2020 has been a challenging year for all of us as Coronavirus hit the globe. The UK went into lockdown and we were all urged to stay at home. Amongst many things, driving no longer became a necessity as many of us worked from home or were put on the government furlough scheme.

Now lockdown restrictions are easing, car use is on the increase but as the evenings start drawing in how many of us are happy to go back to driving in the dark?

If you are one of the many who hate driving in the dark here are some top tips to keep you and your family safe as you adjust to driving in the dark.

Check your bulbs

As obvious as it may sound checking your lights bulbs are working properly. Having proper vision of the road will help you to see properly and therefore make you feel more comfortable. Some cars do have warning lights when a bulb has blown but it is always a good idea to check your bulbs regularly to ensure they are working correctly. It’s also a good idea to carry spare bulbs with you in case you need them urgently. You can buy replacements from Halfords – https://www.halfords.com/motoring/bulbs/

Clean your lights

Again, it may seem obvious but how many of us clean our headlights and taillights outside of a routine car clean? As autumn and winter approaches, mud and salt can easily splash onto your headlights which can not only reduce your visibility of the road but it also makes it difficult for other road users to see your vehicle.

Check your vision

Have you had an eye test recently? Eyesight is of paramount importance when we are driving and if your eyesight has been deteriorating gradually you may not have noticed any real difference but driving at night when light is reduced you may notice a big difference. If you do need glasses you can now buy special lenses that reduce glare from oncoming car headlights to make driving at night a more pleasurable experience. Visit this website for further details – https://specscart.co.uk/anti-reflective-lenses

Use your lights correctly

Main beam lights are brilliant for lighting up country roads that don’t have any streetlights but it’s very important that you don’t use them inappropriately as you could dazzle oncoming traffic and cause a serious accident. Always dip your headlights when a car is approaching and always proceed round corners with caution in case cars are coming towards you.

In-built night vision

Some manufacturers now include in-built night vision in some of their models. It is expensive technology so not all cars will have this as a standard feature. If you would feel more confident driving a car with night vision but have a limited budget why not look at older cars such as used Mercedes, BMW’s or Audi’s to see if you can get an older model which has the technology but at a price that suits your pocket.

Emergency items

Always make sure you are prepared for an emergency when you are driving. Part of your essential kit should include a torch and/or headtorch which will help you see in the dark should you need to look under the bonnet or worse, walk to a place of safety along dark roads.