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Original poster

Motorway at night

99 replies

missyksmt · 05/09/2022 11:54

I've always been told that when driving on a motorway at night which has no lights, only cats eyes, that you can't use full beam. I used the motorway last night in heavy rain, and the cat eyes were absolutely useless. Am I just blind as a fucking bat or do you need to use full beam? Had to come off. Absolutely terrified me. Never again.

OP posts:
Worldgonecrazy · 05/09/2022 11:57

Full beam is allowed as long as no cars are coming towards you and you’re far away from any car in front to avoid dazzling them via the rear view mirror, in which case usual rules apply.

Have you had your eyes checked? I wear glasses for driving, even though I pass the legal requirements without, and they have made a massive difference for night time driving.

KassandraOfSparta · 05/09/2022 11:57

You can’t use full beam as it dazzles people coming the other way or people in front of you. If there are stretches where nobody is coming the other way or in front then do what you like.

Sirzy · 05/09/2022 11:59

It’s highly unlikely that even at night there would be little enough traffic ahead or oncoming that you could use full beam on most motorways

SavoirFlair · 05/09/2022 12:00

missyksmt · 05/09/2022 11:54

I've always been told that when driving on a motorway at night which has no lights, only cats eyes, that you can't use full beam. I used the motorway last night in heavy rain, and the cat eyes were absolutely useless. Am I just blind as a fucking bat or do you need to use full beam? Had to come off. Absolutely terrified me. Never again.

You know this stuff isn’t open to interpretation @missyksmt and you can find the information online as the Government issue advisory info to drivers

www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/lighting-requirements.html

NightmareSlashDelightful · 05/09/2022 12:02

Technically you can use full-beam on a motorway; the same rules apply re flicking to dipped beam as soon as you see lights/a vehicle on the other side or tail lights in front.

But full-beam in heavy rain won't help much, I wouldn't have thought, and could actually dazzle you — they certainly can in fog.

In some situations/conditions you are just better off coming off the motorway and taking things a bit more slowly. So you probably did the right thing.

Original poster
missyksmt · 05/09/2022 12:06

Worldgonecrazy · 05/09/2022 11:57

Full beam is allowed as long as no cars are coming towards you and you’re far away from any car in front to avoid dazzling them via the rear view mirror, in which case usual rules apply.

Have you had your eyes checked? I wear glasses for driving, even though I pass the legal requirements without, and they have made a massive difference for night time driving.

My side of the motorway was dead, only really me on it, I was on the left lane and only 1 or 2 cars came past on the right. Quite a lot of traffic was coming towards on the other side.

My eye sight is perfect. I get a test every year. I'll maybe make another appointment. Genuinely could not see a fucking thing. About 5 yards in front at any given moment.

OP posts:
WiseUpJanetWeiss · 05/09/2022 12:11

Maybe your headlights are too dipped? They should be shining much further ahead than you describe, but just dipped downwards.

That said, driving on an unlit motorway in the rain with traffic on the other side and hardly any on yours is going to be unpleasant and disorienting regardless.

DisplayPurposesOnly · 05/09/2022 12:18

My side of the motorway was dead, only really me on it, I was on the left lane and only 1 or 2 cars came past on the right. Quite a lot of traffic was coming towards on the other side.

Then you should not have had full beam on.

thirstyformore · 05/09/2022 13:22

Sirzy · 05/09/2022 11:59

It’s highly unlikely that even at night there would be little enough traffic ahead or oncoming that you could use full beam on most motorways

Depends where you live. On my local motorway you can drive for quite long sections at night with full beam on....it's very quiet.

Original poster
missyksmt · 05/09/2022 13:24

DisplayPurposesOnly · 05/09/2022 12:18

My side of the motorway was dead, only really me on it, I was on the left lane and only 1 or 2 cars came past on the right. Quite a lot of traffic was coming towards on the other side.

Then you should not have had full beam on.

Yeah I didn't. That's why I came off because I couldn't see a thing. 😂

Genuinely don't know how people manage to do that. It's not like rain and darkness is rare in this country.

OP posts:
Unicornsbumhole · 05/09/2022 13:25

If there is traffic on the otherside of the motorway DO NOT USE FULL BEAM you will be dazzling traffic coming the other way, if you can't see properly make sure your lights are clean/adjusted properly and drive to the conditions of the road i.e slow down in poor visibility

alwaysfactor50 · 05/09/2022 13:27

DisplayPurposesOnly · 05/09/2022 12:18

My side of the motorway was dead, only really me on it, I was on the left lane and only 1 or 2 cars came past on the right. Quite a lot of traffic was coming towards on the other side.

