Pass with caution!

I love driving at night especially if it is long distance. Howe ever a lot of people have high anxiety in taking to long distance travel at night.

Sure some of the reasons like problems of break down etc. are acceptable and vary from individual to individual and condition of your car. However if you follow and develop some basic night driving techniques i am sure you will also appreciate how easy it can be.

First is the use of your head lights. Almost 80% of the time, if there is traffic on the road, I am on low beam. Proper aiming and timely use of dipper is oft ignored in favor of brighter/high wattage beams. A standard beam with 60/55 bulb is good enough if used with reason and care.

Unfortunately proper aiming of head lights is something that is associated with putting the focus in the face of oncoming driver. Rather it should be (in India) focused slightly to left of the center so that a full beam can show you hazards looming up on left. Remember that the oncoming traffic will show up any hazard on the front right as a shadow and it is the left side which is not illuminated. Unfortunately most of the time garages (and drivers) tend to focus so as to blind the oncoming driver assuming that this will lead him to dip.

What they do not realize that in such a situation the oncoming guy is more likely to drive towards the center of the road to avoid the left shoulder on his side of road which he can not see AND not dip as he is dazzled. Recall your own behavior when faced with high beams in your face and you will see why I am saying what I have said.

Courtesy in keeping your beams dipped to oncoming traffic – especially heavy traffic – will get better response that sticking to high beam. A suggestion to dip by using a flicker of high is not out of place but blinding an oncoming driver is courting trouble. This is the anxiety most people have while driving at night and it is due to your getting dazzled.

Second is using intelligent use of other guys lights. Even if you are dazzled you can use of illumination from oncoming vehicle to show you the condition of road ahead and is some thing to be learned and can be overcome by practice. If you drive carefully – not necessarily slowly – you can see hazard far ahead by using this technique. Adjust your eyes to scan left front and you can even see shadows from any obstacle (including non-illuminated or stopped vehicles) in the side reflection of beam from oncoming traffic. Do not let your eyes look directly in to the lights of oncoming guy.

Keep a look out on how tail lights of vehicle, even it is far, ahead of you proceed. A sudden flash of stop or swerve will indicate if there is any roadside hazard that they have skirted. A temporary block will indicate a jaywalker or animal crossing.

Always plan way ahead. If you are coming to a left curve dip your beams and cross check any shadows or blocks against the lights of any on coming traffic. If there is anything on the left – a cyclist perhaps – it will show as a temporary obstruction. Try and estimate how far it is likely to be vis your speed.

Similarly on a right curve try to see ahead. If there is traffic coming towards you beyond the curve their headlights will illuminate the opposite (your left) edge of the road giving you ample warning of any hazards.

In the hills the heavy traffic ahead of you slows down to a crawl and you can not safely overtake unless you are clear that there is no oncoming vehicle, During daytime this is only possible on stretches where you can see a long distance ahead. However at night the illumination or absence thereof becomes easy indicator of oncoming traffic. In the hills for a given stretch of highway even if you do not exceed a set top speed you will reach your destination faster at night than in the day.

On a undulating highway you can see a long distance away as the lights of oncoming vehicle get hidden behind the next rise but you still get incident light to help you make out outlines of any unlit traffic on road ahead. if you get behind a equally paced vehicle you can safely drive with no strain as long as you keep safe distance behind. Be aware that this can become hypnotic. See ahead for more on this.
Third is enjoying it and keep alert. There is a difference between driving at night and driving through the night. Or driving whil etired (does not matter if it is day or night). If you are not alert or feeling tired it is better to take a short break and step out of the seat even for a few moments. Driving at night ccan be a little more disorienting if you stare hypnotically only in the area just ahead of you which is very brightly lit by your head lights.

You need to use high and dip beam to define and clarify raod ahead of you and at the same time keep a look out to sides. While generally there are less stray/domesticated animals there can be other animals some of whom can cause aquite a grief, like deer or “neel gai”. Also you need to re-confirm that road ahead is clearof pot holes and such. One of the first symptoms of hypnotic trance is when you can not make out if the illuminated or white washed side markers are actually indicating a right or left curve! From far it seems one way when you realise that actually it is the other.

At such a time take a few deep breaths and pull over. Have a sip of water and stretch. If area permits and you feel the need it is advisable to catch a nap. Do not push yourself.

Lastly be aware of the area you are in. If it is considered a crime prone area then what ever your inclinations. Try not venture out for a drive through such a region. Or if you absolutely must. Move in groups.

This entry was posted on Saturday, April 19th, 2008 at 2:07 pm and is filed under Meander, Motoring. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.