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.

Is the problem maybe that you're not turning your lights on?

If one can see with streetlights one should be able to see with headlights. (I have once or twice in the past driven around without headlights on, because in areas with street lighting headlights don't make any difference to what you can see.)

Having said that, I remember when I first started to drive that driving around in heavy rain used to make me feel like I was driving around with my eyes shut. Zero visibility except out of the front windscreen, and even that reduced due to steaming up. Nowadays experience (and proper climate control that prevents windows misting) means I never feel that way.

Perhaps get checked for astigmatism - I don't do night driving outside towns because I can't see properly with another car's headlights coming towards me. Nothing to do with being a 'fluffy, wimpy girl' , just sensibly recognising my night vision is not good enough to enable me to drive safely in the dark. I have no issues driving on motorways, on single track roads, through busy cities, abroad etc.

I'm 65, and still fine with driving on motorways/dual carriageways at night, but am finding rural roads really challenging, because of glare from oncoming vehicles.

The modern halogen headlights are so bright that when a car with those comes the opposite way, I struggle to see anything else. And the brightness spreads so far that the old trick of looking down and left for a split second doesn't work.

This doesn't tend to happen on motorways because the oncoming traffic is further away, but it's a nightmare on the rural roads, which I use a lot.

I wonder if night driving glasses would help.

"Unfortunately everyone I've ever heard say these things are women and that depresses me."

Because men tend not to want to display any vulnerability.

If you're not comfortable driving in certain conditions, it's far better to say.

I do think its silly that we have unlit roads, why not just light them up and reduce the number of accidents that happen

@cyclingmad, have you any idea how much it would cost to install streetlighting on every little lane and country road in the UK?

And it would be a colossal waste of money, electricity, cause light pollution which disrupts wildlife, cause endless disruption while it was being done and be an environmental disaster.

As my old driving instructor used to say, there's no such thing as a dangerous road, only driving in a way that is unsafe for that road. I drive on rural roads a lot, and the worst road for accidents in my area isn't any of the country roads, but the major trunk road which is mainly dual carriageway.

If you have any evidence that unlit roads are a significant cause of accidents, then please share, as I'm unaware of any.

Interesting astigmatism photos, I have it both eyes don't experience the same glare with rear headlights as shown in the pics.
Opticians can help with the condition, contacts are meant to be very effective for night driving..
Maybe speak specifically to optician about combating this and see if they can help.

If hating night driving is down to confidence rather than vision problems, driving schools such as the AA offer lessons designed to improve people's confidence (rather than teaching them to drive) and worth looking into.

If you don't feel safe, then absolutely don't drive.

I have astigmatism in both eyes and struggle to drive at night, especially in the rain due to the glare off the headlights. It feels really dangerous on narrow country lanes sometimes!

Ah, this explains why I'm finding it so hard to drive home from work these days!
I also have astigmatism and that picture is exactly what it's like.

I agree with the looking slightly to the side to avoid being blinded by oncoming lights (I.e the edge of the road not away from your line of sight!), it makes a massive difference. I also bought some glasses similar to these:

Boolavard Night Sight Night Driving Over Glasses UV Wind P... www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0776DVK5B/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_fabc_6MV-FbJJ05M33?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

They work amazingly well. I still avoid driving in the dark when I can as I hate it, but using both of the above when it’s unavoidable helps.

I've been driving for 5 years, so recent but not that recent. I've driven in heavy rain many times (not a fan but I can manage, with difficulty - I wouldn't choose to drive in it but I will), also fog, light snow etc.

It's the not being able to see ahead,, the line markings, shape of the road that unsettles me when traveling at 70mph. There are a few unlit side roads round here but they've got a 30-40mph speed limit. I'm ok on those, it is the motorways.

I'll look into whether I can change the headlight bulbs for something brighter to see if that helps.

(the glasses are a tad Ali G, but looking slightly ridiculous is worth the improvement in night vision!)

My eyesight is pretty good in daylight and shocking at night. Glasses with a minor correction sort this out though

I think being a bit blind is much more common than people realise

I had this problem. It's not your eyes or the dark or even your headlight bulbs. It's the 'glass' on your headlights which is now usually plastic which dulls with age so you lose light. Get them sanded/polished by your mechanic and you'll see a huge difference. Guy at the MOT centre told me about it when I said I don"t drive at night.

Must admit if I clean my headlights I do notice some improvement. 😀

@BlueSussex

I have a new car, have had three cars in past 7 years and same problem with all of them, so no, in my case definitely not to do with the lights themselves.

They would be a problem for other drivers though if they were the super bright led ones