Then you should not have had full beam on.

Not if traffic is coming towards you!

poshme · 05/09/2022 13:29

But dipped lights are still very bright OP.

Are you sure you weren't trying to drive using just side lights?

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 05/09/2022 13:37

You shouldn't really need full beam at all on a motorway. The purpose of full beam is to buy you more time to avoid getting caught out by sudden sharp bends in the road, pedestrians/cyclists/horses/tractors/milk floats, other traffic at/coming from dark junctions or into your path from the opposite direction etc.

The whole idea of motorways is that you shouldn't get any of these surprises or have to make any sudden decisions with little or no notice. Your normal dipped beams should be sufficient for this.

ColeensBoot · 05/09/2022 13:39

Poshme my thoughts exactly. There are 'running lights' that are on all the time in modern cars (copied from Volvo from a country with lots of darkness) and dipped full beam. Then full beam. Are you sure you had dipped headlights on?

ADialgaAteMyDog · 05/09/2022 13:40

I sympathize OP, that's my least favourite type of driving. I find the rain causes a glare or a reflection of sorts and it's hard to see, especially with no lights in front to follow. I just stick to the slow lane and follow the lines, keep my speed about 60 and stay patient.

Crocwok · 05/09/2022 13:42

ColeensBoot · 05/09/2022 13:39

Poshme my thoughts exactly. There are 'running lights' that are on all the time in modern cars (copied from Volvo from a country with lots of darkness) and dipped full beam. Then full beam. Are you sure you had dipped headlights on?

Yes sounds obvious but shamefully the first time I drove one of my previous cars I thought wtf the lights are crap, but I'd just put the wrong lights on- was absoltely fine once I'd figured it out.

BuzzBuzzBuzzLightyearToTheRescue · 05/09/2022 13:47

I hear you. I really, really struggle with driving in the dark, to the point that I avoid it at all costs. I get really disoriented and I don’t understand how others can do it so easily.

WireSkills · 05/09/2022 13:55

ColeensBoot · 05/09/2022 13:39

Poshme my thoughts exactly. There are 'running lights' that are on all the time in modern cars (copied from Volvo from a country with lots of darkness) and dipped full beam. Then full beam. Are you sure you had dipped headlights on?

My first thought too. At this time of year, particularly, when people are starting to drive in the dark again I see it all too often - driving around only on either side lights, or the daytime running lights.

@missyksmt do you go two clicks on the lights? One is not enough. If you have done two clicks, maybe worth getting your lights checked to make sure they're working properly.

Driving in heavy rain can be difficult to see in, even in daylight though. If it was really heavy rain, it's likely not your eyes. If it was "regular" rain, then you should be able to see well enough to drive, albeit maybe a bit slower so you can react to dangers around you.

WireSkills · 05/09/2022 13:56

You absolutely did the right thing in coming off though.

I remember being on the motorway as a child in a torrential downpour. My DF was driving and he couldn't see anything, so he pulled on to the hard shoulder to wait it out. When the rain cleared, we could see loads of other people had done exactly the same thing, but we had no clue they were even there.

How it didn't end up in a massive pileup I have no idea!

GrassWillBeGreener · 05/09/2022 13:59

Really heavy rain doesn't seem to be as common in the UK as where I grew up, but when you do get these super-heavy downpours you do have to just slow right down or even stop (if you can). Not easy on a motorway so getting off was sensible whatever prompted it.

I agree maybe you didn't have your main lights fully on though, worth thinking about how you would check that if worried in future - I certainly have been known to turn lights on and off again to make sure they are fully on if I'm not sure.

Parky04 · 05/09/2022 13:59

ADialgaAteMyDog · 05/09/2022 13:40

I sympathize OP, that's my least favourite type of driving. I find the rain causes a glare or a reflection of sorts and it's hard to see, especially with no lights in front to follow. I just stick to the slow lane and follow the lines, keep my speed about 60 and stay patient.

Me to. I have perfect vision, but I really struggle to drive on unlit roads in the dark when it's raining! So much so, that I only drive at night if I'm staying local.

Cuck00soup · 05/09/2022 14:00

Are your headlights definitely working?

girlmom21 · 05/09/2022 14:02

If you can't see you slow down...

iklboo · 05/09/2022 14:04

If you can't see you slow down...

She left the motorway. Nowhere did she mention her speed either.