that we'll do our Christmas food shop late one night next week so it's quiet, and I'm regretting it a bit as I'm worried about driving in the dark.
It doesn't help that I can't park eitherXmas Blush

Original poster
bejeezus · 15/12/2011 21:50

What's night blindness?

OP posts:
Original poster
bejeezus · 15/12/2011 21:51

I can't see where the road is going

OP posts:
AllDirections · 15/12/2011 21:55

I'm another one who can't see when I'm driving in the dark. How do we all manage to avoid each other?

EauDeLaPoisson · 15/12/2011 21:56

Im the same- have my eyes tested regularly have been tested for various deficiencies which cause poor night vision but nothing is actually 'wrong'

grendel · 15/12/2011 22:03

I too hate driving in the dark - I just can't SEE!
I also dislike being driven in the dark, DH goes so fast and I don't understand how he can see where he's going. Mostly I just have to close my eyes and wait for it to be over.

Popbiscuit · 15/12/2011 22:09

I HATE it. I really panic. I even hate being a passenger in someone else's car at night. Rain at night is even worse...

randommoment · 15/12/2011 22:13

So pleased to find I'm not the only one. I too end up with a massive queue behind me as I tiptoe along at 45 on a road I cover at 60 in daylight. Probably all shouting abuse at me. I just keep telling myself I'm getting much better fuel consumption at these speeds anyway.

NewShooz · 15/12/2011 22:19

Glad I'm not the only one as well. I can't see a bloody thing. In an ideal world I would like to drive along with my full beam on all the time, so that I can see! DH says the same although he drives faster than me at night.

Strange thing is though, when DH drives, I can see much better.
Also, if I'm walking round the house in the dark, I can see everything...it doesn't make sense? Confused

newby66 · 15/12/2011 22:20

I am the same, just cant see past other cars in the dark when they are oncoming and my dh tells me that we are all blind bats... charming.. now being told we all need anti glare stuff on our glasses. Im not getting mine as it means he has to drive. His night vision is perfect but then again being in the police on shifts for 20 years he is a bit of a bat in any event... On the odd occasion that I drive in the dark, in a city with streetlights, I do drive around like my Nana (who is 90!).

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 15/12/2011 22:27

Another one who struggles here and I've been driving for er, 25 years (how the hell did that happen).

I had to pull out of a garage onto a fast moving dual carriage way tonight and it was horrible, all the headlights coming at me really fast.

GerardWay · 15/12/2011 22:30

I would be fine driving in the dark if there weren't other cars on the road Xmas Grin. I even hate being a passenger at night, so much that I must drive my DH mad as I am constantly worried someone's going to come out of a side road.

squeakytoy · 15/12/2011 22:33

I am the same too. I am fine if there are street lights, but I really hate driving on motorways or country lanes that dont have them.

My dad used to wear some glasses that had yellow lenses in them.. I know they were only for night driving, but dont know if you can still get them.

sunnydelight · 15/12/2011 22:34

YANBU, I hate it too. I can just about cope on roads I know well but I have refused plenty of night time invites where driving is the only transport option. It does make me feel a bit middle aged (which I am Grin) and feeble though!

storytopper · 15/12/2011 22:35

Yep - I'm the same. Totally hate driving home from work from November to January. I have the choice between busy flashing lights motorway or extra dark twisty back roads with canal just inches from roadside.

Tonight was extra grim. Because of a bad accident and diversions, journey took 2 hrs instead of 25 minutes. Partly my fault because of a few wrong turnings. Grrrrrr.....

I count the days until the end of January when I will be leaving work in daylight.

winterfox · 15/12/2011 22:36

i agree with you op, they've turned off lots of lights here

go at the pace your're happy with

Feminine · 15/12/2011 22:40

squeaky My DH picked up some yellow hunting glasses from hunting store (US)

for a laugh Confused anyway...they really helped with his night time driving!

I don't like it , even though I learnt to drive in the dark.

Casmama · 15/12/2011 22:41

I was the same but recently got my eyes tested and got glasses with anti-reflective lenses which seem to have made things a lot better in terms of having much sharper vison and reducing the glare of other head lights.

tunnelmaniac · 15/12/2011 22:41

it's not you, it's the modern car headlights. I wear glasses so get horrendous glare at night, esp when it's raining (I'm peering over the bonnet trying to see). When I learnt to drive 30 years ago the car lights were nowhere near as bright, they were a soft creamy white. Now they are acid white or almost blue-white and so badly adjusted. Also, there are way more 4 wheel drives and vans which all have lights much higher up than normal cars, hence more dazzling. and the bastards drive right up your arse and they tailgate, which dazzles in the mirrors as well

upahill · 15/12/2011 22:41

I am going against the grain and say that I love driving at night. The roads are clearer so you are not stop - starting all the time. I am usually by myself when out at night so I can have my music loud and really enjoy it.

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