SHE SAYS...

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31029, 7 April 1966, Page 15

SHE SAYS...

... driving at night presents problems to many motorists, men as well as women. Some dislike night driving so much that they do all they can to avoid it.

But night driving has some real advantages. For instance, oncoming traffic can be seen a great distance away if the road is straight, and on curves the lights of an approaching car usually give warning of its presence long before the car comes into view.

Similarly, when a car is approaching from the other side of a rise, its lights can usually be seen in good time, giving courteous motorists the chance to dip their lights before the other vehicle tops the rise. Sometimes I see cars swerve towards each other when passing in opposite directions at night. This is usually caused by the drivers looking into the glare of the oncoming lights, rather than at the left-hand edge of the road. Hands tend to follow eyes, and if one looks at oncoming lights one always will tend to swerve gently towards them. One serious disadvantage of night driving is that one’s ability to judge distances and the speeds of approaching vehicles is badly affected. This must be kept in mind when overtaking, so always allow about twice as much room as you think you will need. Remember the slogan: “If you only think you can, don’t!’’

Before driving at night it is only common sense to make sure the windscreen is clean, inside and out. A dirty screen can reduce visibility more seriously than many drivers realise. Similarly, the headlight lenses should be clean, and burnt-out bulbs must be replaced at the very earliest opportunity. Reversing into driveways or garages at night is greatly assisted by a reversing light, which no car should be without. If your car has no reversing light, switch on the flashing indicators; their bright, if intermittent, light will help considerably.-