Road trip safety tips – Driving at night

Please note the information in this article is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any decisions based on this article.

Many of our favourite camping, fishing and holiday spots are only accessible by car and are located hundreds of kilometres from Darwin. So whether you’re heading to the Daly River for a fish, taking the family to Nitmiluk or discovering Arnhem Land, chances are your road trip will extend into the evening.

Limited visibility and fatigue are factors in many accidents that occur during dawn, dusk and overnight. That’s why it’s important to adjust your driving to suit night time conditions.

Checkout some of the tips below recommended by the NT Government Road User’s Handbook.

Here are some road trip safety tips for driving at night:

1. Keep your windscreen and headlights clean.
2. Adjust your night time driving speed to the range of your headlights so that you can stop well within the distance you can see.
3. Be alert for large and small animals or birds that may be on the road or hidden in roadside darkness. Many roads in the NT are not fenced so you could encounter birds, cattle, kangaroos, pigs and camels.
4. Do not drive with your interior light on. Move the car off the road and stop if you need to find your bearings or do anything else with the interior light on.
5. In poorly lit areas, always reduce your speed and maintain a careful look out for hazards.
6. High beam can be used on any road, but you must dip your headlights to low beam when approaching a vehicle within 200 metres, or when the other vehicle’s headlights dip, whichever is sooner. You should always dip your headlights when following another vehicle.
7. Use rest areas and commercial facilities located along major roads. Rest areas are located every 80 to 120 km along major roads and are designed for road users to stop and rest when tired.

Disclaimer

This article has been prepared by TIO. Information contained in this article is accurate as at 7th October 2022 and may be subject to change. In some cases, information has been provided to us by third parties and while that information is believed to be accurate and reliable, its accuracy is not guaranteed in any way.

Any opinions expressed constitute our views at the time of issue and are subject to change. Neither TIO, nor its employees or directors give any warranty of accuracy or accept responsibility for any loss or liability incurred by you in respect of any error, omission or misrepresentation in this article.