The right night vision

12 January 2012

Road safety charity the IAM is offering weekly motoring tips from Britain’s top advanced driver, Peter Rodger. This week, he is advising on driving in the dark.

• To improve your view as far as possible, keep your lights and windscreen clean.
• Use main beam, but when other drivers are approaching make sure you dip your lights to avoid dazzling the oncoming traffic.
• Make sure you can stop safely within the distance you can see to be clear.
• If you’re feeling tired, caffeine alone is not a fix. Take a break and have a 20 minute nap.
• If an approaching car forgets to dip its lights, look beyond the lights, but to their left to avoid being dazzled as much.
• Look at how the traffic ahead behaves for clues to possible problems you can’t see yet.
• If it’s gloomy in the morning, don’t forget to put your lights on.

IAM chief examiner Peter Rodger said: “The risk of fatal accidents increases in the dark as visibility is reduced.¹ Have regular eye examinations to ensure you are wearing glasses or contact lenses if you need to.”

To help drivers stay safe this winter, the IAM has launched a new website, drivingadvice.org.uk, with traffic updates, weather forecasts and tips on how to drive safely in winter.

Tips cover rain, snow, ice, fog and wind – everything you can expect in a typically unpredictable British winter. Check it out before you travel.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Calculated from Department for Transport statistics ‘Report Road Casualties: Great Britain’ 2010 Table RAS30012 ‘Reported casualties by time of accident and severity’ figures based on three year average 2008-2010.

2. www.drivingadvice.org.uk.

3. Peter Rodger is the IAM’s chief examiner

4. The IAM is the UK’s largest independent road safety charity, dedicated to improving standards and safety in driving, motorcycling andThe commercial division of the IAM operates through its occupational driver training company IAM Drive & Survive. The IAM has more than 200 local volunteer groups and over 100,000 members in the UK and Ireland. It is best known for the advanced driving test and the advanced driving, motorcycling and cycling courses. Its policy and research division offers advice and expertise on road safety.

ENDS ALL

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