How Do I Get Over My Fear Of Driving At Night? Our Top Tips And Advice
In both NSW and VIC, learner drivers under the age of 25 and 21 respectively, must record 120 hours of driving time in a logbook – including 20 hours of driving at night. Fear of driving at night is common in learners, but to get your log book hours and drive safely in the future, you need to overcome the fear of driving at night.
How? Here are a few tips from LTrent Driving School on how to overcome driving anxieties and driving phobia at night.
1. Get Plenty Of Daytime Driving Experience First
You’ll need to learn how to drive at night. But that doesn’t mean you need to learn how to drive at night right away! This may only make your fear of driving at night worse – if you try to drive at night with only a few hours of driving experience under your belt, you’re liable to have a panic attack and lose control of your car.
So make sure you have an understanding of the basics of driving before you even try to drive at night. Consider logging 50, 60, or more hours of daytime driving. Once you’re confident about your daytime driving skills, it’s time to move on to night driving.
2. Start Slow – Practice On Familiar Roads, Or Head To A Rural Road Or Industrial Area
If you drive in one area of town a lot during the day, consider going there at night, too. Since you’ll already be familiar with the area, you will not have as much to worry about while driving.
Also, driving around rural areas, suburbs, or industrial zones later at night is a great way to get some practical night driving experience without too many other drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, or other things that may make you nervous.
3. Make Sure Your Headlights Are Bright And In Good Shape
If your car is older, its headlights may not be bright due to old, worn-down bulbs Or, scuffs and scratches to the lenses could reduce the brightness and intensity of your headlights.
Your headlights are what let you see your surroundings clearly, so make sure they are bright and in good shape. Being able to see everything around you at night will make you a lot more confident.
4. Slow Down And Pay Attention To Your Surroundings
Even once your night vision adjusts, you’ll never be able to see as much at night as you can during the day. So adjust accordingly. Make sure you stay within the speed limit. Pay attention to your surroundings, and stay alert.
5. Don’t Drive While Tired
You should avoid driving really late at night as a learner. Only drive when you’re well-rested and ready to focus on driving. Tired or drowsy driving may result in a higher risk of an accident.
Get Night Driving Instruction From LTrent Driving School – Book Today!
At LTrent Driving School, we’re here to help learner drivers overcome their fear of nighttime driving. Book a lesson online now to work with a professional instructor, learn more tips for night driving, and get the assistance you need. Learner Drivers can also complete the Safer Drivers Course with us which accounts for 20 of your logbook hours driving at night.