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driving at night

(28 Posts)
carerof123 Tue 10-Jan-17 18:13:27

After spending the day with an old friend i hit the road about 5pm to drive home. Only a short 20/25min journey depending on the traffic. It was a nightmare as the lights from other cars were so bright, especially the new white lights on cars these days. I couldn't tell if they were on full beam or not around the country roads as they all seemed so bright!!! Does anyone else find car lights a problem in the dark.

shysal Thu 12-Jan-17 14:14:38

That sounds useful bartonlady, will have a look on Amazon.

bartonlady Thu 12-Jan-17 13:57:42

We have bought an anti glare clip on visor from Amazon. Works with sun and also other people's dazzling headlamps, just clips on to visor. We bought one but have ordered another for the passenger side...for the navigator!

mcem Wed 11-Jan-17 21:06:35

I agree that cataracts could be the problem - especially if you're seeing 'haloes'around headlights or street lights.

hildajenniJ Wed 11-Jan-17 20:53:34

I find it worse, driving in the half light. That time of morning or evening when it is not yet light, but not exactly dark either. I find the headlights of oncoming traffic very dazzling then.

shabby Wed 11-Jan-17 15:11:32

I was terrified just before Christmas when I drove in the dark to a family party. All relatively ok driving there but a couple of hours later fog had descended and it was a really hairy drive home. Only had my eyes tested 6 months ago but was really concerned so last week I took myself off to the opticians and they found that I have a cataract, not yet bad enough for surgery, growing in my left eye which means I need a new prescription for my glasses. I am having new lens which filter out some of the 'blue' light so should make night time driving better - fingers crossed.

MaizieD Wed 11-Jan-17 14:59:08

No problem with night driving (as yet) though I do dislike those really bright headlights.

I did think I had a problem when the evenings started drawing in last year, full headlights didn't seem to be lighting up very much and I could barely see the road with dipped (we live in a fairly rural area and I have to be able to drive at night). Took car to have its lights checked and it turned out that 2y old GS had been fiddling with the height adjuster for the lights! All fine now they're correctly positioned...

Badenkate Wed 11-Jan-17 14:51:06

We have two cars: a landrover and a Ford fiesta. I have no problem in the landrover but the fiesta is much more susceptible to dazzling headlights. It is lower, of course, and I wonder if it's something to do with the way lights are set in the car these days.

M0nica Wed 11-Jan-17 13:52:15

Could it be a sign you are developing cataracts? DH and I have both found problems with glare when driving at night was one of first symptoms we had.

Since having the op for them, both of us have found riving much easier. I have an anti-glare coating on my driving glasses.

Christinefrance Wed 11-Jan-17 09:17:04

I agree with cherrytree it does seem to be more of a female thing. I think it's also a confidence issue, maybe women drive less often than men so are not so confident. Men doing the bulk of the driving seems to be more prevalent in our age group.

grannyqueenie Tue 10-Jan-17 22:43:00

chelseababy My old boy has been told he has very early cataracts and, although a very confident and competent driver, he finds night driving a challenge, especially if it's also wet. I'm not keen on it myself and seldom need to do it but realise if I don't do it now and then I could find I'm not able to step in when an emergency crops up - as indeed it did about 18 months ago.

chelseababy Tue 10-Jan-17 22:11:26

I was told the early formation (?) of cataracts makes it worse at night.

Cherrytree59 Tue 10-Jan-17 21:56:46

It seems from reading the above posts, to be more a female problem than male.

Is it also an age thing with female drivers?

My DH has no problem driving at night.
He does curse the oncoming drivers who don't dip their headlights.

tanith Tue 10-Jan-17 21:36:56

The problem with not doing it is you will lose even more confidence about night driving if you don't do it. If its not essential for you to night drive then don't do it if its becoming a problem better to be safe than sorry. If you live in rural areas as some of you do then I would think its an essential to be able to night drive occasionally.

Cherrytree59 Tue 10-Jan-17 21:24:50

Refuse to drive in the dark unless an emergency
As we are surrounded by country lanes and single vehicle bridges
With the added problem of deer and no street lighting.
There is always the glare of on coming headlights and inconsiderate drivers who refuse/ forget to dip headlights
It is hard enough without the white headlights to contend with.

DD partner works in London and hates driving around here
Says much safer driving in London

But then again I hate driving in low sunhmm

Deedaa Tue 10-Jan-17 21:08:16

I was a bit appalled the first time I drove in the dark this winter and wondered if I could still do it, but after a couple of trips I got back into it. The white lights are awful though.

Crafting Tue 10-Jan-17 20:56:30

Not wishing to be a wet blanket but please check if those yellow glasses are ok to drive with at night. DH and I both hate night driving due to the headlights of oncoming cars and we were quite keen to try out the tinted glasses until we read an article which said they actually hinder your vision and only give the illusion of being able to see better.

ginny Tue 10-Jan-17 19:57:26

I use the yellow tinted glasses. Plenty to choose from on line.

shysal Tue 10-Jan-17 19:37:53

Yes, they are the yellow specs. Mine were very cheap, not sure whether they are polarizing ones, which should be helpful. Big range of prices on line.

Alima Tue 10-Jan-17 19:03:36

Me too. Only have to drive DGS a mile down the road in the evening. Hate it, especially the blinding glare from on-coming cars. Counting the days till it's still light at 5.20!

Rinouchka Tue 10-Jan-17 19:01:15

Hate it as well and do it as little as possible, relying on DH for nighttime driving when absolutely necessary. He does not seem to have the same problem.

Will try the night-driving specs, shysal .(Are they the same as the yellow specs suggested by DaphneB?) for the couple of times per month I need to drive in darkness on my own.

One of the advantages of living 10 minutes' walk from underground and British Rail(when in working order) is that we do not use the car very often, day or night!

morethan2 Tue 10-Jan-17 18:47:25

Another one here. I'm sure if there was a test for night driving I'd fail. I do my upmost not to do it. I also think these bright bluish lights on new cars make things worse. Funny thing is that my husband and daughter find night driving relaxing.

shysal Tue 10-Jan-17 18:46:54

Me too! I bought some night driving specs on Ebay which help a bit. Clip on ones available too.

DaphneBroon Tue 10-Jan-17 18:45:56

Has anybody tried yellow glasses over their own glasses or on their own? I too find glare a problem, motorways are fine as we are all,going the same way, but country roads can be a nightmare.

Jane10 Tue 10-Jan-17 18:31:38

Me too. Its so bad that I just don't do it

Badenkate Tue 10-Jan-17 18:24:51

I hate the white headlights, I find them dazzling at times.