To ask how the hell to drive in the dark and rain?

[hanketypankety]

So yesterday I got caught driving home in a huge rainstorm. It was dark and I was driving along a main road but in an area surrounded by fields and no street lights. I'm embarrassed to say that I panicked and was crying in the car because I genuinely could not see a thing. To make it worse, lots of cars were either riding up my arse or overtaking me very fast. I eventually came up to an estate and pulled over to quietly have a stern word with myself to pull it together. But I guess I was just a bit overwhelmed that the majority of the traffic continued to be able to drive at the speed limit of 60 quite happily. I honestly could not see the road markings and that road often floods so no idea if and when I would hit a huge puddle and either skid off or flood my car. Any tips? Please be kind as I was genuinely frightened

It’s easy to be the driver behind: they follow your lights.

If it is too dark and the rain too heavy to see, you did the right thing pulling over.

I agree. I've been driving for years in many countries and consider myself to be a good driver.
Recently about 3 times I have found myself in the conditions you describe. It is really hard driving and not very safe.
Twice it was daylight and I continued. Visibility very very poor, no road markings visible, even the side of the road was not clear.
But once was night, and it was so bad I wanted to pull over. Unfortunately there was nowhere to pull over for about 5 minutes and then the worst had passed.

Slow down, wipers on high, ignore other drivers and don't look at the oncoming headlights, but at the left edge of the road.
Knowing your limits is an important part if being a safe driver.

Just to say. That type of extreme heavy rain used to be unusual in UK. It is getting more common. I have live din countries with monsoon rains, and there, when you get those extremely heavy downpours, the traffic often stops until it has passed.

And it’s mental to drive at 60mph on a single carriageway in torrential rain. You are supposed to reduce speeds in the wet.

You did the right thing to stop and calm down.

Now practical advise and don’t be embarrassed to consider calling a driving instructor and ask for some evening lessons! Confidence boosting. You essentially need to learn how to do it and that’s an instructors job.

honestly they would be happy to do that.

I’ve had conversations with my instructor about post pass lessons (not pass plus) with regards to towing, motorways and country lanes as these are things I need to know but can’t do until all of them until I pass and get my +E done. He’s charging the same as a regular lesson but is happy to do it.

Just drive with the speed you're comfortable with. It's not your business if someone wants to overtake you. Let them. If you think that driving faster will make you like you have less control over what's going on, don't do it. I guarantee many drivers don't see properly too, but they often rush like some kind of idiots. There's a reason why many accidents happen at night.

In really torrential rain I have pulled over and parked. If you can't see the road and other traffic you are at risk.

I don’t see what is wrong with using another car’s tail lights as a guide to where an unlit, unmarked road is going - as long as you’re always at a very safe distance.
@londonrach , pulling in and parking may not be possible on the sort of roads that are both unmarked and unlit.

you do know that a car HAS to have a working wing mirror? (can't remember off hand if it is the right or the left which is a legal requirement!)
So to fold it in would mean that your car is no longer road worthy?

Nothing wrong with pulling in and waiting it out - that was a very sensible, responsible driving decision right there.

I use polarised prescription sunglasses at night - they don’t make it darker but they eliminate the starbursts from lights and help me see a lot more.

If a car is approaching, watch the side of the road on your side. You’ll still see the oncoming traffic but you won’t be dazzled.

If you have idiots trying to drive up your tail, you have to slow even more because now you’re braking for two. Don’t be intimidated by other people’s stupidity. In fact it’s sensible to assume everyone else on the road is a fool and drive accordingly.

Drive the route again in daylight as soon as you can. It will help with your confidence. And make sure you know how to use your lights, that they’re correctly aligned, and what to do if you skid, have to drive through heavy water etc. it’s just information - not a specific talent.

You have good instincts OP.

Have you got anti glare coating on your glasses? I used to think I'd have to stop driving at night but then I got my glasses coated and it's fine now

I feel like I've found my people - WTAF with these new headlights? I absolutely hate driving in the dark now.

