Motorways at Night

Headlight Use

Always use your headlights, even on lit motorways.

  • Use dipped beam if you could dazzle other drivers or if you’re following another vehicle.

  • If you’re dazzled, slow down gently—avoid braking sharply.

Adjusting to Darkness

After leaving a bright area (like a service station), give your eyes time to adjust before accelerating.

Judging Speed and Distance

At night, it’s harder to judge how fast other vehicles are moving.

  • Signal earlier and allow extra time for overtaking or exiting.

Reflective Road Studs (Cat's Eyes)

Use reflective studs to identify lanes and edges:

  • Red – Between hard shoulder and carriageway

  • White – Between lanes

  • Amber – Between right-hand edge and central reservation

  • Green – Between carriageway and slip roads

  • Fluorescent Green/Yellow – At contraflow systems or roadworks

QUICK NAVIGATION

BACK TO CHAPTER