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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Night driving dilemma

52 replies

Hullabaloo9 · 01/12/2023 23:30

Despite being a confident and experienced driver during the day, my ability to drive confidently after dark (on unlit roads) is massively reduced. I think maybe I process visual information slower than an average person or something as the distance lit by my headlights seems only just enough to react twists and turns. It makes me really anxious as I feel like I'm driving somewhat blind.

As part of my new job I have to drive home once a week, after dark, down winding country roads for about 4 miles. Visibility and road markings are poor but as its rural its mostly 50mph or national speed limit, broken by stretches of 30mph through small villages.

This is so hard for me to navigate and I feel like I am an absolute nuisance. My strategy is to drive as fast as I can safely see, which is around 40mph (excepting the villages obvs). I know this is a pet hate of many motorists but if I drive any faster I will be at such high risk of missing a turn and veering off the road. I feel driving smoothly at 40 is better than driving a normal speed on the straights then having to brake more than is usualand for bends etc. If it makes a difference it is around 7pm, so not peak time.

AIBU to drive at 40mph in these circumstances, knowing i am an inconvenience (to the odd driver, not huge tailbacks) but that i would be putting my life at risk to drive faster?

OP posts:
ntmdino · 01/12/2023 23:33

Totally reasonable to drive a bit slower at night, especially on twisty rural roads.

For what it's worth, whenever I'm on the back roads I always have Waze open on my phone at the side of the steering wheel - with a highlighted route, you've got pretty good warning of the turns that are coming up.

friendlycat · 01/12/2023 23:45

I completely hear you. I avoid this type of situation at all cost. But since you have to do this well done for asking and recognising what you feel are safe speeds for you in the dark on these rural twisty roads.

I find it astounding the speed limits on some of the country roads that are bendy, twisty etc that are the same as other dual carriageways that are straight with 50mph restrictions.

Practice will help as you will in time know the bends more. My only other suggestion would be is it worth booking a driving instructor for a few night time sessions on the same road to build your confidence?

Chickenkorma64 · 01/12/2023 23:46

If your rural roads are anything like where I live, you are wise to drive at reasonable speed to be able to brake in time when the deer jump out.
( I’ve had 2 deer strikes in 2 years and that’s with driving at reasonable speed.)

Ocani · 01/12/2023 23:52

Drive at a speed that's safe for you. 40mph is fine for unlit winding roads. It's only four miles - whoever is behind you will reach their destination a couple of minutes later than they might do if they were at the speed limit on the nose. Big deal.

Ocani · 01/12/2023 23:54

Oh and it doesn't sound like it's a confidence thing. You can't see clearly, which is a physical matter.

flowerchild2000 · 01/12/2023 23:54

If you wear sunglasses before it gets dark you'll improve your nighttime vision greatly.

Nocturna · 01/12/2023 23:55

I do this, particularly if I don’t know the road. If there’s anyone behind you indicate and pull in to let them past when safe to do so.

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 01/12/2023 23:55

Can you get spotlights fitted like rally drivers use ?

IGotItFromAgnes · 01/12/2023 23:56

Drive at a speed that’s safe for you but also it might be worth booking an eye test if you haven’t had one very recently as the optician might be able to suggest something. I know I have similar issues when wearing glasses but not with contact lenses, for instance, or there might be some anti-glare solution (even if you don’t normally wear glasses)

MissMarpletheMurderer · 01/12/2023 23:56

Perfectly fine. But, if you have someone close behind don't feel bad about pulling over.

I drive a large old vehicle and can't do speeds, but I stop regularly to allow people to pass. This keeps them happy and takes the stress off of me.

SgtBilko · 01/12/2023 23:58

Do you have an astigmatism? That can make night driving difficult because of the way the light reflects. Have you seen an optician about this? You can get glasses that may help.

Contrary to what others have said, I think if you are not confident driving at night and can’t adjust your speed to the drivers around you, within the speed limit of course, you shouldn’t be driving at night. It might help your confidence to get some driving lessons but I would also urge you to see an optician.

CormorantStrikesBack · 02/12/2023 00:02

I’m the same. My eye tests are up to date. I can see fine in the day. At night I struggle. I turned into a ploughed field last week thinking it was the side road.

