Night travelling is always a challenge, requiring special attention to the safety of both driver and vehicle. Darkness limits visibility, increasing the risks on the road. To minimise these risks and make the journey comfortable, it is important to prepare the vehicle and yourself properly.
Preparing your vehicle
One of the most important aspects of preparing for a night drive is to check the condition of your headlights. The headlights should be clean and working smoothly. Take the Audi A3 8P as an example, a model equipped with advanced lighting technology, including xenon headlights. Xenon headlights are highly bright and provide significantly better illumination of the road than traditional halogen lights, making night driving safer.
Checking the headlights. Be sure to check the operation of all lamps. For the Audi A3 8P, this is particularly relevant as this model may be equipped with xenon headlights, which effectively illuminate the road and improve visibility. It is important that the brightness of the LED headlights or Xenon headlights is at the optimum level for safe driving.
Clean mirrors and windows. Good visibility through windows and mirrors is key to safety on the road. Wash your windscreen, side mirrors and headlights before travelling to avoid glare and poor visibility due to dirt. Examples of new features, such as the anti-glare side mirrors available in the Audi A3, will help reduce eye strain and ensure a comfortable ride at night.
Windscreen wipers check. Rain or wet snow can make it difficult to see at night, so make sure the windscreen wipers are working properly. Replacing the wiper blades if they are worn out is a must before any long night drive.
Accident statistics at night
According to research in the UK, the risk of getting into an accident at night is significantly higher than during the day. Here are some stats:
| Time of day | Number of accidents (per 100,000 trips) | Percentage of fatal accidents (%) |
| Day | 40 | 10 |
| Night | 75 | 25 |
This data clearly shows that the number of accidents at night is almost twice as high as during the day, and the likelihood of fatalities also increases.
The latest technology for safe driving at night
Modern cars, such as the Audi A3 8P and xenon headlight technology, are equipped with a number of systems that improve safety when driving at night. Here are a few of them:
Automatic High Beam. This feature automatically switches the headlights from high beam to low beam as soon as an oncoming car is detected. This helps avoid blinding other drivers, which is especially important on country roads.
Adaptive headlights. The Audi A3 8P features adaptive headlights that swivel depending on the direction of travel. This allows for better illumination of corners and improved visibility on winding roads.
Headlights with cornering light function. This technology activates additional light sources when the steering wheel is turned, illuminating an area that might otherwise remain in shadow. Combined with the high brightness of the Xenon headlights, this greatly enhances safety on night journeys.
‘Driving at night requires special attention to detail. The use of modern technology such as xenon and adaptive headlights significantly reduces the risks on the road. We recommend drivers always check the condition of their headlights and mirrors before every night journey.’
Preparing for an overnight journey requires special attention to both the technical condition of the vehicle and the condition of the driver. Checking the headlights, mirrors and windscreen wipers are basic but extremely important steps to avoid unpleasant situations on the road. The use of modern technology such as xenon headlights and adaptive lighting greatly improves safety, especially on country roads. Don’t forget to pay attention to your well-being before travelling – your safety and comfort on the road depend on it.