Driving alone at night

Yes Socksandsocks01- my sons got the anti glare on his specs, but he says its still not 100% glare free when other drivers are coming toward you with full beams on.?

I think we all agree that yellow tinted glasses can help the glare of oncoming lights and that if one no longer feels safe to drive or confident doing so at night (or at any other time) it is time to stop.

I find it much more disquieting that there are people who are afraid to return to their homes after dark.

Perhaps this is the topic that really needs addressing.

The media make a great thing of break- ins and muggings, understandably enough, but perhaps we ought all to look at the statistics for the area we live in to see how great the danger really is.

Outdoor lights on a timer or a movement sensor can provide some feeling of security. Knowing that your doors and windows are securely locked should do too.

Or could you ask your friends to give you a lift home Allsorts, when you've been out? Then they could see you safely into house as well- and leave a hall or living room lamp on before you go out too, or set a timer.Get an outside light fitted also.

Anti glare coating are available from opticians

Since I had a double cataract operation recently, night driving has improved but I stil dont like driving at night.I think its the ageing process to be honest.Dont drive if you dont feel safe.

Poor eyesight at night is I think caused by ageing eye muscles which take a bit longer to adjust as they used to. So your eyes have just got used to the fsrk when you ate suddenly faced with a bright light. They have just got used to that when they ate plunged into darkness again. Just takes these wee eye muscles a tad longer to adjust than to used to. Daytime is fine because there are very few big changes to the light.

My car has satnav and I can ring police or anyone whilst driving. At one time we were told if u think you are being followed drive to a police station. Now I wouldn't know which one was open apart from the city one

Oopsadaisy1- please do
let us know if the clip ons help- if so i might get my son some- he wears glasses but does complain of the glare from others headlights when he collects his brother from college when its dark early.(has to go via a short motorway every day)

Make sure your car is serviced regularly. Plenty petrol. A torch in your drivers door pocket. A big torch in boot. As long as you know your route you're fine. Mobile phone fully charged. Lock doors when you get in to drive. Have door keys ready to get straight into your house. Obviously if you feel unsafe stay in your car until danger has passed. Always park as close as possible to your destination in a well lit area. Ask your friends to watch you til your inside car. AA or any breakdown services are a must if you do break down tell them you're a woman alone. Personally I'd get a taxi. I have several taxi numbers in my phone. Better still prebook your return.

Like others I have been finding night driving more and more difficult with the oncoming lights giving me blind spots. I have just invested in a pair of Zeiss DriveSafe glasses specifically for night driving. The optician told me the main problem is the glare of LED lights on some cars. They are apparently only allowed to beam down on to the road in the EU and no such restrictions are in place here. I haven't tried the lenses yet but I'll let you know if they help. Otherwise I currently don't feel good driving after 4pm. I don't feel unsafe personally as I am mostly in the city and my car is well maintained for if I did find myself broken down in the middle of nowhere . I do still trust that most people are trustworthy and kind.

I really dislike driving at night as I had 2 very bad experiences coming home from a care job at 11.30pm. First was a hooded figure who ran out of an alley and attempted to jump on my car bonnet. I excellerated fast and saw in my mirror he landed on his bum in the road, shouting and swearing after me.
Second was another hooded person who tried to wave me down with his other hand in his pocket. He could have had a knife or anything. I just kept going and he jumped out of the way.
Both times I rang police from a few streets away. They would not send anyone out to investigate as no crime committed. Their advice was never to stop in that area as it was known for various crimes. I told them I would run over anyone trying to car jack or rob me and keep going.
Gave up the evening job and worked in the day after the second incident.

Sparklefizz

I wonder how I ever had the courage to venture out in the car without a mobile phone back in the day. Ignorance is truly bliss.

Ditto, especially when I was still driving a pretty ancient car and regularly had to brave the invariably very busy 6 lane section of the M25.
I certainly wouldn’t do it now, not without my considerably newer car and smartphone.

I also read a tip that on entry you should always call out «hello I’m back!

... and also call out goodbye and wave at an upstairs window when you leave.

I think it's an age thing. Loosing confidence as you get older. ?

It's because as you age the iris dilates or shrinks in reaction to light less swiftly so you get dazzled more..think there are special night driving glasses one can get..

I had a (delayed!) routine eye test in the week. I had noticed some glare at night and-as expected-I have the beginnings of cataracts ? so I’ve now bought a pair of tinted anti glare specs. As it was very foggy here Thursday I zoomed choir so haven’t tested them yet.
Also for some time I’ve used the fog lights on unlit roads and they make the side of the road much clearer.
As for reaching home, as others have said, have outside lights on and an inside lamp on a timer too so you don’t go into a dark house.
I also read a tip that on entry you should always call out «hello I’m back!»
Any lift or taxi should also be asked until you’re safely inside too IMHO

I leave the radio & hall light on when Im out at any time and have timers on a number of lamps. I have to drive down bendy, muddy, narrow country roads to get home. The bonus at night is that I can see the headlights of approaching cars in time to take avoiding action! 2 security lights pop on as I arrive. I recently left home for a hospital appt at 7.15 in the dark in the eventual rush hour and was severely spooked by speeding oncoming traffic on unfamiliar roads. I won’t be doing that again in a hurry. Taxis are out of the question as the nearest is 10 miles away and doubles the price. ?. TG for mobile phones

Decades ago - before mobiles were even thought of - I had a puncture on the M4 with 2 small children in the back while driving to see my Mum. I managed to coast along the hard shoulder until I was close to one of those orange phones that used to be available (and may still be) and rang my breakdown assistance, then had to take the children and climb up the embankment to stay out of harm's way while it got dark and traffic was thundering past.

The children were worried so we played a "Spot the red car" game until assistance arrived.

Mum was frantic when we eventually arrived as I hadn't been able to contact her to tell her what had happened.

Sparklefiz I entirely agree. Though I have had no reason (thanks heavens) to use it for any emergency purpose, on the one occasion when I left my phone behind I felt very anxious. I too try to avoid night driving,

If you are going out with friends, oe meeting them somewhere, would it be possible for one of them to pick you up, take you home, and see you inside safely? You could offer to pay for the fuel they use.

I wonder how I ever had the courage to venture out in the car without a mobile phone back in the day. Ignorance is truly bliss.

I’m all right on well lit roads, or where there are nice bright cats’ eyes. I would never drive on unlit country roads at night any more, though. My night vision is not what it was.

At night, I only drive locally, on routes I know well. It was foggy this evening but I knew the road like the back of my hand so it was fine. One of my choirs is currently rehearsing in a different place this month and I don’t feel confident enough to drive there, so I wont be going for a few weeks.

I bought some yellow tinted clip on glasses to clip over my driving glasses, I haven’t tried them yet, hopefully they will help with the glare of headlights coming towards me.

M0nica

I have more or less stopped night driving because I cannot see well enough at night. It is not glare, but I only feel I can see properly with my headlights on full.

There is nothing wrong with my eyesight for day time driving. I have regular eye checks and and always use my distance glasses. I am legally fully compliant.

This is me too MOnica, I no longer drive at night. I’m not worried about being out alone at night per se but the driving really is problematic. I shall just get taxis if necessary.