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Home > Blog > Essential Tips for Safe Night Time Driving

Whether you take regular late-night road trips or simply navigate through dimly lit streets, mastering the art of driving in the dark is essential. Cyclists riding at night without any lights or reflective clothing, dark car parks, and reversing out of a tight spot when you’re surrounded by black cars – it can be so hard to tell where a vehicle ends and where the darkness begins. And with the skewed, awkward angles provided by rear view mirrors, it can be easy to miss another vehicle or a pedestrian. Fortunately, if you have a reversing camera, you don’t need to worry about these problems!

Stay Safe at Night With a Rear Vision Kit

Reversing cameras – good ones, anyway – are equipped with night vision capabilities and are able to function just as well in the darkness as they are in the daylight. That’s a major advantage of a camera, and it helps keep you and those around you safe when driving during the night.

Another plus when it comes to the day-night cycle and rear-view camera kits is that cameras really help you manage glare. If you’re relying on mirrors to see behind your vehicle, then you’ll often cop an eyeful of blindingly bright light – either light from the sunset (or sunrise if you’re out that early), or light from someone else’s headlights. It’s amazing how often people have their high beams on, even around the city where it’s truly unnecessary. And where high beams are necessary, for example on windy country roads, it’s easy for someone to come around a corner with their high beams on and blind you. Since reversing cameras put the image on a screen, rather than reflecting it right into your eyes, it can filter out and handle glare, instead of temporarily blinding you (which really isn’t something you want to happen when you’re on the road!)

Just like the Green Lantern oath says: “In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight”, a camera will keep you safe from the confusion of darkness and the radiance of glaring light.

More Valuable Tips to Help You Drive Confidently and Safely When the Sun Goes Down

Ensure Proper Vehicle Lighting – Make it a habit to thoroughly inspect your headlights, taillights, brake lights, and indicators. Make sure they are clean, aligned, and in good working condition. Clean headlights will ensure optimal visibility, and properly aligned lights will prevent blinding oncoming drivers.

Keep Your Windscreen and Mirrors Clean – Clean windows and mirrors are critical for clear vision, especially at night. Dirt, smudges, and streaks can scatter light and create glare, making it difficult to see. Clean your windscreen both inside and out and ensure that your side and rearview mirrors are also free from obstructions.

Maintain a Safe Following Distance – At night, your visibility is naturally reduced, and it takes longer to react to unexpected situations. Maintain a larger following distance than you would during daylight hours – this will give you more time to react to sudden stops or obstacles on the road.

Stay Alert and Stay Calm – Driving in the dark can be disorienting, especially in unfamiliar areas. Pay close attention to road signs, landmarks, and GPS directions. If you find yourself feeling stressed or anxious, take a deep breath and stay focused. Staying calm will help you make better decisions on the road.

Driving in the dark may seem daunting, but with the right strategies and a cautious mindset, it’s easier than you may think to navigate the challenges of night time driving safely and confidently. Remember, it’s not just about arriving at your destination; it’s about ensuring the journey is as safe and enjoyable as possible, no matter the time of day.

If you want to improve your safety at night, purchase reversing cameras from Safety Dave today. We have sold and distributed over 90,000 Rear Vision Kits Australia wide alone! We are safety experts, so we source and supply a huge range of safety equipment to Australians, including TPMS, first aid kits, fire safety and even AED/defibrillators. Whether you are looking for a defibrillator for sale or you need reversing cameras for a single vehicle or whole fleet we are here to help. Contact us online now or call 1800 072 338.