Winter & Dark Nights Are Coming – Drive Safely in Sussex

drive-safely-leaflet-sqDark Winter Mornings & Nights Are Coming Once again in Sussex and by the end of this month with the clocks now having gone back we will be plunged into darkness by 4pm.

Drivers are urged by the services to take extra care whilst driving and to ensure all their lights are working property and windows are clean and clear.

Traffic death rates are three times greater at night, yet many of us are unaware of the hazards that night driving poses or effective ways to minimise the risk.

It is therefore all the more important to prepare for your journey and take sensible safety precautions to protect you and your passengers & those around you, remember there can be ice or fog about.

sussex-snowStart out by ensuring the vehicle is roadworthy, Check all your lights for blown bulbs, check tyre tread & air pressures, oil levels, fill the screen wash tank and check the windscreen wipers & demist heater is working.


When driving at night follow these tips on safer driving:

Use your lights responsibly – Turn headlights on one hour before sunset and leave on for at least half an hour after sunrise to make it easier for other drivers to see you in early twilight.
Use your high beams sparingly at all times but in fog use low beam headlights in conjunction with fog lamps.

  • Avoid glare – Don’t look directly at oncoming headlights and use the day night shift on the rear view mirror to prevent glare from traffic behind you.
  • Keep all windows and headlights clean – Dirty windows diffuse light and can increase glare, making it more difficult to see, while dirty headlights can reduce efficiency by as much as 90 percent.
  • Be alert – Look for flashes of light at hilltops, curves and junctions that may indicate the headlights of approaching vehicles.
  • Increase your following distance – Increasing your distance by four to five seconds can make it easier to spot potential problems on the road and give you more time to react safely.
  • Avoid fatigue – Night driving can be tiring, so on long journeys ensure good ventilation inside the vehicle, and take frequent refreshment breaks to give your eyes a chance to recover.
    Take a short nap or a brisk walk, or have some caffeine to help you stay alert.
  • Glasses– Anti-reflective (AR) coating reduces internal reflections in the lenses.
    AR-coated glasses also transmit more light than regular lenses which can improve vision at night.

 

Winter & Dark Nights Are Coming – Drive Safely in Sussex
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