Night driving

overthehill

Talking to a friend about this problem and she made a point I hadn't thought of. Car lights are now much brighter than they were in the past.

Also much higher. Headlights used to be at the bottom of a car and just beam upwards when on full.

Now with 4x4 and similar, headlights are at eye level on dipped and beam towards when on full.

I saw the optician and he said my prescription has changed since May and my cataracts are slightly worse and the left has deteriorated quicker which doesn’t help as my eyes are adjusting to light changes at different rates which might be the reason it’s so noticeable at night. So new lens in my existing frames but it still cost lots of £££s. I just hope it helps.

Talking to a friend about this problem and she made a point I hadn't thought of. Car lights are now much brighter than they were in the past.

I've,several things lined up at night and dreading them. Will do them as I've committed. Have decided it's too much stress and will give up driving at night November until March after I've doing what I agreed to. Hate taxis since I had an unpleasant experience few years ago. So hope the tv doesn't let me down.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

I find night driving more difficult as I get older. Dazzle from other vehicles is a problem. But living in a rural area means driving is a necessity because of the lack of other transport. Taxis are too expensive.

I don’t like night driving, and night driving and heavy rain is a nightmare for me.
I’m fortunate that I can just leave work early in the winter, if I can’t get away I drive the long way home so that I don’t have to join the motorway.
I’m happy enough taking my granddaughter out and about at night, but that’s all around country lanes.

I don’t like driving in the dark much but sometimes don’t have much choice. It’s not so bad locally but I hate unfamiliar or lonely country roads. I’m short sighted and have to wear glasses for driving and find the glare difficult. There are always drivers who don’t dip their headlights on country lanes until the last moment too.

I'm glad I don't drive - so don't have to give it up. My BIL said that the maximum 'brightness' of headlights is based on the older bulbs (not LEDs) so we're almost blinded, of course, as drivers or passengers, by oncoming traffic.

I don’t normally drive in the dark. I had to drive to a local village in dark and I hated it. It was barely 4miles but has no road markings and I found cars headlights too dazzling. I have no real need to drive in the dark thank goodness however I may have to rethink going to a proposed Xmas get together with ex colleagues.

I’m so pleased to hear that I’m not the only one struggling with night driving. I used to hate driving home from work for 12 miles along a twisty main road in the winter months. Retired now so don’t have to worry anymore. I don’t mind an empty road in the dark, it’s the constant glare of oncoming lights that are the issue. I’m 63 and to think I used to laugh at my dad when he was in his 80’s and used to want to drive home from our house before it got dark.

Oh cc how disappointing! I’m hoping they can do something or I’m going to have to ask for lifts and I really hoped I could avoid that.

I did have cataracts and assumed that was why I found it hard to drive at night. However my night vision is no better now my cataracts have been removed.

I’ve just made an appointment for an eye test for just this reason. I’d not driven at night for a while but I drove from my daughters last week and it was raining and dark and I found it very disconcerting and quite frankly a bit scary as I really struggled on very familiar roads to see clearly. I know I have the beginnings of cataracts but not noticed any difference till now.
I’m guessing new glasses won’t help so I shall see what they say. Of course I won’t drive at night for now.

I've given up driving at night, I can't see the kerbs or the road markings and I was getting very stressed. It makes you realise many road markings are very poor and need re-painting.

I don’t have cataracts so presumably it’s an age thing. I certainly wouldn’t drive on unlit country roads at night any more - just as well I’m not likely to need to! After dark I used to hate - and preferably avoid - a certain section of the road between us and dd - because of an unlit, very poorly marked section of the A40.
It’s still not lit, but thank goodness the road markings and cats’ eyes are vastly improved now, so no longer a problem.

The anti glare glasses are for preventing you being dazzled and are really only helpful when driving on busy unlit roads. The ones where you get blinded by oncoming headlights every 30 seconds. If the road has street lighting you won't need them and they also won't be helpful in a quiet dark road.

I find my anti glare somewhat unhelpful in dark roads so I flick them up then and only use for oncoming car lights. Know exactly what you mean though.

I'm 71 and for the past few years have found night driving difficult. I've had my eyes tested and I'm still ok for daytime driving without glasses.
As another poster said, I'm aware of my limitations.
Since my husband's death, he was the main driver, family and friends have stepped in when night driving is needed.
When they can't, I've used taxis.

It is not always about cataracts. I don`t have cataracts. It is about something called adapt -ation ie the pupils do not readily contract as we age. You can notice that when we come indoors after being out in sun. The pupils need to be very flexible as do the irises and like most things, age does have its toll on the body

Age related adaptation plus cataracts= a lethal mix

Me too, karma and very soon shall stop driving entirely. I have never enjoyed it and only drive if essential these days. Buses and trains with the odd taxi do me most of the time.

It’s something to do with our eyes as we get older so anti glare glasses won’t make much if any difference. I still drive in the dark carefully.

I was out with a friend last week and she tried two pairs of anti-glare glasses (I was driving) and she said they made no difference. she is waiting for cataract operation.

I've given up night driving for the time being, until I get my cataract removed in February.
I had some glasses with yellow lenses which helped a bit, but can't remember where I got them. I hope you find something which helps.

I stopped driving at night even along very familiar roads. No lighting, hedges and verges each side, I stopped when I realised that I was glad to get home in one piece. I told everyone and thay all accept it

It is very much a safety thing and you should do what is right for everyone

I like daytime or dusk driving, am confident on motorways but nightime glare is completely another matter