BY SOLO INSURANCE®     Updated 12/8/25

Nighttime Driving Tips

Driving after dark is common for many folks…early risers and late-night workers included. Plus, some people don’t see as well when driving at night. The risks are many. A deer crosses the road, virtually unseen (and soon will be producing offspring). A person riding a bike or walking along the edge of the road in dark clothing is hard to notice until you are right next to them. And, of course, it is hard to tell if a road is wet or icy during cold months. No one wants to spend their evening filing an auto insurance claim, so, consider these tips for safer night driving.

Recognize the Risks

To be safe on the road, recognize that the risks are numerous. Even drivers with years of experience are more likely to be in an accident at night. Remember, people’s depth perception is off at night because they can’t see the color as well. Peripheral vision is not as clear in low light. For these reasons, give yourself more room between your vehicle and the others. It’s also okay to slow down a bit. Both of these things give you more ability to avoid an accident because you have more room to react and stop. It’s not always about your driving, but the other drivers on the road near you.

Ensure Your Headlights Are On and Clean

We usually just get in our cars and go, but you don’t want to find out later that something’s wrong. It’s a great idea to occasionally check the lights. Also, on a used car purchase, be sure lights aim directly in front of the vehicle as they were designed. This ensures you have the best visibility. A mechanic can help.

A simple but often neglected tip: Keep them clean. Your headlights, your primary weapon to countering darkness, brighten darkened roads. As such, you want to keep them clean. Simply wipe them off when you get home when needed. Just keep a towel in the garage and some window cleaner, or wipes, for easy cleanup. Periodically check lights to make sure the bulbs aren’t dimming (don’t forget your turn signal and brake lights).

Keep Interior Lights Low

Dim your dashboard lights and turn down the brightness on any devices in the vehicle. Many newer cars have day and night settings. When you make it darker in the vehicle, you have less glare. Interior lights should always be as dim as possible for better vision in the dark outside.

Have Your Vision Checked

If you wear glasses, talk to your eye doctor about nighttime driving. Many people have difficulty seeing well at night. Prescriptions can have an adjustment to them that allows for better driving at night and night glare-diminishing lenses are also available. You’ll appreciate the difference and less glare.

Conclusion

Because night driving is riskier, just review these good reminders to help reduce the risk. Whenever possible, you want to avoid accidents (and car insurance claims).

• Keep your headlights clean and replace bulbs if not working.
• Dim your dashboard and device lights.
• Get your vision checked for nighttime driving.
• Give yourself extra space on the road.
• Slow down if needed.

Please, make safety your top priority. If you need help with car insurance, make calling Solo Insurance^® another priority (800-207-7656). Licensed and Experienced agents provide great rates without fees and answer your car insurance questions.

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