Driving After Dark

End of British Summertime[1] Spells Danger for Millions of Motorists

A new survey[2] commissioned by the Eyecare Trust and not for profit insurer Westfield Health reveals more than half of Britain’s 34 million motorists struggle to see when driving after dark, whilst many more avoid driving at night altogether.

A quarter of motorists (25%) admitted they had trouble focusing at night whilst 43 per cent said that things looked blurred when driving after dark and almost three quarters (73%) of motorists said that glare from oncoming headlights caused visual discomfort. 

So it’s little wonder that more road accidents occur at night than during the day. The adjustment to the nights suddenly beginning to draw in also seems to cause problems for drivers. A separate three-year study conducted by Zurich Connect[3] found that accidents increased by 11 per cent in the fortnight directly after the clocks go back compared to the preceding two weeks.

Kelly Plahay, Chair of the Eyecare Trust, comments: “Low light levels at night cause the pupil of the eye to become larger and this can accentuate any focusing errors – no matter how minor – causing blur. At night it’s therefore more important than ever to wear a pair of spectacles or contact lenses with an up-to-date prescription.

Kelly continues: “More than 90 per cent of information a driver uses is visual so ensuring your eyesight is up to scratch is crucial. Most people over the age of about 45 will need some vision correction to see in sharp focus. Ideally everyone should have their eyes checked every two years as your sight can change without it being obvious.”

The driving after dark survey found one in three motorists (31%) refuse to drive at night. Halos and reflections around lights and headlamps can make your eyes feel uncomfortable. The most common cause of this is a dirty windscreen (often on the inside as well as the outside) or worn-out wiper blades, although scratched or dirty spectacles can be just as bad.

Older people often find night driving particularly stressful. With increasing age, the lens of the eye tends to yellow, reducing vision clarity. Major discomfort from glare can be caused by cataracts – a clouding of the eye lens which requires specialist treatment. In England and Wales, it is estimated that around 2.5 million people aged 65 or older have some degree of visual impairment caused by cataracts.

Kelly Plahay advises: “If you are affected by oncoming headlights, try concentrating on the nearside kerb as you drive – but remember to slow down!”

Paul Shires, of Westfield Health, says: “Motorists have a legal requirement to ensure their vision meets certain minimum eyesight standards[4] every time they get behind the wheel. If you’re having trouble focusing or you’re being dazzled by glare from oncoming headlights when driving at night, it could be an indication that your vision is falling below these minimum standards.  To help you keep a clear view on the road we’ve put together the following checklist…

• Make sure you have regular eye examinations – once every two years unless advised otherwise

• Always wear a pair of glasses or contact lenses with your up-to-date prescription

• Keep a spare pair of glasses in the car if possible

• Don’t use tinted spectacle lenses, but have an anti-reflection coated if necessary

• Keep your windscreen clean inside and out and check your wiper blades for wear

• Check your car’s lights are working properly.” 

For more tips on how to see clearly when driving at night visit www.eyecaretrust.org.uk or follow @driversvision on Twitter.



[1] British Summertime ends 2am on 26 October 2014

[2] Populus surveyed 1,056 adults weighted to reflect the UK population between 15 – 16 Oct 2014

[3] http://www.zurich.co.uk

[4] www.gov.uk/driving-eyesight-rules

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