Purpose

To introduce the student to driving at night and to conditions of reduced visibility.

Duration: 60 minutes.

Learning Objectives

Performance Objectives

Actively participate in discussions and group work.

Knowledge Objectives

At night and under conditions of reduced visibility, know how to:

• carry out normal accelerating, stopping, and turning;
• select the speed;
• select an optimal following time;
• establish proper eye use;
• establish and maintain lane control;
• change lanes;
• enter, exit, and merge;
• deal with intersections;
• implement the IPDE process;
• use headlights;
• share the road; and,
• drive in a fuel-efficient manner.

Teaching Points

1. Most drivers drive too fast at night. They do not have sufficient time to react after detecting an obstacle on the road.
2. Good drivers begin to brake as soon as they think there might be an obstacle on the road.
3. Good drivers try to maintain a 12-second viewing time.

Content

Normal Accelerating, Stopping, and Turning

• Accelerating, stopping, and turning are the same at night or under conditions of restricted visibility, as in the daytime. The only difference is that if you do not have adequate viewing time, then what would be normal vehicle control will become emergency control of the vehicle.

Speed Selection

• Select your speed so that you can see at least 12 seconds ahead. To do this, you will need to vary your speed according to the illumination.
• Usually, there will be enough light in the city to drive at the speed limit. Outside of the city the moon, and the lights of other vehicles will dramatically affect your viewing time and therefore, your speed selection.
• How far you can see is significantly affected by the type of headlights you have, particularly when you are using your high beams - see Driver's Handbook.
• When vision is restricted by fog, rain, or blowing snow, having your headlights on high beam will not help you to see further. So, when daytime visibility is poor, you will generally have to drive slower than you would at night.

Following Time

• The following times are the same at night as in the daytime.

Eye Use

• The search pattern is the same at night as during the day.
• Avoid looking at oncoming headlights; look instead 12 seconds ahead in line with where you are sitting.

Lane Control

• Lane control is the same at night as during the day. However, if it is raining, the light will tend to be diffused by the raindrops. This, combined with the fact that in the cities there will be lots of distracting lights, means the use of your outside mirrors at night are less reliable than during the day. You should replace outside mirror checks with shoulder checks to determine the condition of your gates.

Changing Lanes

• The same conditions apply at night as during the day.

Entering, Existing, and Merging

• The same conditions apply at night as during the day, however, you will need to practice estimating gap sizes at night since the cues you used during the daytime will mostly be missing. Judging at night is a related but separate skill.

Intersections

• The search patterns for intersections are the same at night as during the day, however, you need to be aware that headlights of an approaching vehicle can be hidden in a background of other lights. If there are a lot of lights as a background, carry out your search pattern twice before proceeding through the intersection.

IPDE (CCT)

• At night, special emphasis needs to be placed on the identification component. Skill needs to be developed in the detection of cues such as direction of telephone poles, use of other vehicles' headlights and tail-lights. Because you will be unable to see details of the road 12 seconds away, the rule at night is to begin the execution early. That is, as soon as it looks as if a real or potential hazard could be in existence, begin to take appropriate action. This will give you more time to identify the hazard and you will be travelling more slowly at the point that you need to Predict, Decide, and Execute.

Headlight Use

• On the highway, or in unlit areas, have your headlights on high beam as often as possible.
• Dim your headlights when you are about five seconds from the approaching vehicle on a highway - see Driver's Handbook.
• Keep your headlights in correct adjustment. Check them regularly.
• While the benefits of daytime running lights are recognized, under conditions of reduced visibility, regular headlight use is recommended. Daytime running lights may give the illusion of vehicles being farther away in fog and blowing snow. In addition, cars equipped with daytime running lights do not always have taillights operating at the same time, thus creating an additional hazard of a rear end crash.

Sharing the Road

• In the city, motorcycles will be difficult to identify because they only have one headlight which can more easily blend into a background of light. Pay special attention to check for motorcycle headlights before making a lane change, a left or a right turn.

Fuel-Efficient Driving

• This is the same at night as during the day.

Assignments

Either as a driver or passenger:

1. Count, in seconds, how far you can see ahead at the speed limit, under varying conditions of illumination. Record time and illumination conditions and bring these to class;
2. Identify three "cues" that can be used to give you additional information at night;
3. Practice looking 12 seconds ahead, in line with where you are sitting, rather than looking at the headlights of vehicles approaching you on the highway;
4. Practice counting following time and closing time of oncoming vehicles; and,
5. Practice counting closing gaps at intersections.

Instructional Approaches

• Use inquiry methods.
• Solicit information from students and fill in the gaps.
• Use slides, diagrams, or overhead transparencies.

Support Requirements

Materials

• Appropriate diagrams, slides, and overhead transparencies.

Equipment

• Slide projector and overhead projector.