Driving at night - no streetlights
Discussion
How should my driving differ compared to during the day or with streetlights, in the following conditions...
On a typical b-road, full beam possible 50% of the time.
On a busy motorway, traffic flowing 60-80mph.
I'm particularly thinking about how much information I require to be able to stop in the distance I can see to be clear.
Sorry for the vagueness, just after tips as this wasn't covered in my IAM exam or observed drives.
On a typical b-road, full beam possible 50% of the time.
On a busy motorway, traffic flowing 60-80mph.
I'm particularly thinking about how much information I require to be able to stop in the distance I can see to be clear.
Sorry for the vagueness, just after tips as this wasn't covered in my IAM exam or observed drives.
I used to live in the countryside, with rough, winding, and fast roads, with no lighting except the moon and stars. But occasionally, I'd come across some crazy cyclist or animals (wallabies/kangaroos and rabbits being the worst). Unnerving.
Do what common-sense tells you. If you think you won't be able to see a pedestrian two or three seconds ahead of where you are, then put your highbeam on. Unless you see a car/cylist/pedestrian approaching from the opposite direction, since your highbeam would blind them and may cause them to behave unsafely.
Visibility is the most important prevention to crashing. So if in doubt, beam up, as long as it doesn't blind other traffic.
>> Edited by Jungles on Friday 24th March 00:31
Do what common-sense tells you. If you think you won't be able to see a pedestrian two or three seconds ahead of where you are, then put your highbeam on. Unless you see a car/cylist/pedestrian approaching from the opposite direction, since your highbeam would blind them and may cause them to behave unsafely.
Visibility is the most important prevention to crashing. So if in doubt, beam up, as long as it doesn't blind other traffic.
>> Edited by Jungles on Friday 24th March 00:31
Jungles said:
Visibility is the most important prevention to crashing. So if in doubt, beam up, as long as it doesn't blind other traffic.
All winter long I do night drives with my Associates. We do streetlit areas, lit motorway, unlit motorway and the twisties.
I am forever reminding them to get the "main beam" on in the twisties. The "golden rule" is always be able to stop in the distance you can see to be clear - or in the case of a single track road half that distance. To make any kind of decent progress you need to be able to see as far as you can and that means main beam.
The moment you don't need to be on dip to avoid dazzling the oncoming traffic - headlights back on. The ideal is to dip *just* before the oncoming car round the bend and will see your car and to go to main beam *just* after they've passed.
Clearly in well lit areas you don't need main beam on as you can usually see as far as you can in the day due to the streetlighting.
I'll bet you do all that anyway as its common sense. But next time you're out on a night drive thing about ability to stop and range of vision and how main beam can help you.
On country lanes and similar windy roads you can often increase your up ahead information by driving on dips. For example, windy road on main beam you'll miss the fainter headlights of a car in the distance, not realsing they are there until they are on top of you. I think of it as an extension to limit point driving.
A good idea is always to dip your lights ahead of such a corner, returning to main beam when the limit point opens up ahead.
A good idea is always to dip your lights ahead of such a corner, returning to main beam when the limit point opens up ahead.
goliath said:
Don't forget that you can use the lights of other vehicles to give you information on the where the road ahead is going, particularly on unlit b-roads.
Good point, and there are instances where using dipped beam can help you to see the lights of opposing vehicles. On narrow country lanes, in particular, I often select dipped beam on the approach to a brow or bend, just for a moment, to give myself a chance to see what's coming.
One problem with dipped beams is that they are asymetrical, cutting off the light on the offside to reduce dazzle to oncoming drivers. This means that you get very little warning of hazards on the off side when on dipped beams. Main beams, on the other hand, not only give you greater range, but also greater width, helping you to pick up side turnings, pedestrians, bicycles, animals in the verge, etc. Main beams also give oncoming vehicles much earler warning of your presence.
I've just fitted a pair of long range Cibie lamps to my Impreza (replacing the largely useless fogs), wired to come on with main beam. The difference they make to night driving is amazing. No longer is one peering into the distance to pick out hazards; instead there is 300 yds of clear light. Just a shame the clocks have gone forward!
I've just fitted a pair of long range Cibie lamps to my Impreza (replacing the largely useless fogs), wired to come on with main beam. The difference they make to night driving is amazing. No longer is one peering into the distance to pick out hazards; instead there is 300 yds of clear light. Just a shame the clocks have gone forward!
Nobody has answered the motorway part of the question.
Find somebody who is going at about your pace driving sensibly and appearing to have lifted their vision. You'll spot this by their positioning. Establish yourself in a suitable following position based on the conditions.
Use them as your radar and scout, use their lights if possible, but don't become fixed and follow blindly, lift and open up your own vision.
Unlit quiet motorway at night on your own is difficult as so often opposing traffic prevents use of main beam.
Find somebody who is going at about your pace driving sensibly and appearing to have lifted their vision. You'll spot this by their positioning. Establish yourself in a suitable following position based on the conditions.
Use them as your radar and scout, use their lights if possible, but don't become fixed and follow blindly, lift and open up your own vision.
Unlit quiet motorway at night on your own is difficult as so often opposing traffic prevents use of main beam.
goliath said:
Don't forget that you can use the lights of other vehicles to give you information on the where the road ahead is going, particularly on unlit b-roads.
You can only take this logic to a certain extent. You are only going to be able to garner so much information from what cars ahead of you are doing. Different cars/different drivers will be able to take different speeds across different bits of road and you just won't know what that car is capable of. That car may also be taking a different route to you which may catch you off guard. Of course the most important one to consider is what if the car in front actually has an accident all byitself by going into a corner that wasn't really there or was sharper than expected. Are you really going to be able to tell your insurer that it wasn't your fault because you where following the lights of the car ahead.
You should always drive your own drive and your own car, let others get on with what they want to do, assume everyone else on the road is an idiot. Use then to gather as much information as possible to give you hints, but don't depend on this information to be valid.
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