British motorists have been urged to drive in the dark this August to prepare for longer evenings in the Autumn and Winter. Petrol, diesel and electric vehicle owners have been told that driving at night can be a “completely different experience” from the day.
Those living in rural areas are likely to be most affected, with country lanes often having “limited street lights”. Instead, road users have been urged to put the hours in ahead of next month when sunset will fall as early as 6:30pm. Just one month later, when the UK’s clocks go back, sunset could be closer to 5pm just as people are leaving the office to head home.
The RAC said: “Those long summer evenings are long gone and as the days get shorter you’ll be doing a lot more driving in the dark. If this is your first autumn driving, or even if you just lack confidence on the roads after dark, why not try and build up some practice?
“Driving in the dark can be a completely different experience to what you’re used to, especially in rural areas with limited street lights, so it’s always a good idea to get some hours under your belt before undertaking any longer journeys.”
Driving at night can be particularly risky for older drivers, with individuals losing their night vision ability later in life. A 50-year-old driver is likely to need twice as much light to see compared to a 30-year-old road user.
Meanwhile, the dark could be an issue for older road users with cataracts or other serious eye diseases. In the evening fatigue is likely to increase with road users more at risk of drifting off while behind the wheel.
This can have serious safety ramifications with drivers generally urged to pull over and get some rest if they start to feel themselves losing concentration. The AA stressed road users could be tempted to put their foot down after hours as roads will be generally clearer and less congested.
They said: “Typically, there are less cars on the road at night, so you may be tempted to speed. Always be aware of how fast you’re going and slow down if the speedometer needle is creeping up. Don’t rely on street and other car lights to guide you, and drive more cautiously.”