Driving in the dark

Scientists have conducted tests that show that driving for just a few hours at night has the same effect as driving when drunk. Most motorists cannot avoid driving in the evening or when dark because when daylight savings time comes, almost everyone experiences less light in driving conditions.

Most accidents that occur at night are due to tiredness and sleepiness with as many as one in three admitting to nodding off whilst driving at night. This is a serious matter so the experts who have carried out these tests want the government to impose a two-hour limit in continuous night time driving to reduce accidents behind the wheel. Cardiff University conducted a study last year that revealed if newly qualified drivers were banned from driving at night, it would save more than 200 lives a year and would reduce vehicle related injuries by nearly 2,000.

There are schemes already in place all over the world such as New Zealand, America and Australia; newly qualified drivers are only allowed a certain amount of time to drive in the evening and the more experience they gain, the more hours they can spend behind the wheel at night. At the moment there is no way to detect tiredness as they can for alcohol consumption, so proving a driver is tired and sleepy behind the wheel will be very hard.

If you must drive at night, then be sensible about it - take regular breaks and be aware of your surroundings. Opening the window or turning up the radio has no effect on keeping you awake so don't rely on these methods. Only set out on long journeys if you are not tired, if you have a passenger with you, it's even better as you will have someone beside you to give you company for the journey and keep you more alert.

There are service stations all around the country and they are free to stop at. There is usually a two hour limit to which you can stay in the car park for free but usually a half an hour rest stop is all you need for a toilet break and a warm drink. If you will be travelling a long distance, it's worth noting where the service stops are along the way as you may find that you have to stop sooner or later than you might have expected.

There is currently no word from the government about any changes going through regarding night time driving but with driving restrictions getting stricter, it's only a matter of time until a system is implemented to prevent new drivers from driving at night causing unnecessary accidents.