While driving during the day has its dangers, we often don’t consider the added dangers and risks of driving at night. From headlights shining in your eyes, rush hour and fatigue there is more on the roads to be aware of at night. Recent research published by Budget Direct shows that drivers are four times more likely to have a fatal crash due to fatigue between the houses of 10pm and dawn. Fatigue was also one of the top four causes of fatal car accidents in Australia in 2016, making up 10% of the numbers. In a 2017 article for insurance giant QBE, Jerome Carslake, Manager at the National Road Safety Partnership Program said that the ”most common causes of road fatalities and serious car accidents are fatigue, speed, distraction and alcohol or drugs.” He states that 90% of all crashes come down to a minor mistake – being distracted, fatigued or being slightly over the speed limit.
How You Can Stay Safe When Driving at Night
With driving at night often being riskier than driving during the day, there are some simple steps you can take to keep yourself and your passengers safe. Common sense of course plays a major role – learning to drive safely at night will reduce your chances of being involved in an accident, particularly if you have only just started learning to drive, or you aren’t confident of driving in the dark.
1. Turn your headlights on
Using your headlights is essential at night and when the light gets low (during rainy periods or in a dust storm for example), and you should be turning them on as the sun goes down. While using your headlights at night of course helps you see on the roads, by turning them on a little earlier, you become more visible to the drivers around you. Remember not to use your high beam lights unless there is no oncoming driver, or car in front of you.
2. Leave Room
We know it is essential to leave room between us and the driver in front to give enough stopping room should either of you need to stop in an emergency. However, at night, it is highly beneficial to leave that little bit of extra room. This will put the driver in front of you at ease and will ensure that your headlights aren’t glaring into their mirrors or into their eyes. Visibility is already less at night, the last thing you want to do is make that visibility worse.
3. Be on Alert
Unlike driving during the day when we can see what is happening around us, driving at night lowers the visibility which means you need to be even more alert, keeping an eye on other cars, animals or people on the side of road, or in storms, any debris that may be laying around.
4. Start Early
If you really need to be driving at night, for a long-distance trip for example, it is generally best to start as early as possible to help your body adjust. Waiting until after peak hour is one possibility, while you may like to leave in between that school rush and peak hour, giving you time to get away from the busy areas. Your body and vision generally adjusts better to starting in the daylight hours, and driving through sunset, dusk and then into the night, than if you left home in the middle of the night. Always remember to stop when you start to get fatigued – even if that means not pushing on to the next town and stopping where you are.
5. Clear Windscreens
One of the biggest ways to stay safe while driving at night is to ensure your windscreen is clean and free of damage. A cracked or chipped windscreen could cause light from other cars’ headlights to shine directly into your eyes, limiting your vision, while a dirty windscreen stops you seeing what is coming up. Before you do any night driving, always check your windscreen for dirt, chips and cracks.
If you’re heading out on a long drive that requires you to do some night driving, or you work late or start early, it’s best to be doing regular checks on your windscreens and windows for safety. If you notice a chip or crack, Autoscreens offers a mobile service to Perth, repairing or replacing your windscreens and windows at home or at work. Don’t put yourself or your family at risk from what is easily repaired.
Jason Squire started Autoscreens in 2010. With over 35 years of experience gained in both the UK and Australia, the company is well established as a leading provider of windscreen replacement and autoglass repairs in Perth.
His journey to becoming a certified repairer license holder status with DMIRS (and business repair license MRB3703) began many years ago. He was born and brought up in the UK – the country where his long career in the automotive industry began. In common with many of the world’s best tradespeople it all started with an apprenticeship. For Jason, this was in vehicle bodybuilding and a specialisation in vehicle conversions.
He followed that up with several additional professional qualifications, including a Grade A Vehicle Body Building Certificate from the Road Transport Industry, a GQA level 2 in NVQ Automotive Glazing and a Level 2 qualification in Joining Materials by Welding from the UK Engineer Training Authority.
During his studies, Jason was also a part-time volunteer in the Royals signals with the Reserve Territorial Army. Between 1991 and 1995, Jason completed his Phase One Signallers Course with the Royal Armoured Corps and was awarded a Certificate of Trade Proficiency as a Territorial Army Driver Electrician Class 3. Training exercises took him all over Europe. He also represented the Signals in Rugby.
From there, he joined the armed forces on a full-time basis with the Queens Royal Lancers and continued to impress with his leadership skills and willingness to broaden his skillset, during which he lived in Germany. In 1996, he graduated from the Queens Royal Lancer Leadership Academy where he was named best recruit. His time with the Queens Royal Lancers he qualified as Tank Driver, Crew Medic and Gunner.
In 1999, Jason left the armed forces to join RAC Auto Windscreens. His skillset enabled him to fast-track his career to base supervisor and lead technician working with premiere dealerships in Crewe, Cheshire.
He also continued to volunteer in a number of different areas, including as a first responder with the West Midlands Ambulance Service and a scout leader with the Scout Association.
He relocated to Australia in 2008 with his young family and spent his first two years down under as a head technician for a national windscreen company.
However, with all his experience, extensive qualifications and his abiding passion for the automotive industry, it was inevitable that he would start his own company and make his mark as an industry leader.
He started Autoscreens in 2010 and has grown the business into the leading windscreen repair and replacement company in Perth, servicing both domestic and commercial customers. Autoscreens has a certified Motor Vehicle Repairers Licence MRB3703 issued by the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.