The dark nights are upon us….
The clocks have changed and the leaves are falling. It can only mean that we are heading to dark nights and winter. In 2016 a study carried out by the department of transport found that although only 15% of journeys take place between 7 pm and 7 am those journeys equate to 33% of all road deaths and injuries.
Many of us find that driving in dark conditions is much more difficult than driving in good daylight. There is an old myth that carrots help you see in the dark. However, we are not about to advocate eating carrots as a solution. But, there are many things you can do to help with night driving.
What can you do to help?
Firstly the obvious things, keep the windscreen clean and make sure it does not steam up. Make sure your headlights are working. Keep any light source in the car, like the dashboard lights and satnav, turned down. These will make a huge difference immediately.
But have you thought about your eyes? In low light levels your pupils become bigger to allow more light into the eye but that increases blur. If you have a small prescription you may not need it during the day, but at night when the pupil enlarges that small prescription can be very noticeable.
This is commonly termed night myopia (ie short-sightedness that affects you in low light levels). A pair of glasses for night driving can really help.
If you already wear glasses making sure you have a good quality anti-reflection finish on your lenses. It helps stop the glare of the oncoming lights causing extra dazzle.
Other eye conditions like undiagnosed glaucoma and early cataracts can also reduce vision at night. These may require treatment to keep your eyesight within legal limits for driving.
Where to start
Your local Opticians is a good place to start if you are struggling with night driving. Allegro Optical can carry out a thorough eye examination and check your eyes are healthy. we can advise you on any spectacles you may need and on the best spectacle lenses for your requirements. Based in Meltham, near Huddersfield and Holmfirth, Allegro Optical offers a full opticians service, both private and NHS. You can book your appointment by calling 01484 907090
