As daylight fades and the night sky takes over, driving on NZ roads can come with its own set of challenges. Whether you're travelling the countryside or navigating the bustling city streets, mastering the art of night-time driving is essential for a safe and enjoyable journey.
Let’s shine the light on five practical tips to help you find your way through the darkness with confidence, and prioritise your safety, and the safety of others on the road.
Tip 1: See Clearly
Maintaining visibility is key to a safer drive and making you a better driver at night. Here are some easy things you can do to help you focus on the road ahead:
Adjust mirror — tilt the angle or switch your rear-view mirror up to the ‘night’ setting to cut down the brightness from the headlights of the car behind you.
Change driving position — raise or lower your seat for a better driving position that minimises the glare from oncoming traffic.
Keep your windows clean — keep your windscreen clean inside and outside, as dirty windows scatter light and increase glare from approaching headlights or streetlights. Top up your windscreen wiper fluid and regularly check your windscreen wipers, so you won’t be caught out midway through your trip.
Turn lights off inside — while driving, keep your cabin lights turned off, avoid using mobile phones and dim your dashboard lights. Bright screens and interior lights can reduce your night vision, making it more challenging to see the road ahead.
Never wear dark glasses — keep your sunglasses or dark glasses for sunny days as the tint severely restricts your ability to see in the dark.
Tip 2: Be Seen By Others
To be a confident night-time driver you need to know when and how to use your headlights. Here are some essential things to avoid dazzling drivers and ensure your vehicle is seen by other drivers and road users:
When to use dipped headlights — turn your headlights on or have them set to turn on automatically in the following situations:
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During dusk and dawn: Switch your headlights on 30 minutes before sunset until at least 30 minutes before sunrise.
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In poor weather conditions: When driving in rain, fog, or snow, use your dipped headlights to reduce glare. In dense fog or heavy rain, turn on your fog lamps (if fitted to your vehicle), and switch them off when no longer needed.
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In traffic: Turn from high beam to low beam when there is oncoming traffic or you are following another vehicle closely enough that the high beam would shine in their rear-view mirror.
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On well-lit roads or built-up areas: Lowered headlights are sufficient around town or where this is bright street lighting.
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Approaching intersections or pedestrian crossings: Avoid blinding pedestrians or other drivers waiting to cross or join the road by keeping your lights dimmed.
How to use high beam — where there are unlit roads and no oncoming traffic, turn your headlights to high or full beam to see further ahead and provide yourself more time to react. Most dashboards have a bright blue light showing when the high beam is activated and it pays to check before you start driving.
Here are some helpful tips on high beam usage:
- Short sharp warning flashes: Forgetting to turn down your high beam can happen to anyone. It is common practice to warn oncoming drivers by giving one or two quick, momentary flashes of your high beam to let them know. Don’t keep your beam on full, as you may surprise them and cause them to react in an unexpected and unsafe way. Watch for people flashing you, as this is a sure sign you’ve forgotten to switch your headlights down, or forgotten to turn them on.
- Look to the side: Avoid looking directly at the oncoming car, when a driver hasn’t dimmed their high beam or their headlights are too bright. Lower your speed and briefly glance towards the left-hand side of the road, such as the white line or the verge, giving yourself more time to react to any potential hazards.
- Wait till the car passes: Allow the oncoming driver to fully pass by you, as switching back to high beam too quickly can blast them with your headlights unintentionally.
- Adjust for heavy loads: When carrying a heavy load or lots of passengers, your vehicle’s headlights may point upward more than normal, distracting other drivers. Look over your vehicle’s instruction manual on how to adjust your headlights if you have a manual levelling function and it doesn’t have the auto-levelling feature.
- Use high-beam assist: If your vehicle is equipped with high beam assist like the Suzuki Swift, take advantage of it. This technology automatically adjusts the headlights from low to high, based on the presence of other vehicles.
Tip 3: Control Your Speed
Roads that seem familiar in the day, can feel very different at night. It can be more difficult to judge distance and speed accurately, so it's important to stay alert, feel in control behind the wheel and stay within your lane. Here are a few things to put in to practice:
Adjust speed to match conditions — reduce your speed when encountering corners, intersections, areas with limited lighting, or changes in road or weather conditions.
Leave a safe following distance — increase the space between your car and the one ahead, to give you more time to react if the vehicle in front suddenly stops or slows down. As visibility is reduced at night, travel at a speed where you can stop within the distance that’s lit up by your headlights, or half that distance if the road doesn’t have a centreline.
Use road markers as a guide — utilise the reflective road markers and cat’s eyes (road studs) to ‘read’ the road at night and stay comfortably in your lane. On the left hand side of the road, the white road markers with white reflectors indicate a right hand bend in the road. On the right hand side of the road the road markers with red reflectors let you know a left hand bend is ahead. On some roads the centre line is lit up with white cat’s eyes or yellow ones when no passing or overtaking is allowed. On the left hand side you may see red cat’s eyes to show the edge of the road.
Tip 4: Monitor Driver Fatigue
Driver fatigue is a major contributing factor to accidents, especially at night, and can sneak up when you least expect it. Drowsiness can impair your reaction time, judgment, and concentration. So, pay attention to how you’re feeling and take these necessary steps to prevent putting yourself or others in danger:
Take regular breaks — Plan your journey with regular scheduled stops at well-lit locations like petrol stations or rest areas. Use these breaks to stretch your legs, get some fresh air, and rejuvenate yourself before continuing the drive.
Stop for a power nap, hydration and snacks — if you start feeling drowsy take a 15-20 minute power nap, drink water, chew gum or eat a light snack to boost your energy. Remember to find a safe parking spot before taking a nap and avoid consuming heavy meals as they could make you feel more sluggish.
Listen to the radio, podcast or playlist — playing upbeat music or listening to a podcast can keep your mind active on those long stretches of roads, just be sure to keep your focus on the road at all times.
Nominate a driving buddy — when travelling with a friend, encourage them to stay awake with you. Having someone to talk to or even better share the driving, makes the journey easier.
Lane safety assist systems — when considering a new car look for modern safety features like lane departure warning, weave-alert or lane keep assist. These features can help you stay within your lane and provide warnings if you show signs of drowsiness or distraction.
Tip 5: Be Mindful of Surroundings
Driving at night can be challenging, so scanning the road ahead, checking your mirrors frequently and being prepared to adjust your speed is a must. Here are things to look out for when driving:
Watch for pedestrians and cyclists — pay close attention to pedestrians and cyclists, especially in poorly lit areas and around intersections. They may be less visible at night especially if they are wearing dark clothes or non-reflective clothing.
Be cautious of animals— be extra wary when driving through farmland or bush areas and keep a lookout for animal warning signs. Animals can be more active during the night and are a dangerous hazard when they appear suddenly.
So, whether you're embarking on a scenic road trip or simply commuting after sunset, prioritise everyone’s safety including yours, by implementing these essential tips when you get behind the wheel. And, if you're looking to explore further into what to look for when it comes to the latest safety features in a new car, download our Guide to Buying a New Car today.
