Cornwall drivers over 60 asked what makes night driving harder

You know the moment. A car rounds the bend ahead, its headlights fill the windscreen, and for a second or two the lane just disappears.

If you’re over 60 and drive in Cornwall, the people planning the county’s roads want to hear about it.

Age Friendly Cornwall and Cornwall Council’s Transport team have launched a short survey asking older drivers what makes driving in the dark harder for them. It went live as the clocks went back and runs up to Road Safety Week, which takes place from Sunday 15 to Saturday 21 November.

What the survey asks

The questions cover headlight glare, unlit roads and driving in bad weather. There is also a question that goes beyond the car itself, asking whether dark evenings stop people doing the things they enjoy.

Responses are anonymous and the whole thing takes less than three minutes. The council says the answers will help shape its road safety work, transport planning and advice.

Why glare can hit harder with age

Cllr Dan Rogerson, Cornwall Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “As the nights draw in, darker driving conditions can affect vision in all sorts of ways.”

He explained that headlight glare usually only lasts a moment and can catch out any driver. But older drivers are more likely to be affected because of changes in eyesight that come with age.

The council also points out that road casualties across the UK rise when the clocks change, and the effect is greater for the most vulnerable road users.

Dark evenings and staying connected

For Cllr Jim McKenna, Cabinet Member for Adults and Chair of Age Friendly Cornwall, the question is as much about wellbeing as it is about roads.

He said getting out to see friends, go to clubs and take part in community life is a big part of living well in later life.

“We want to understand whether dark evenings get in the way of that for people, and we can only do that by asking,” he said.

11 ways to make night driving easier

Alongside the survey, the council has put together a list of simple steps that any driver can take, whatever their age.

1. Clean your windscreen inside and out. Dirt, dust and smears can make glare from the sun and headlights worse.
2. Check your lights. Before you set off, make sure your headlights, sidelights, brake lights and indicators are all working.
3. Leave a safe gap. More space around your vehicle gives you more time to react if something unexpected happens.
4. Dim your dashboard. Turning down the dashboard brightness can cut distraction and help you see the road ahead.
5. Think about your glasses. Anti-reflective lenses can reduce glare and eye strain. Check with an optician before using tinted or filtered lenses.
6. Look away from oncoming lights. When a vehicle approaches with dipped headlights, look towards the left-hand edge of the road until it has passed.
7. Use your mirror’s anti-dazzle setting. It cuts glare from vehicles behind you.
8. Get your headlights aligned. Properly aimed headlights help you see better and are less likely to dazzle others.
9. Use full beam with care. It helps on unlit roads, but dip it when you’re approaching or following other vehicles.
10. Allow extra time. Don’t rush. Arriving a little late is safer than taking risks.
11. Plan night journeys. Where you can, stick to familiar routes and make sure your vehicle is in good condition before you travel.

How to take part

The survey is on the council’s Let’s Talk Cornwall site. You can fill in the driving in the dark survey here, and more detail is in Cornwall Council’s announcement.

It closes on Saturday 21 November, the last day of Road Safety Week.