driving or reversing at night

P bar Y Safety Consultants Alberta Canada

Driving or Reversing at Night

Where did he come from?


Most Drivers

• Most drivers are not aware of the dramatic difference that darkness can make in their ability to cope with many situations. It greatly impacts the way we see our surroundings, can increase feelings of weariness, and also makes us more vulnerable to roadway hazards. Following the preceding suggestions should make driving at night safer for you and fellow drivers.


Driving at Night

• It not just part of your journey management plan, it is part of pre-job site hazard assessment and hazard ID’s

• Why do we talk about reflective clothing at night


Test time pick the proper answer

What is the best way to check for hazards before reversing your vehicle:

Relying only on the outside mirrors.Turning to look over your shoulders.Relying only on your inside mirrors.Walking around your vehicle before reversing.


Night is more than no light

• The biggest difference between night driving and driving during the day is the difference in visibility. It sounds obviously, but when driving at night, your ability to see ahead, and the ability of other road users to see you, is reduced.

• Most urban roads are lighted. Move away from an urban centre, even on to a ring road and you will find that a majority of roads have no lighting other than cats eyes - reflective studs which mark the centre of the road.


Working at NightVisibility is greatly reduced at night.

Your risk of getting injured or killed increases in the dark.

Drivers may be more tired, sleepy, and less attentive.

Hazards & Problems:• poor visibility• glare off lights• adverse weather

conditions• tired drivers• inattentive workers


I didn’t see him I didn’t see him


Anyone can drive a truck forward...

• It's easy, and at night headlights make it even simpler. It's a lot tougher to navigate a vehicle in reverse, especially at night.


Working at Night

• being aware of your surroundings at ALL TIMES• wearing High Visibility Apparel• arranging good work area lighting• setting up proper traffic controls• knowing the traffic flow plan/pattern

Protect yourself when you must work at night by:


If you use a spotter


Blind Spots or Areas

Example: this mapping diagram shows the blind areas around a Ford F-800 dump truck.

8 ft in front and 16 ft in rear are the most hazardous areas.

The driver side door area is the only zone within 8 feet of the dump truck that is safely visible.


Five ways to prevent an injury


Death may occur

Nighttime driving only accounts for 25% of all driving and there is usually significantly less traffic during these hours. However, driving at night is more of a challenge than many people think. It is also more dangerous: • Traffic death rates are three times greater at night than during the day • 55% of all driving fatalities occur after dark • 62% of pedestrian fatalities occur at night

Despite these figures, many of us are not aware of the unique hazards or special precautions associated with night driving.


Thing disappear

• Are your lights adjusted properly

• Are your back up light working

• Are you using more than your mirrors

• Look 360 Degrees around your vehicle


Why is Night Driving So Dangerous?

• There are several factors that increase the risk of a traffic accident at night:

• • Poor visibility: Visibility is obviously much more limited during night driving. We become completely dependent on artificial sources of light to guide us. Headlights allow us to see a small portion of the road ahead, but our peripheral vision is not as sharp. Darkness also makes it more difficult to gauge distances and movement.

• • Fatigue: Exhaustion dulls the concentration of drivers and slows their reaction time. Drivers are least likely to be alert between 3:00 AM and 7:00 AM. Fatigue is also likely to set in at a driver’s normal bedtime.


If you go its at a snails pace


Rule Number One

• The first rule of driving on roads that have no lighting is • never drive at a speed where you would be unable to

stop within the distance your headlights show to be clear.

• The lights on a truck have two purposes: they help you see at night and they help other road users see you. You don't have to wait for the nighttime before you turn on your truck lights or for that matter until the street lights come on. If light levels dip, whatever time of day, then turn on your lights. It is certainly wise to have your lights on a dusk approaches.


Rule Number Two

• If you reverse you ALWAYS HONK TWICE


It is more than dark

• When driving on unlit roads and when no other traffic can be seen ahead of you, you should turn your headlights on full beam. When you see a vehicle, pedestrian or cyclist approaching you must turn the headlights to dip. Remember the Highway Code states - use any lights in a way that would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.


Dazzle is a risk

• One of the biggest night time hazards is dazzle, caused by the light from on-coming headlights.

• For newly qualified drivers, driving at night for the first few times can be a shock to the system, especially in busy traffic on unlit roads.

• During the day, light is pretty well evenly distributed but at night intense light sources cut through the black making it hard on your eyes and sometimes even acting to disorientate you. This light also causes dazzle.


Safety Tips for Nighttime Driving:

There are several precautions that can be taken to reduce the dangers of driving at night: • Limit your speed and increase your following distances at night. • Avoid “overdriving” when traveling at night. Never drive so fast that you are unable to stop within the distance that you can clearly see with your headlights. For most vehicles this distance is no more than 350 feet when the high beams are in use. During poor weather conditions, this distance can be much less. • Use your headlights from sunset until sunrise and during periods of rain or snow. When in doubt as to whether you should use your lights, turn them on.


Dazzle the Crowd not the Drivers


To avoid dazzle:

• Never stare at oncoming headlights. Place your gaze slightly to the left-hand side of the road. If you are having difficulty seeing ahead you should pull over and stop.

• You can be dazzled from behind, from light reflected in your interior mirror. To ease this dazzle you should adjust your interior mirror. Many modern interior mirrors have an anti-dazzle setting which can be switched to easily.

• Try and anticipate when oncoming headlights may reduce your vision. If you think you're likely to be dazzled then slow down.

• Be aware that brake lights can also cause dazzle. Don't keep your foot on the brake pedal if waiting at a junction or queuing in traffic, except in fog.


A little TLC goes a long way

• truck lights need to be cleaned regularly. Light covers that are covered in grime can prove to be ineffective. You will find it harder to see the road and other road users will find it harder to see you.

• Clean your windscreen regularly and make sure you have a good windscreen washer concentrate in your windscreen washer reservoir. A clean windscreen will reduce dazzle.


If you don’t follow your safe driving practices at night the risks can be fatal

driving or reversing at night

Leadership & Management

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fellow drivers

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dump truck