Like a rabbit caught in the headlights!
I like to describe night time driving as a barrage of bright lights constantly shining in your face. I think you'll agree that it's never a pleasant experience, but something we have to contend with day after day during these winter months. Glare from all those headlights can leave you feeling tired and irritated with a pounding headache - the icing on the cake after a long day at work. I'm not promising miracles, but there are a few small things you can do to improve the situation.
Here are my top tips to beat the glare:
Get cleaning
Dig out your car cleaning kit and give your car an early spring clean (weather depending, obviously!). Pay special attention to your windows. Over time the inside of your windscreen can become pretty dirty, so don't just focus on the outside. This build up can make glare at night even worse, so it's definitely worth spending a bit of time on your car to keep it in tip top condition. If you're anything like me, a good car cleaning session is well overdue!
Look after your headlights
Following on from my last tip, when you come to clean your car, make sure your headlights are spotless. The smallest trace of dirt can have an impact on the light output of your headlights. So, to get the most out of your headlights, it's definitely an area to pay special attention to. Over time, bad weather conditions can affect the plastic casing which surround the headlight bulbs. This causes a yellow film to form, which again can have an impact on light output. You can choose to have this plastic casing (AKA the lens) replaced if the build up becomes too much but this can often be a tad expensive. There is a quick fix, however, and it comes in the form of the lens restoration kit by 3M available here.
Check your eyes
OK, I admit this one's stating the obvious, but I have to hold my hands up and say I can't remember the last time I had my eyes tested. That said, I promise a trip to the opticians is on the cards soon! Having your eyes checked every couple of years will guarantee your road safety isn't compromised by blurred vision. After all, squinting to see the road ahead is never a good look!
Don't look into the light
When you're driving at night it's pretty difficult not to look directly at the bright lights as they approach. My advice is to try and instead aim your eyes downwards and to the left, following the line at the edge of the road. I've been trying this out myself and it really does make a difference - no more squinty eyes and blinding headaches!
Test your lights
On a regular basis, be sure to check all of your vehicles' lights: so, that's your car headlights (dipped and main), sidelights, indicators, brake lights and fog lights
. You can do this by asking a friend to check them for you while you test them, or shine your lights against a reflective surface such as a garage door. After all, you don't want to be pulled over by the police! Having a fully functioning set of car lights will make night time driving safe and guarantee the road ahead is lit up effectively.On the subject of headlights, be sure to align them correctly too to improve both yours, and others', driving experience on the road. If your bulbs are incorrectly aligned, the light beam can point in all the wrong directions .
So, that's my round up of glare-fighting tips. Just a few simple things can make a big difference to your night time drive, so quit the squinting and drive happy!
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