Lesson 12: Night driving

By the end of this topic you can

• You can use your headlights, dipped beam and other lights correctly
• You can respond correctly to the lights of other road users, including emergency vehicle lights
• You can drive safely in the dark in traffic and on unlit roads
• You can describe the signs of poor night vision and what to do about them

What you need to know and understand

• At night you see less, and it is harder to judge speed and distance.
• Use dipped headlights when meeting oncoming traffic or following another vehicle, so you do not dazzle other drivers.
• If you are dazzled by oncoming lights, slow down, look towards the left edge of the road and stop if you need to.
• Pedestrians and cyclists can be very hard to see after dark, especially in dark clothing.
• Clean windows, mirrors and lights make a big difference at night.
• The RSA advises learners to practise driving at night, with their ADI or sponsor, before the driving test.

Where and when the lesson happens

The session takes place after dark, on a mix of urban and rural roads with plenty of other traffic. In summer that may mean a late booking, so plan ahead with your ADI.

Before the lesson, practise with your sponsor if you can, and read the Rules of the Road sections on lights and driving in poor weather.

Using your lights well

1. Before setting off, check all your lights work and are clean.
2. In built-up areas with street lighting, use dipped headlights.
3. On unlit roads, use full beam only when it will not dazzle anyone.
4. Dip early for oncoming vehicles, when following another vehicle and on bends where you could dazzle others.
5. Watch for the glow of headlights over hills and around bends as an early warning of traffic.

Outcomes for lesson 12

If you notice blurred vision, halos around lights or real difficulty seeing at night, get your eyes tested before driving after dark again.

• Drive safely in the dark
• Drive safely on darker, unlit roads
• Describe the symptoms of poor night vision and how to deal with them
• Show you know how to use your lighting correctly
• Show the right response to other vehicles' lights, including emergency vehicle lights

Common mistakes

• Forgetting to dip your headlights for oncoming traffic. Dip early.
• Staring at oncoming headlights. Look towards the left edge of your lane.
• Driving at daytime speeds on unlit rural roads. Drive at a speed that lets you stop within the distance your lights show to be clear.
• Leaving dirty windows or lights. Clean them before night drives.

Test yourself: Lesson 12: Night driving

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

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