Daytime driving and navigating the roads when it’s dark couldn’t be more day and night (no pun intended), but when it comes to steering the wheel during an evening driving lesson or at the nightfall, it seems that the learners are not. who is ready to drive in the dark.
According to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), up to 100,000 driving test takers could take their driving test each year without practicing in the dark. Although not required, it is crucial for those learning to drive to practice getting behind the wheel and experience driving at night.
Things like poor visibility, weather conditions and compromised night vision are just some of the risks drivers face when driving when the sun is down, with 35% of all road accidents involving new drivers occurring after dark.
Is it difficult to drive at night?
Even though modern cars come with the latest headlights, that doesn’t make it any easier when the road ahead is harder to see and navigate. While dimming your dashboard and lowering your speed at night can help when driving in the dark, practicing before you become a licensed driver will definitely give you more experience when you hit the road.
Benefits of a night driving course
The DVSA encourages all learner drivers to practice driving after dark (between midnight and 5am) in order to pass their driving test and also to gain experience driving at night. Not only will driving at night during your course increase your road awareness, it will also help drivers spot potential hazards that can be dangerous when driving alone at night.
What Getting a License Says
It is essential that all learner drivers gain experience of driving at night before hitting the road alone. If these figures released by the DVSA are to be believed, it seems that drivers learning to drive for the first time need to practice driving in the dark more than ever.