Advice For Learner Drivers About Driving During The Night

Night Driving Tips For Learner Drivers

Are you constantly paranoid while driving at night? Well, you are not the problem. Night-time driving is actually more dangerous than most people think. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics, deadly accidents are more likely to occur at night than during the day.

If you are still learning to drive, you must take note of some safety tips for night-time driving. Some of these risks generally occur at night, while others have a higher occurrence potential at night.

When driving, your vision accounts for approximately 90% of your reaction ability. Night driving significantly impairs your vision hence decreasing your reaction ability. But those are not the only risks attached. Let's look at the dangers of driving at night and driving tips for averting such risks.

Perils Of Night-Time Driving

Nocturnal Australian wildlife

Australian animals such as Kangaroos and Possums have a habit of going out to play on the roads at night. These animals prefer sleeping on the roads since they remain warm even after temperatures drop at nightfall. So, imagine driving at night, and you encounter animals sleeping on the road.

Both you and the animal(s) will likely be startled. But unlike humans, Australian wildlife is known to have slow reaction times. So, even if you can react quickly enough, the likelihood of a collision is almost inevitable.

Reduced visibility at night

Night-time driving is much more difficult because the area covered by headlights is limited. During the day, sunlight illuminates the entire road, maximising your visibility. That aside, the glare from oncoming vehicles at night temporarily blinds you, thus reducing your reaction ability in case you unexpectedly encounter other cars on the road.

Driver fatigue

A worrying 20-30% of fatal road accidents in Australia occur due to driver fatigue. According to several studies, sleep-deprived driving is equally as lethal as intoxicated driving. The fact is that you could potentially fall asleep on your steering wheel. Driver fatigue will result in:

• Impaired visual perception

• Poor judgment

• Reduced concentration

• Reduced vigilance

• Reduced reaction time

Driving under the influence

It is straightforward to find an intoxicated driver on the roads at night compared to during the day. How many people would instead drink during the day than at night? Well, very few! So, imagine being on the road with several impaired drivers.

The National Safety Council observes that the likelihood of fatal accidents increases on weekend nights because of driving under the influence. Of course, driving under the influence is against Australian road rules.

Roads in Australia are long and isolated

Australia is a big country with long and isolated roads between destinations. If you drive at night on these roads, you might end up being stranded. Although the country is stunning and striking, the weather conditions can be quite harsh.

For instance, during winter, the roads can be very slippery, thus hindering safe driving and smooth navigation. And unfortunately, if your vehicle breaks down on these roads at night, it isn't easy to find any assistance, and it could even take hours before any tow truck reaches you.

Road construction

It is a common practice for road construction activities to be done late in the evening. Ideally, you will see road signs indicating road construction ahead. But assume you missed such a sign because the roads were too dark. That means that you might also fail to see the construction zones.

Another reason could be a little distraction off the road, and suddenly, you encounter a construction zone. These are just some of the significant dangers of driving at night on Australian roads. But what is important is being prepared to deal with them. Let's have a look at some safe driving tips for learners.

Tips To Help Learners When Driving At Night

Avoiding fatigue

According to NHTSA, fatigue driving crashes often occur between midnight and dawn (6 a.m.). As a learner driver, you will need to be wary of your fellow drivers during such hours. On a personal level, it is vital to get enough rest and sleep so that you can be alert on the road. If you are driving at night, you can either take caffeine to stay awake or stop over somewhere to sleep.

Generally, getting enough rest when driving over long distances is advisable. But other practices like rolling your car windows down for fresh air, turning on the radio, and singing along to music can keep you alert.

Being responsible

A statistical observation by NHTSA reveals that fatal accidents due to drunk driving are more likely to occur at night than during the day. Generally, you should never get behind your steering wheel when drunk, whether you are a learner or an experienced driver. Moreover, the fact that drunk driving crashes happen more at night than during the day does not mean you should drink and drive during the day.

Cleaning your view

The NHTSA warns that damaged or dirty windshields scatter light, thus increasing glare effects. This means that when you encounter oncoming traffic, the headlights from other vehicles cast a glare on your windshield. It is crucial that you clean your windshield regularly or fix it in case of damage. Also, don't forget to clean your headlights to avoid casting glare onto oncoming traffic.

Accurate headlight angle

When you are still learning to drive, there are crucial things than can easily escape your mind. Do you know your car's headlight angle? If it is tilted down too much, you won't get sufficient illumination when driving. On the other hand, if it is too high, you risk blinding oncoming drivers. So, you need to ensure that your headlight angle is correct at all times.

Using high beams

Do you know how to utilise high beams efficiently? High beams are beneficial, especially on open roads. However, you should also be wary of drivers in front of you and oncoming traffic.

So, in such scenarios, don't use high beams; otherwise, you'll end up temporarily blinding the other drivers. If necessary, you can get adaptive lighting systems that control high beams depending on situations like oncoming traffic or any presence of other vehicles.

Avoiding two-lane highways

Two-lane highways are very prone to night accidents due to oncoming traffic glare. Additionally, some of these roads tend to have a lot of sharp curves. If you can, use safer roads at night.

Slowing down

According to the NHTSA, nearly 37% of the accidents that occur at night are because of speed driving. Even though the rate of speed-related accidents is relatively high during the day, it's higher at night due to reduced reaction times and visibility. So, when driving at night, adjust your speed to factor in conditions such as poor visibility.

Be on the lookout for wildlife

It is an unfortunate coincidence that animals are very active at sunset and sunrise when visibility on the roads is significantly hampered. For learner drivers, it is important to be aware of such factors when driving at night. You can use high beams to spot animals on the roads. Moreover, avoid swerving when you encounter wildlife on the road. It is safer to slow down and stop.

Should I Avoid Night Driving Completely?

The bottom line is that there are obstacles you encounter while driving at night that do not exist during the day. For instance, you will never have night blindness during the day. But that does not mean that you should not drive at night.

You should be fine if you observe the tips for learners listed above and road rules in your state or territory. Safe driving also entails following traffic rules and regulations. For learner drivers, completing your driving lessons under a qualified supervisor before heading to a dealership to look for your first vehicle is essential. Your first car is an investment, and you don't want to get too comfortable driving on Australian roads at night.