In our past blog posts, we’ve covered a number of different topics relating to driving on the motorway. This post is full of handy hints for keeping you safe when driving on the motorway at night.

Tiredness

One of the most obvious dangers of driving at night is tiredness. Driving on the motorway can be very monotonous at the best of times, but at night there is less traffic, little scenery and some motorways are not lit. Our previous blog post on the dangers of driving when tired, has lots of information about tiredness and driving.

Lighting

It’s compulsory that both your sidelights and rear registration plate lights are lit between sunset and sunrise.

You must also use headlights at night or when visibility is reduced. The highway code defines night as the hours of darkness; from half an hour after sunset through to half an hour before sunrise.

Although it’s important to use your lights to improve your sight, you must also be aware of the consequences it can have on other drivers. Don’t use your fog lights (unless the weather requires them) or your full beams, other roads users could find these dazzling.

Speed

The speed limit is the maximum speed to travel at, however in certain conditions it can be dangerous to drive at this speed. You should always reduce your speed when driving at night, this is because it’s more difficult to see other road users and potential hazards.

Overtaking

When overtaking at night, it’s important to take extra care as it can be harder to judge speed and distance. If in doubt, avoid overtaking.

Breakdown

If you were to breakdown on the motorway at night, use your hazard warning lights to make your car as visible as possible to other drivers. It’s recommended to wear reflective clothing at night. For information on breaking down on the motorway, check out our previous blog.

Driving at night carries a much greater risk than driving during the day. As always, try to arrange your journey for the safest possible time. Avoiding driving between midnight and 6am, as well as extreme weather conditions.