Bright sunlight

Bright sunlight

In bright conditions, glare and dazzle can cause discomfort to some drivers. Dazzle is a serious hazard. You may not be able to see for a second or two and you will have to rely on what you have memorised the scene ahead.

You may find it difficult to read traffic sign if the sky behind the sign is bright. The shape of the sign will help you.

Entering or leaving a tunnel particularly under bright conditions outside needs special care. If you are wearing sunglasses when entering a tunnel, you may be unable to see at first.

On leaving a tunnel, drive with care, particularly if you are unfamiliar with the road layout or approaching a toll plaza.

Driving at night

When driving at night, you must use headlamps even if there are street lights. This will help other road users to see you more easily.

It is very difficult to see pedestrians at night, especially when the road surface is wet and shiny because of reflections and glare. At night, drivers and pedestrians become tired and find it more difficult to concentrate, judge speeds and distances, and see properly.

Driving at night or in the halflight of dusk and dawn can be more difficult than driving during the day. Stopping distances increase with speed but the range of your headlamps does not. Therefore reduce speed for night driving so that the overall stopping distance is well within the range of your headlamps.

You must switch on your headlamps in poor visibility or during the hours of darkness including dusk and dawn.

You must dip your headlamps where there are street lights or in the face of approaching traffic.

Divert your eyes, when you meet high beams head on. Don't stare into them. Look to the left edge of the road. Do not flick your high beams to warn the other drivers. Never, however, should you get even by leaving your own high beams on. This only increases the chance of an accident.

If dazzled by approaching traffic, slow down or even stop.

Dip your headlamps when passing other vehicles or road users and also when driving close behind another vehicle so as not to dazzle the driver.

Even if your headlamps are dipped, do not drive so close behind another vehicle as to dazzle the driver.

illustration illustration
When you are following on dipped headlamps - the illustration on the left shows the right way, provided that your speed is low enough. The illustration on the right shows the wrong way as you are too close to the vehicle in front, the driver is dazzled by your headlamps through the rear window.