As pps have said OP, the anti-glare coating does help a bit, but I hate it too and find it exhausting.

DP always says though 'you drive your drive, only you can see what you can see, if a numpty overtakes you and drive into a lake of surface water at 70 then that's their call, you just get home safe.'

I feel your fear! I can no longer drive my lovely sportscar at night because of all the SUVs with badly adjusted bright headlights and the poor state of road markings. I've had to join them by driving my DH's SUV. Very sad.

The rain was torrential here last night and I had to go and pick GS up from a sports thing. It was the headlights coming towards me that were bothering me. It was pitch dark, rain coming down in sheets, the wind making the car wobble and then being blinded by oncoming headlights. Absolutely awful not helped by narrow Devon lanes so cars are passing so close to each other. I feel your pain.

I hate night driving too esp in the rain and esp on the first dark rainy nights of the year - you will get better at it.
Do you have an astigmatism? It can give you poor night vision - you can get an anti glare slight tint but on your glasses.
Check you’re using full beams unless there is traffic approaching you.
Ignore any twats driving too fast and too close - concentrate on the road ahead.

I myself was caught out by driving in the dark and rain last night - i felt like a new driver again almost! (I've been driving 30+ years)
One thought i had was that over the last few years roads have been a lot quieter - due to lockdowns and many people not commuting into an office as much as they used to. That coupled with the fact I myself have driven less means that I've lost a bit of confidence in these conditions. In my area traffic finally seems to have built back up to pre-pandemic levels so things are busy again.

Agree with others commenting about modern headlights being too bright - it's almost like they've got main beam on and can be blinding.

I have a new car and the headlights on dip have needed adjustment as they did not show enough of the road ahead - I got frightened too on dark wet nights until I realised this. My father, who was a really good driver, told me to allow my gaze to cover the verge as well as ahead, this does help in rain and fog too.

Very slowly! Only safe way to do it - visibility can get so bad.

Sorry you had so many bad drivers around you.

I also sympathise. This happened to me on the M25 once and I have never driven on it since. Absolutely the scariest experience of my life. I also cried. Night driving is horrendous if you are a) a glasses wearer b) do not drive an SUV. I found it much much worse in our old car. It is significantly better now we have joined the annoying people with the bright lights (still not an SUV though). We used to have a Micra and the headlights on that were awful. So if possible, could you change your car?

Did the optician mention if you had astigmatism? (Where your eyes are more slightly rugby ball shaped, rather than perfectly round. It’s not uncommon) That causes the lights to dazzle you more, especially in the rain. I have it and hate driving when it’s dark.

I am surprised you could not see when others were still going at 60. It does suggest the issue is with your headlights or glasses.

Had similar a few weeks ago on a holiday. Dark, wet and a road I didn't know. Bendy, single lane with passing places! Mostly I could see oncoming cars headlights for a while before they got to me, so was prepared but still got dazzled - not sure if they were in full beam and not dipping or just had very bright lights. I found if I put my full beams on the light was just reflecting back on the rain rather than penetrating through it so dipped headlights were actually better.

Yes, this! I only found out recently that all the lines I see coming off lights aren’t normal- they’re linked to astigmatism (I knew had astigmatism I just didn’t connect the two!) - so it makes driving in the dark trickier, especially when it rains as there’s more for the light to reflect off. Gives me a terrible headache too as I think I squint in spite of my glasses to try and combat it

With the clocks going back last weekend it’s now properly dark when I leave the office. It takes some getting used to if you don’t regularly drive in the dark. Adding heavy rain to the mix makes it more stressful. I’m a very confident driver but have a bit of a wobble at this time of year. Drive as slowly as you feel comfortable doing and ignore the other fuckers!

I agree dipped headlights can sometimes be better.

The trick is to follow someone else and focus on their rear lights.
Let's hope they're not on a suicide mission!!
The advice given out on driving threads is astounding.