With the shorter days and longer nights, we’re all spending more time driving in the dark. Night-time driving brings a new set of challenges, so here are some of our top tips to help you stay safe on the road when driving at night.
Check your car bulbs
It’s illegal to drive with a failed car bulb – and that goes for any bulb, not just headlights. Make sure you check your bulbs regularly, and consider keeping a spare bulb kit in the car in case a bulb fails when you’re out and about. Just enter your vehicle registration number in our online checker to find the appropriate kit for your vehicle.
If you find that you need new bulbs, we’ve got an extensive range that’ll keep your lights shining and your vision clear on your journeys this winter.
You can also get bulbs fitted by our experts, so pop into your local Halfords store or autocentre to take advantage of our bulb fitting service. And if you’d like a second opinion on your bulbs, then our Free 5-Point Car Check is a great starting point.
Or, if you want to take advantage of even more free fittings, join the Halfords Motoring Club! With our Free membership, you can enjoy a free 10 Point Car Check, worth £15 or TWO free checks when you upgrade to Premium. We’ll check your headlights, wiper blade condition, tyres, battery health, and more. You can book your 10-Point Car Check online or visit a store or garage whenever suits you and we’ll carry it out while you wait.
Pick the right car bulb
Your depth perception, ability to distinguish colour, and peripheral vision are all worse in low-light conditions. Investing in high-performance headlight bulbs can help put up to 150% more light on the road, exactly where you need it. This will increase your viewing distance and make street signs and road markings clearer, helping you to spot hazards sooner.
Need help picking the right bulbs for your car? Head over to our Car Bulb Buyers’ Guide or check out our article on the ultimate list of car bulb types for a handy breakdown of halogen, LED and Xenon HID bulbs.
Buy car bulbs in pairs
It’s always a good idea to replace bulbs in pairs – that way, the light output will always be even from both headlights. This is especially important for night-time driving because it’ll give you the best chance of seeing hazards early and won’t compromise depth perception.
Ensure your bulbs are properly aligned
If you’ve ever been dazzled by other road drivers and blamed high-performance beams, chances are that the headlights weren’t properly aligned. Headlights slip out of position over time, which means that the light’s not focused correctly on the road. Make sure to get them realigned every so often to get the maximum amount of light pointed at the right point on the road.
Keep your windscreen clean
Another way to maximise your visibility at night is to keep your windscreen and mirrors clean. Make sure your screenwash is topped up on a regular basis and that you keep an eye on the condition of your wiper blades. If they start missing patches on your windscreen or making annoying squeaking noises, then it’s time to invest in some replacements.
Did you know that when you sign up to Halfords Motoring Club Premium, you can take advantage of one free fitting in one of our Halfords stores, including a pair of wiper blades, pair of bulbs or a battery fitting.
Stay alert
The danger of falling asleep at the wheel is very high when driving at night and accounts for 20% of serious accidents on motorways and monotonous roads in the UK. Make sure you’re well rested before you get in the car and take regular breaks – and remember that caffeine is no substitute for a proper rest!
Stock up on breakdown essentials
Your car’s not the only one that’ll benefit from being seen in the dark. Pop a torch and a hi-vis jacket into your boot or glove box and you won’t regret it if you end up breaking down at night.
We’d also recommend bringing along a blanket just in case it gets chilly, and taking out breakdown cover to ensure that help is there when you need it.
Keep your vehicle well maintained
To decrease your chances of getting stranded in the dark, it’s a good idea to make sure you regularly maintain your vehicle throughout the winter months.
As mentioned previously, our Free 5-Point Car Check or 10-Point Car Check, are great options to ensure your vehicle is in top condition in between your MOT and annual service. These checks can be conveniently booked online and is available at all our stores and autocentres.
We also have a range of other free checks including tyres, brakes and batteries. Browse our full range of checks online.
Remember, you can enjoy free checks and fitting when you join the Halfords Motoring Club? Join today to access a range of amazing benefits and discounts that are designed to keep you moving, keep you safe and keep you saving.
It’s free to join and you’ll receive money off your MOT, a free car health check and a welcome voucher that can be spent on any Halfords product or service.
Or choose our Premium membership for a small monthly fee (or a one-off payment) to unlock exclusive member pricing on all motoring products and services online and across our stores, garages and Halfords Mobile Experts, as well as a variety of other benefits that will help you to keep moving for less.
With so much to enjoy, this is too good an opportunity to miss!
Join the Halfords Motoring Club today at www.halfords.com/motoring-club.
Driving at night needn’t be a worry with Halfords by your side. By keeping on top of your car maintenance and ensuring key vehicle components are working as they should, you’ll be good to go for all your winter journeys.
