The hours of darkness are some of the most dangerous times to be on the roads. Yet, as winter deepens, darkness falls earlier and daylight arrives later, making it more likely you drive in the dark.
The following tips can help you to stay safe:
Have a good set of working lights
Upgrading your bulbs to something brighter can make a big difference. Just be sure that your upgrades are legal. Sort any faulty wiring that may cause your lights to flicker or fail and consider replacing a light casing that is heavily scratched. Be sure to keep your lights’ lenses clean, too, as winter build-up on the road can soon leave them dirty and less efficient. Also, ensure the beams are correctly aligned.
Recognize when you are too tired to drive
Winter and the increased hours of darkness can cause people to feel sleepy. Just think about how bears and many other animals hibernate. Driving when tired is always risky, no matter what time of day, but as darkness already makes it harder to see things, driving when tired at night is a particular worry.
Sometimes, the wisest decision is to leave the car parked up, and walk, call for a lift or a cab or postpone your trip for another time.
Check the weather forecast
Winter nights increase the chance of ice or snow on the roads. Be extra careful if traveling before the gritters or other vehicles have gotten around to thawing a particular stretch of road. Learning which areas tend to be problematic is also wise.
Taking these steps can reduce the risk of a crash, but they can still happen. Learning about your legal options will be crucial in such an event.