It’s that time of the year again, the air gets crisper, the gloves come out, the clocks go back and the nights get longer. However, for many learner drivers, this might be a stressful transition for them. Driving in the dark is a huge part of being a driver with a full licence, so avoiding it is a huge mistake. For those who don’t particularly like driving in the dark, we’re offering some advice to overcome this fear.

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Get Your Eyes Tested

Ensuring that your vision is the best it can be is a vital part of driving in general. If you’ve never had your eyes tested, you could be putting yourself and others at risk! When you’re driving in the dark, you have limited visibility, so making sure your own vision is as perfect as possible is a great start.

Remember to De-Ice

Since it’s getting colder, ice will most likely start to frost over your windows. Remember what we said about having a clear visibility when driving at night? You have to make sure nothing is obstructing your view, including ice! The best thing to do is to make sure you have some de-icer in your car just in case.

Use Your Headlights Correctly

When it comes to using your headlights, don’t overthink it. The Institute of Advanced Motorists advise switching on your headlights just before sunlight and an hour after sun rise, this makes you more visible to other drivers on the road during the twilight hours. When driving on rural roads with no street lights, as long as there isn’t anyone coming the opposite direction, feel free to switch your lights to full beam. Once you see another drivers headlights coming the other way, dip your lights so you don’t dazzle them. If you’re faced with a driver who’s going past you with full beams, keep focused on the left side of the road and keep a steady speed.

Driving Lessons in the Dark

Some learners may avoid driving lessons in the dark because their driving test will probably be in daylight hours. Having a professional in the seat next to you when you’re driving on the road in the dark for the first time is hugely beneficial, they can offer great advice that you can carry with you after you pass your driving test.

Private Practice in the Evenings

Private practice is a great way to increase your chances of passing your driving test as an experienced driver. It’s important to experience all types of road conditions before you pass your driving test with an accompanying driver, so that when you’re out there driving by yourself, you can be 100% comfortable with whatever the road throws at you. If you’re learning to drive and want to experience driving in the dark, you can take out a policy with InsureLearnerDriver for an evening (or more) and overcome your fear! Click here to get an InsureLearnerDriver Quote Click here to find out more about Private Practice

Take Extra Care

Being extra vigilant is key when you’re on the road at night. Be conscious of cyclists and pedestrians who may be harder to spot in the dark and increase your stopping distance if you need to. Be aware of the fact that judging distances becomes a difficult task in the dark, so just take extra care when overtaking or pulling out of junctions.

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Driving in the dark is part of everyday life, so there’s no reason to fear it! Just take extra care and you’ll be fine. For more tips on staying safe on the roads, or for regular driving test tips, follow us on social media: InsureLearnerDriver Facebook | InsureLearnerDriver Twitter | InsureLearnerDriver Instagram