Night Driving

Driving at Night and Safety tips 

Just when I am idling at home and planning for upcoming long trips and journeys, I planned to put my thoughts on driving at night. I have been driving in nights for years. Initially when I bought Tiger(M800) I used to travel to Lucknow from Bareilly almost every Saturday and it used to be a night travel because we could to hit road before 5 most of the times and then major part of journey used to be with headlights on. So I started doing few things which can be helpful for everyone else also.

I am trying to put all my experience here;

1.       Enough Newspaper for Cleaning the windscreen:

I carry enough newspapers to clean the windscreen in night. It is most important to keep the windscreen clean. In nights most of the times lot of insects hit the windscreen and stick there. I feel it becomes very annoying while driving in night. I use newspaper because the ink works as a good glass cleaner. While cleaning the windscreen please run the hand in one direction not in circles, try to clean from top to bottom. Don’t forget to clean the rear screen as well; it’s not just the front screen which needs cleaning.

2.       Enough tea breaks:

When you decide to drive in night, you need to have an active mind and for that I suggest

3.       All lights MUST be working:

Check if all the lights are working and keep some spare bulbs.

4.       Be a follower:

This is something I do. I try to follow a vehicle at a safe distance. Backlights work as a great guide in night.

5.       Proper use of low beam and high beam:

Please use the headlights sensibly. Even if some nerd does not understand how to use headlights be sensible and does not switch to high beam for full journey.

6.       White line is the lifeline:

Follow the white lines; they work as lifeline in night driving. Lot of people try to drive keeping the right wheel on the right side of the center white line, which I feel is not correct practice though easier to drive. Try to be in your lane and follow the white lines.

7.       Avoid oncoming glare:

Obviously, you will meet a lot of idiots who do not believe in lowering the beams, in those situations try to see the left of the center white line on the road. This will reduce the glare while keeping your sight on the road ahead.

8.       Car preparation:

·         Wiper blades should be in working condition

·         Wiper water should be full and can add shampoo

·         Spare wheel and jack

·         Spare bulbs

·         Newspapers

·         Enough to eat

·         Music: no slow music and don’t play on high volume