Driving at night

Good tip bikergran

I can't believe that people are driving with the difficulties they are describing. As one other post said if you can't see adequately you really shouldn't be driving. Period.

I am only 62 but my night vision has been poor for many years, both walking & driving. My Optician told me it is because my eyes are not aligned, slightly short sighted in one, slightly long sighted in the other.

I have an eye test ever years & my vision is perfect for driving (wear glasses for reading small print).

I much prefer driving on country roads at night at least you can see cars coming the other way. I do avoid any night driving & dusk can be as bad.

I wondered whether people would find their sat nav helpful in the dark even though they may know the road very well in daylight, as it shows curves in the road, crossroads and roundabouts ahead, and where slip roads go off the main carriageway. Mine indicates with flashing arrows where lanes divide on motorways.

It also adjusts to night driving and the screen automatically dims.

Just a thought.

So happy to hear I am not alone. I loathe night time driving especially when its raining/snowing, the glare from oncoming cars.I avoid night time driving where possible, however living in Sweden when it is dark by 3:30 pm it isnt always possible. I tend to hibernate for a few months, venturing out in the daylight only.

I keep a sun hat in the car with a big front brim. I put this on if there are lots of street lights and on coming cars. Help cut down the amount of light that is dazzling.

I have just had a conversation with a lady who said that because of her cataracts she prefers driving on country lanes because she can pull over if her sight goes wobbly!

I met someone who said they wore sunglasses to stop the glare. I like the sunhat idea.

Luckygirl, you can tell your friend that it improves beyond measure once her cataracts are removed. That was certainly my experience.

As my OH has always said: "Beware drivers wearing hats!"

My DH is a bit more specific. 'Beware drivers wearing flat caps'

Someone on Mumsnet posted this link - petition.parliament.uk/petitions/204401 about banning high intensity headlights, as this problem affects all drivers, not just us older ones! If interested perhaps you'd like to sign it?

I suffered an irreversible eye problem but my eyesight is rated perfectly safe for driving by the DVLA. What I am discovering is that the flashing Christmas lights which have started to appear outside houses dazzle and 'stay in my eyes' far longer than previously, rather like the effect flash bulbs had on performers on stage when photos were taken from the audience. I avoid driving at night if I can, but early evenings are a problem.
I wish flashing lights could be banned outside; I thought them intrusive and distracting before, but now I consider consider them to be dangerous as well.

For those of you who, like me, wear glasses treated for sun glare and night driving, my optician gave me an important tip about cleaning them: never dry wipe them - for example, with a tissue. They should Always be cleaned under running water and then a drop of mild soap. Then dried with loo paper. If you wipe them with anything while they are dry, the microscopic grains of dust on them will eventually cause scratches. As these glasses are pretty expensive, it is Worth bearing in mind.

Interesting to see today that the RAC are saying that new headlights ARE dazzling drivers, so it isn't just senior drivers who experience this problem!

I am very short sighted. That coupled with the dark , caused me to give up driving some time ago. A bit inconvenient at the time, but I am used to it now.

It’s not you, it is indeed the oncoming headlights especially on top of the range cars.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5538713/Headlights-modern-cars-bright-blinding-drivers.html

I heard a very eloquent 105 year old driver interviewed on Radio 4 the other day. She had passed the driving test in 1937, and admitted that driving conditions had changed a lot since then but she sounded very capable.

She wasn't asked whether she drove at night but was asked about other dangerous drivers on the road. She made the (I thought sensible) suggestion that newly qualified drivers should display a certain sign to warn other motorists that they were inexperienced.

Tegan, I have bought 2 pairs of those yellow anti-glare glasses, one of OH's car, one for mine- and always make sure I've got them when driving at night- they really do help.

As we get a lot of snow here, it makes the glare/reflection, even worse. I would NOT drive at night if I felt my vision was too impaired to do so- and now without the special glasses. Never mind danger to myself- but to others.

I too find it challenging driving at night, since I moved to a more rural area without street lights and loathe the piercing high intensity lights with a passion. They can even be too bright in the daytime.
I'm so glad there is a petition on the gov.uk site. I have just signed it and will encourage as many others as I can to sign it also. If you haven't done it yet, please do it soon, as the cut off date is May 2018 and there are only just over 1000 signatures.

Hi
I'm a professional tour driver
I mostly take school children abroad
This obviously involves night driving
For some unknown reason I get panic spurts my speed slows down
Trucks hurtle past
I panic all the more
It's a problem as it's my job
My partner says it's my eyes
I'm not so sure

WOW- hpe this post is not for real !?!

To be honest, if anyone has trouble night driving, get some anti glare yellow glasses. If those don't work- I am sorry to say, you really should NOT be driving at night- for your sake, and most importantly, that of other users.