Driving at night: headlights, glare and dark-evening tips for learners

By Alma Driving School · Updated 4 November 2026 · 6 min read

The clocks went back on 25 October, and in Doncaster the sun now sets before 4:30pm. By mid-December it sets at about 3:44pm, so many after-school and after-work driving lessons now happen in the dark. That is a good thing. Driving in the dark with an instructor beside you is the safest way to learn it, and the Highway Code expects you to adjust how you drive once the light goes. Here are our tips for driving at night, whether you learn in a manual or an automatic car.

Why is driving at night harder?

• You see less. Your headlights only light part of the road in front, and your peripheral vision is weaker in the dark.
• Speed and distance are harder to judge. The Highway Code warns that it's harder to judge speed and distance at night, especially when overtaking.
• Glare. Oncoming headlights, streetlights and wet roads create glare that can leave you briefly unable to see.
• Other road users are harder to spot. Pedestrians in dark clothing, cyclists and motorbikes can appear late.
• Tiredness. Your body expects to wind down when it gets dark, and fatigue slows your reaction times.

Rule 125 of the Highway Code is simple: reduce your speed when driving at night, because it's more difficult to see other road users.

What the law says about lights at night

The Highway Code defines night as the period from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise. Roads with lit street lighting usually have a 30mph limit, or 20mph in Wales, unless signs say otherwise.

When to use dipped headlights and full beam

Dipped headlights are your normal night-time setting. They light the road ahead without dazzling oncoming traffic, so use them on lit streets, in towns and whenever other vehicles are around.

Full beam (main beam) is for dark, unlit roads with no one ahead of you and nothing coming the other way. Switch back to dipped headlights:

• as soon as you see oncoming headlights
• when you're following a car in front, so your beam doesn't glare in its mirrors
• when you're overtaking, until you're level with the other vehicle
• when you see pedestrians, cyclists or horse riders, who can be dazzled too

A blue light on your dashboard tells you full beam is on. Learning where this switch is matters on test day too, because "show me how you'd switch on your dipped headlights" is one of the official show me, tell me questions.

How to deal with glare and dazzle from oncoming headlights

Glare from headlights is the part of night driving learners find most unsettling. If you are dazzled, Rule 115 says to slow down and, if necessary, stop.

• Don't look directly at oncoming headlights. Look slightly to the left, towards the kerb or the white line at the edge of the road, and keep the car in your lane.
• Use your mirror's night mode. Most rear-view mirrors have a tab or an auto-dimming setting that cuts glare from the car behind.
• Keep the windscreen clean, inside and out. A smeary windscreen spreads light and makes glare much worse. Keep your screenwash topped up.
• Never flash your lights back. Rule 110 says only flash your headlights to let other road users know you're there.

Our tips for driving at night safely

1. Check your lights before you set off. Walk round the car to check headlights, tail lights and indicators. A blown bulb or misaligned headlight is an MOT fail and a hazard.
2. Give yourself more time. Leave a bigger following distance from the car in front, at least the two-second rule and more in the wet.
3. Look further ahead. Watch for the glow of headlights over a hill or round a bend, and for reflective road studs (cat's eyes) showing the shape of the road.
4. Expect pedestrians and cyclists. Near schools, pubs, takeaways and bus stops people step out between parked cars.
5. Take regular breaks. The Highway Code recommends a break of at least 15 minutes after every two hours of driving. If you feel sleepy, stop somewhere safe.
6. Get your eyes tested. If you struggle with night vision, see an optician. If you need glasses to drive, wear them at all times, and never use tinted lenses at night.
7. Turn down the dashboard brightness. A bright sat nav or infotainment screen ruins your night vision. Most cars have a night mode.

Driving in the dark around Doncaster

The roads you'll practise on in Doncaster change a lot after dark. Town centre streets and most residential roads are lit and have 30mph limits. Once you head out on the country lanes towards villages like Tickhill, Barnby Dun or Thorne, many roads are unlit and the national speed limit applies, which is where full beam, bends and oncoming headlights all come into play.

We also cover the M18 and A1(M) on motorway lessons. Since June 2018 learner drivers in England, Scotland and Wales can drive on motorways with an approved driving instructor in a dual-controlled car, and a motorway at night is a good lesson in lane discipline and keeping your distance.

Can new drivers drive at night in the UK?

Yes. In England, Scotland and Wales there are no restrictions on driving at night, as a learner with a qualified supervisor or after you pass. Northern Ireland is different: its graduated driver licensing rules, which started on 1 October 2026, include a six-month night-time driving restriction for new drivers under 24. If you've just passed in Doncaster, the safest step is to build up night driving gradually, starting with roads you know.

Frequently asked questions

When driving at night, what is most important?

Being able to see and be seen. Use dipped headlights from dusk, keep your windscreen clean, slow down and leave a bigger gap to the car in front, because it's harder to judge speed and distance in the dark.

How do I reduce glare from oncoming headlights?

Don't look directly at the lights. Look towards the left-hand edge of your lane, keep your windscreen clean inside and out, and slow down or stop if you're dazzled, as Rule 115 of the Highway Code advises.

When should I use full beam?

Only on unlit roads when there's no vehicle in front of you and nothing coming towards you. Dip your headlights as soon as you see another road user, so you don't dazzle them.

Can I have driving lessons in the dark?

Yes, and it's worth doing. We teach lessons into the evening in winter, so you can practise headlights, glare and unlit roads with an instructor and dual controls before you drive alone.

Can I drive after 4 hours of sleep?

It's not a good idea. The Highway Code says not to begin a journey if you're tired, because tiredness slows your reactions and makes it harder to concentrate. Postpone the drive or the lesson if you can.