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LOW RISK DRIVING |
Road Safety PLUS - by Dieter R. Fischer ISBN No. 0 09577 426 0 6 |
| 5. Adverse Conditions |
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LOW RISK DRIVING |
Road Safety PLUS - by Dieter R. Fischer ISBN No. 0 09577 426 0 6 |
| 5. Adverse Conditions |
36. Driving at night
Forgetting to put lights on caused the following horror crash: It is raining and winter time, already dark even at 5 pm. Rushing home from work to meet a tight social schedule, the young driver is about to turn right, happy that there is a break in the long queue of oncoming headlights.
The experienced 25 year old judges his approach to take advantage of this opportunity. After he decides to turn, a last minute glimpse through the wet windscreen reveals a horrible truth. What he perceived as a gap in the traffic is a vehicle about to smash into him. It had no headlights on.
Lights and no lights
Headlights have two functions: To see and to be seen.
What a difference the headlights make to the vehicle on the right. Note the pedestrian. The pedestrian (circled) would be safer in bright clothing.
Rules for night driving:
- Put your lights on early. Initially this is to be seen.
- Keep your windscreen and lights clean. (Dirt decreases visibility).
- Don’t look into oncoming headlights. To keep on course gauge your steering on the left boundary of the road, until traffic has passed.
Driving at night when the road is wet is extremely hazardous. Streetlights may reflect off the wet road surface, making line markings almost impossible to see. Drive much slower under these conditions.
- Dip your headlights within 200 m of oncoming traffic and when following another vehicle. Most modern cars display a blue light on the dashboard, when on high beam.
Disclaimer: Above information is for Australian learner drivers. Regulations could vary in your part of the world. We take no responsibility for any accidents, failed driving tests, even if the advise in this book has been followed. We recommend to use above information in conjunction with a professional driving instructor.