CormorantStrikesBack · 02/12/2023 00:04

And I do have astigmatism but there’s nothing any optician has been able to do to help me. I’m a confident day driver. I avoid night driving as much as possible.

GodspeedJune · 02/12/2023 00:05

I think you should really get your sight issue checked out and treated. It could be astigmatism as a PP mentioned and I think thyroid issues can make some people’s eyesight sensitive.

For what it’s worth, my cousin failed her driving test for only doing 40 in a 60.

I live rurally so this is my usual driving route. If you’re going to stick to 40 then please have the decency to pull over regularly and let others pass you. There isn’t always a safe opportunity to overtake on winding rural roads, and you’ll wind people up no end just trundling along.

Ocani · 02/12/2023 00:06

It's four miles!

rockstarshoes · 02/12/2023 00:06

It's 4 miles!

You will get to know where the turnings are & get more confident!

Honestly keep at it & you will get better

KissTheRains · 02/12/2023 00:06

Speed limit is the max, not the requirement.

Drive at a speed to match the conditions. Darkness is a severe inhibitor to visual processing, driving to those conditions means driving slower to allow processing time.

If anyone is driving at 50mph on unlit rural roads, they're far more in the "wrong" than someone driving at a speed.that allows them processing time.

Fifthtimelucky · 02/12/2023 00:12

Obviously it depends on the road, and how high hedges are, but I often think it's easier to drive on windy unlit roads at night than it is during the day, because you can see other cars coming from further away.

In general though, I think no-one should ever drive faster than what they think is a safe speed. It was of the most important lessons I taught my children when they were learning. It's so easy to feel pressurised into speeding up when you have someone right behind you who is clearly keen to get past.

Screamingabdabz · 02/12/2023 00:14

I’m not convinced you’re a confident driver. And you probably need to get your eyes checked.

Original poster
Hullabaloo9 · 02/12/2023 00:14

Thanks all for your comments. I was expecting to be told I shouldn't be driving but the majority of you have made me feel much better about driving at a speed that is safe for me.

I do have regular eye tests as I am a long term contract lense wearer. I find it much more disorientating in glasses.

I considered looking for an instructor for night driving but I can't imagine how he will make me see further and I'm pretty sure my instructor years ago used to advise only driving at a speed that I feel safe.

Unfortunately there is not really any safe places for me to pull over to let peoe past as its hedgerows both sides with just the 2 lanes.

I'm hoping familiarity will help. Also a good tip about having the maps up on the phone, thanks.

OP posts:
BrimfulOfMash · 02/12/2023 00:17

‘National Speed Limit’ on many rural roads simply means they haven’t actually been assessed for a speed limit. It doesn’t mean people should be aiming to drive at 60mph.

Typecast · 02/12/2023 00:18

It's a speed limit not a target. Plus, you will get used to those four miles after driving them over and over and over again.

Also - get an eye test (just in case) and get checked for astigmatism (this is my downfall - it really affects my night driving vision).

manysausages · 02/12/2023 00:19

From Highway Code

‘You must not drive faster than the speed limit for the type of road and your type of vehicle. The speed limit is the absolute maximum - it does not mean it’s safe to drive at this speed in all conditions.’

It’s a speed limit not a speed target.

If you inconvenience someone else (who wants to drive recklessly) by a couple of minutes in order to drive safely, that’s ok.

AutumnFroglets · 02/12/2023 00:21

I agree with others, you must drive at a speed that is safe for the conditions. Windy roads in the dark cannot be driven at the same speed as in daylight. Same for wet roads vs dry. If you get someone behind you who seems impatient then pull over in a safe place. You mentioned you go through villages so pull over there.

I hate driving at night too and try to avoid it. Perfectly safe and confident during the day.

YouOKHun · 02/12/2023 00:22

@Hullabaloo9 I know this probably sounds silly but is your problem the same in all cars or do you just drive the one car? If you don’t feel you’ve got much reaction time it could be that your lights need adjusting. I bought a new car recently and the dipped beam was awful, pitch black only a few metres in front of the car because they needed tilting upwards. I also had a good clean of the inside of the windscreen in a supposedly clean new car, it made a big difference too!