Illuminating Ways for Secure Night Motoring

By Ethan Melandri

Your vision at night is reduced not only because you are exhausted, but also a lack of light, which makes it tough for you to avoid possible dangers or other motorists. There is one great thing about night motoring, though, and that is less traffic on the streets, providing you with more liberty when driving.

Anytime you are about to take a drive in the dark you will want to verify your headlamps are dirt- free and running properly. It is a law for night driving that your sidelights and number plate lights be turned on. When checking your headlights you need to make sure they are aligned correctly so as not to annoy or distract other drivers. When you feel that your headlamps are not lining up you should have them tested and retuned by a professional auto mechanic.

Any time you have items in your back seat or boot which are heavy your headlights could increase in height. Drivers will certainly find this troublesome, but with the adjustment switch inside your vehicle you can modify where the headlights are pointing.

As soon as the street lights come on where you are driving you need to turn on your headlight bulbs. Any time there is inclement weather or the sky is a dull grey you also need to have your headlights on. It allows other motorists to see you plainly. When you have a dark or dull coloured vehicle it is especially imperative that you switch on your lights, as these cars are more difficult to see.

Only when you encounter unlit streets should you use your high beam headlights. At all other times you should use the lower setting. Your main beam headlights can be a problem for other drivers, pedestrians, or cyclists, so if you are using them you will need to turn them off as you approach them.

If you are following another car you will need to use your dipped beam, and keep the bright lights off. If you are going to pass the vehicle in front of you, ensure that you are cautious. Your lights can reduce their sight or create illusions in the dark. You will want to pay close attention to any dips or bends that are on the road that could affect your ability to pass the vehicle safely.

Being dazzled is a particular hazard when driving at night and can temporarily affect your ability to see clearly, however there are some simple tips to help prevent this situation. At night you may find yourself naturally drawn to looking at oncoming headlights, fight this temptation by looking slightly to the left of the lights.

Dirt, road grime, or grease on your windscreen may create an optical illusion that is both dangerous and annoying. Chips and cracks can change the refraction of the light as well. It is best to change your rear view mirror to night driving setting, in order to lessen the impact of other vehicles behind you. You also need to consider when you might need to slow down on a bend or at a junction as lights may affect you.

Motorists driving during the night should be unworried about the dangers, and instead enjoy the experience of open roads without traffic. - 21396

About the Author:

To improve the light output from their car lights, drivers can now replace halogen bulbs with new powerful xenon bulbs. These upgrade car bulbs are interchangeable with standard items so for example, fitting new H7 xenon bulbs is a very straightforward process.