Night driving

By the end of this topic you can

• You can switch on the right lights at dusk and in poor visibility.
• You can use high beams on dark roads and dip them in good time for other vehicles.
• You can choose a speed that lets you stop within the distance your lights show.
• You can deal with glare from oncoming headlights.
• You can recognize when tiredness means you should stop driving.

What you need to know and understand

• Headlights are required at night and also in poor visibility, not just when it is fully dark.
• Daytime running lights are not headlights, and on many cars they leave the tail lights off.
• In Ontario, dip your high beams within 150 metres of an oncoming vehicle and within 60 metres when following.
• Alberta and the Northwest Territories use 300 metres for oncoming vehicles and 150 metres when following.
• Overdriving your headlights means going so fast that you cannot stop within the area they light up.
• Look toward the right edge of your lane, not at oncoming headlights, to avoid being dazzled.
• Several provinces limit night driving or passengers for new drivers; check your graduated licence conditions.

Getting the lights right

Turn your headlights on as it gets dark, and whenever rain, snow or fog makes it hard to see. Most provinces define a visibility distance too: Ontario, BC and Alberta use 150 metres. If your car has an automatic light setting, use it, but learn how to switch on full headlights yourself.

Many learners think the car is lit because the dashboard glows. Often only the daytime running lights are on, which light the front and leave the back of the car dark. BC says it is illegal to drive at night on parking lights or daytime running lights instead of headlights.

High beams: when to use them and when to dip

On dark roads with nobody near, high beams help you spot hazards and wildlife much earlier. Switch to low beams in good time so you do not dazzle other drivers. The required distance depends on the province:

• Ontario, Nova Scotia and PEI: within 150 metres of oncoming traffic, 60 metres when following.
• British Columbia: within 150 metres for both.
• Alberta and Northwest Territories: 300 metres oncoming, 150 metres following.
• Saskatchewan: at least 200 metres before meeting oncoming traffic, and 100 metres when following or being passed.
• Other provinces and territories: check your handbook.

Seeing far enough, glare and tiredness

Low beams light only a short distance ahead; BC's handbook puts it at about 30 metres. If you drive so fast that your stopping distance is longer than that, you are overdriving your headlights and cannot stop for something that appears at the edge of the beam. Slow down on unlit roads and curves, and watch the road edges for animals.

When an oncoming driver does not dip, do not flash back or stare at the lights. Look toward the right edge of the road until they pass, and keep your own low beams on. Flip your inside mirror to its night setting for glare from behind. Keep the windshield clean inside and out, because dirt scatters light.

Night driving is also when tiredness strikes. If you are yawning, drifting or cannot remember the last few kilometres, stop somewhere safe and rest.

Common mistakes

• Driving on daytime running lights at dusk. Switch to full headlights so your tail lights come on.
• Forgetting to dip high beams when following another car. Dip as soon as you are within your province's following distance.
• Staring at oncoming headlights. Look to the right edge of your lane.
• Keeping daytime speed on unlit rural roads. Slow down so you can stop within the distance your lights show.
• Pushing on when tired late at night. Plan rest stops and stop at the first warning sign.

Test yourself: Night driving

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