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.

Actually I haven't driven at night outside of the city for years so not sure what it's like now!

I've recently noticed this. I'm 42 with astigmatism. Been wearing glasses for distance vision since I was 15 and get my eyes checked regularly. I'm happy enough driving anywhere in any conditions and am a confident driver but if it's not lit and I can't use full beam I feel unsafe. I feel that I can't use my peripheral vision or see the turns and edges of the road unless I'm going really slowly. So i just drive slowly. I've been wondering if it's my age.

Is someone suggesting that you should drive at night?

I don't quite understand what you are asking AIBU about, it sounds like you are already acting in a way to make sure you don't have to drive in the dark, is your partner pressuring you to change?

Reading glasses won't help with distance vision though will they? My glasses for reading make distance vision worse.

@Covidcovid

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

But aren't you already wearing prescription glasses which cure your astigmatism? I have astigmatism and lights don't look like that to me in the dark. I did have trouble in a long journey in December in absolute torrential rain in the dark, with rear lights of cars appearing as streaks but I think that was the rain's fault. Rest of the trip in the dry on many unlit A roads and motorways was fine.

Dark roads where everyone else has crossovers / SUVs with higher position blinding bright lights has made driving harder over the last 10 years. Or I'm getting old / grumpy.

@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,

That might be a headlight thing.

I bought a brand new car recently and disappointingly the headlights when dipped are still rubbish. My best mate's car, on the other hand, is like like driving with floodlights.

I'm the same, it's getting worse as I get older (40's) I went to the optician as I thought my eyesight was failing but I only needed +.25 in one eye. She did suggest anti glare glasses though which I have and make things slightly clearer.

With me I think I lose my confidence a bit if I can't see ahead - I'm a very intuitive driver, I'm always looking ahead for obstacles, problems, cats, thinking about what that other car is doing. Seem very good at anticipating the road ahead.

You lose that in the dark and I think that's what I struggle with rather than my eyesight.

I kinda get this though I do drive in the dark. I changed the bulbs in my car to a slightly brighter set which helped loads. I'll also use my front fogs if the roads are quiet as they help too.

My partner doesn't get why I find it difficult. He's not pressuring me to drive but I know he feels bad I have to use holiday to go to his house when (if I could drive at night) I could just go after working hours or even later in the evening - when he travels to me he drives at 8-9pm when it can take 30-45 mins less as no traffic etc.

I struggle to see on unlit roads and if it is raining heavily I'm likely to crash as I can't see anything hence I no longer drive on them. I have excellent long vision (had laser surgery 17 years ago) but do require reading glasses.

Driving at night - fine, prefer it to be on unlit roads.
People who have no idea where there headlights switch is located - nightmare. If I was a god, I would magic their lights to be permanently stuck on dipped beam. For those who leave their fog lights switched on for days after the fog has gone, I would have the lights spontaneously combust.

YANBU if you can't see. Is your windscreen properly clean, both inside and out? My parents' car was absolutely filthy and it was almost impossible to drive at night, especially on unlit roads.

I eventually gave it a good clean and then inside of the windscreen was black 😩

I drive on some very rural roads and lack of lighting can be an advantage, you can see other cars far away, I love iot!

Honestly I started having this problem when I was 29 right before I took an eye test that showed I had developed an astigmatism in one eye. It was making all the headlights really blurry at night on unlit roads and I really thought every oncoming car was using their full beam.
When the opticians reopen, you should get an eye test (just to rule it out if nothing else). They can give you glasses for astigmatisms and then you'll be safe on the roads again.
In the meantime, YANBU to drive where you feel safe (but YABU if you don't get an eye test when possible).

I don't like driving on unlit roads, so avoid it where I can, but never have, living and driving mostly in London it's something I rarely experience, even less often more recently.
For me it's lack of confidence about when to dim/dip headlights, etc.
Several friends that live rurally have similar anxieties about driving in central London.

I've got some yellow tinted sunglasses that are principally to block out bright sunlight in the day, but sometimes they improve night driving too.

I get my eyesight tested annually (opticians rather than Barnard Castle).

@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,

If there are cars coming, and you have to have dipped headlights, then I’m afraid it’s usual that you can’t see the markings very far ahead. I don’t think that’s just you.

This can also be a symptom of vitamin d deficiency x

@Happyfamily123

This can also be a symptom of vitamin d deficiency x

Vitamin a isn’t it?

I don’t think glasses “correct” astigmatism. It’s to do with the shape of your eyeball or something. Even specsavers have some info on their website saying how difficult it can be.

They recommend anti glare lenses (got them) or try contact lenses (can’t wear them). I think there are different degrees of astigmatism, mine is severe.
www.specsavers.co.uk/glasses/glasses-lenses/astigmatism-and-driving-at-night

Actual driving in the dark is fine, it's the oncoming traffic with glaring lights that are the problem (and yes, I have an astignatism in my right eye so on that side). Driving in the rain at night makes it harder to see worn away road markings and the lights can merge into each other.

Some cats eyes are bloody annoying too. I have to keep in lane 1 on the M6 near Coventry at night because they flash in my peripheral vision which is really distracting. I can't handle them flashing away on both sides for lanes 2 or 3.

Apparently women often struggle more with issues like this because we have better peripheral vision than men, so there is more intrusion into the line of vision.

I'm not 40 yet so think it's more changing light quality than age. I can often find LED bulbs create a strobe effect which is annoying and it's worse when I'm tired.

I technically have 100% perfect eyesight but suffer from photosensitivity which means I have to wear sunglasses all year round and my night vision is not as good as some people. I hate driving at night and really struggle on motorways or busy roads where I can’t have full beam on and always have.

It's frustrating for me because I spent so many years not driving, and then once I passed it took me a while to feel confident enough to drive on motorways especially on my own . And now I can do longer journeys, motorways are fine and I'm just defeated by the dark!

I think another frustration for my partner is if we're together and driving somewhere, either he has to do all the driving, or we have to set off before a certain time.

@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 actually think it shows strength of character to be able to admit limitations. That's the reason many men take risks women wouldn't and it's not necessarily a good thing.

More people should be holding their hands up and saying "I'm a shit driver so I won't drive" or at least driving to their limitations. Pushing on beyond limitations is why there are so many crap drivers on the road.

Who are all these people voting YABU