Night driving

By the end of this topic you can

• You can say when your headlights must be on.
• You can switch between high and low beam at the right distances.
• You can cope with glare from oncoming headlights.
• You can choose a speed that lets you stop within the distance your headlights light up.
• You can recognise when tiredness means you should stop driving.

What you need to know and understand

• Headlights must be on between sunset and sunrise, and at any other time when there is not enough light to see a person in dark clothing 100 metres away.
• You must dip from high beam to low beam when an oncoming vehicle is within 200 metres.
• You must also dip when you are driving 200 metres or less behind another vehicle.
• You may briefly flash high beam before overtaking to warn the driver ahead.
• Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists are much harder to see at night.
• Night logbook hours vary by state: for example NSW and Victoria require 20 hours, SA 15 and WA 5. Age rules differ, and older learners are exempt from logbook hours in some states.

Seeing and being seen after dark

Your headlights only show you what is straight ahead. They do not light up what is around a bend or over a crest. Drive at a speed that lets you stop within the area your lights show, and slow down before curves.

Use high beam on dark roads when nobody is close, because it lets you see much further. Even on streets with lights, high beam is allowed if you need it and no one is within 200 metres. Keep your windscreen and lights clean, because dirt and smears scatter light and make glare worse.

Turn your lights on early as it gets dark, so others can see you. Do not wear tinted glasses at night unless an eye specialist has told you to.

Dealing with glare

1. Do not look straight at the oncoming headlights.
2. Look towards the left side of the road and keep to the left of your lane.
3. Slow down so you have more time to react.
4. If you cannot see, stop out of the line of traffic until your eyes recover.

Animals, tiredness and planning your first night drives

In the country, kangaroos and livestock are hard to see and are most active around sunrise and sunset. If an animal appears, brake in a controlled way rather than swerving, because swerving can roll the car or put you into oncoming traffic.

Your body naturally wants to sleep late at night. The NSW handbook says the risk of a fatal fatigue crash is four times greater late at night and early in the morning. If you feel drowsy, stop somewhere safe and rest.

For your first night sessions, drive on roads you already know well in daylight. Build up to unfamiliar roads, country roads and wet nights once you are comfortable.

Common mistakes

• Forgetting to dip high beam for a car ahead. The 200 metre rule applies when following, not only when facing traffic.
• Driving too fast for your lights on dark country roads. If you could not stop in the lit distance, slow down.
• Staring into oncoming headlights. Look to the left edge of the road instead.
• Leaving night practice until the end of the learner period. Spread it out so you are confident well before the test.
• Pushing on when sleepy to get home. Pull over and rest; it is not worth the risk.

Test yourself: Night driving

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.