Not to drive on unlit roads at night?

[Cantdriveatnight]

I struggle to see on unlit roads at night. I don't know if this is an age thing because I've only been driving for a few years and I live in a fairly built up area where almost all roads have street lighting.

So although I do go out in my car in the dark, I do it as little as possible.

The only time this causes a slight issue is when I drive to visit my partner, as it means I have to take at least one afternoon off work (as the journey involves using the motorway) to go in daylight hours. Obviously this won't be a problem later in the year once the evenings are lighter, but I can't see any other way round it.

I don't feel safe driving in the dark on the motorway so I think it's better to stick to daylight. It does limit when I can travel obviously but I don't see any way round it. I do wear glasses for reading (very weak prescription), I've tried wearing them to drive but it doesn't make any difference.

YANBU not to drive when it might not be safe.

Suggest getting your eyes checked at an opticians when possible to check for any issues that could be sorted though.

I am the same OP.

Once I hit 50 I just couldn't comfortably drive at night any more, so I don't.

I did ask my optician and they just laughed and said it was my age - same for loads of us apparently

I am 62, live rurally and manage to drive safely in the dark, but if you feel you can't drive safely in the dark then YANBU.

YANBU.
I am 30 and struggle to see on unlit roads. I don't feel safe doing it, especially with my DC (or any passenger) in the car.

I learnt to drive in a city, have recently moved to the countryside and have altered any plans so as to avoid driving on unlit roads. I don't feel safe, I'm not comfortable doing it and therefore won't be doing it.

I'm 46, I last had my eyes tested in the summer, as mentioned I do wear glasses but they are very weak, it's just for close reading.

I'm fine on roads with street lighting, it's mainly the unlit stretches of motorway that I struggle with in the dark, on the route to my partner's I have to use the M25/M1, a couple of times recently it's got dark partway through my journey and I've found it really difficult.

Obviously don't drive if you don't feel safe, but when I hear people say these kinds of things (also won't drive in snow/ heavy rain/ outside their local area) I do sort of think if you've passed your test you should be capable of driving most places and in most conditions. Unfortunately everyone I've ever heard say these things are women and that depresses me.

I’m mid 40s and can’t manage it now. Feel very unsafe. I can manage the 5 miles from my local town back home ok as I know the road well. But when we stop wfh I’m going to have to tell my boss that I can’t do afternoon site visits in winter at our second location.

It's a 3 hour drive to my partner's so I don't have an issue with driving outside my area. I'll admit the first time I drive somewhere new I do plan the route, look at it on street view etc to feel more comfortable. I would like to feel able to drive, it would save using up my holiday time for a start and mean I'm not always thinking right I have to set off by X time at the latest.

@Puffalicious

Obviously don't drive if you don't feel safe, but when I hear people say these kinds of things (also won't drive in snow/ heavy rain/ outside their local area) I do sort of think if you've passed your test you should be capable of driving most places and in most conditions. Unfortunately everyone I've ever heard say these things are women and that depresses me.

I’ve been driving 25 years, love driving and have no issues. It’s definitely an eyesight thing. I’m a confident driver in daylight and used to be confident at night. I have astigmatism and apparantly it’s often connected to this.

I saw a good website once with two photos...one of which normal people see when driving at night, and one which is the view of a person with astigmatism driving at night. The glare from lights is terrible....it’s the other cars which are the issue for me. I’ve tried night driving glasses, etc and no difference.

Here.

If there’s no cars coming towards me I’m fine. Any oncoming traffic and I can’t see anything.

I’ve been eyeing up night driving glasses on amazon. I don’t know if they work though.

What exactly do you struggle with? For example I actually find I’m ok on unlit roads where there are no oncoming cars and I can have full beam on. It’s the oncoming cars that dazzle me that I have a problem with.

Are you happy flicking full beam on and off where you need?

The night driving glasses didn’t help me sadly. No difference

Ohhhh Covidcovid
I have a recently diagnosed astigmatism! That’s what my view looks like.

I think that’s why the glasses didn’t help me, they won’t cure your astigmatism.

It’s so frustrating, I’d love to be able to drive at night.

The glare is a bit of a problem too, but on the motorway it's more that I can't see the road ahead clearly and lane markings,

I have adopted a technique of sort of not looking at the other cars but looking at my side of the white line.

I live very rurally and have to bring the children back from their schools in the winter on dark rural roads one journey is 25mins the other 45.

I have no choice but it does always take a few nights to get used to it once the clocks change.

If you are not comfortable doing this, you gave made the correct decision in my opinion.

I grew up in a rural area with dark unlit twisty roads. I don't like driving on unlit roads either . They are creepy too.

@Cantdriveatnight

The glare is a bit of a problem too, but on the motorway it's more that I can't see the road ahead clearly and lane markings,

I have this as well. And again it’s not something which used to be an issue so I’m sure it’s my shit eyes! 😁. I blamed my car headlights for a bit but am on 3rd car with the same issue!

Are you turning your proper full beam on on the unlit roads?

Thank you covidcovid that example is perfect
I also have astigmatism and hate driving in the dark
Unfortunately in these dark months I have to drive to/from work in the dark
But yes op, unlit roads I do not like either

I hate driving on unlit roads if there are no cats eyes or other reflective signs to mark the edge of the road.

@actiongirl1978 yes that's kind of what I do to get round the glare, doesn't help on motorways but when I'm driving round here it stops me feeling like headlights are blinding me!