What Are the Rules for Driving at Night?

Driving in the dark feels very different from driving in daylight. You can see less, distances are harder to judge, and oncoming headlights can be dazzling. The good news is that the rules are clear, and with the right habits night driving becomes much easier.

This guide covers the rules for driving at night in England, using the Highway Code and GOV.UK, with practical advice for learner drivers.

Using headlights at night

The lighting rules are in the Highway Code (Rule 113). In summary, you must:

• Keep your sidelights and rear registration plate lights lit between sunset and sunrise
• Use headlights at night, except on a road with lit street lighting. These roads are generally limited to 30 mph in England
• Use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced

The Code defines night as the period between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise. It also says you should use dipped headlights at night in built-up areas and in dull daytime weather, so that you can be seen. In practice, most drivers simply switch their dipped headlights on whenever it gets dark, and many cars have automatic lights that help with this.

Dipped headlights and full beam

Dipped headlights light the road ahead without shining into other drivers’ eyes. Main beam (full beam) lights up much more of the road, but it can dazzle. The Code says you must not use any lights in a way that dazzles or causes discomfort to other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders (Rule 114).

When to use fog lights

Fog lights are only for poor visibility. According to Rule 114 and Rule 236, you must not use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced, and you must switch them off when visibility improves. This is because they dazzle other road users and can hide your brake lights.

Seriously reduced visibility generally means you cannot see for more than 100 metres (328 feet). Heavy rain, fog and falling snow can all cause it, and it can make night driving harder still. A clear night with no fog is not a reason to use fog lights.

Driving on unlit roads

Country lanes and unlit roads are where night driving feels most different. There are no street lights to show the road ahead, and you rely on your own headlights. The Code says that a 30 mph limit generally applies to roads with street lights unless signs show otherwise, so a road without street lights may have a higher limit. The speed limit is a maximum, never a target (Rule 124).

On unlit roads you should:

• Use dipped headlights, or main beam when no one else will be dazzled
• Slow down for bends, junctions and dips where you cannot see far
• Watch for pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and animals, who can be hard to see
• Expect to see less of the road edge and road markings than in daylight

Dealing with glare

Bright headlights from oncoming vehicles, or from a vehicle close behind you, can be dazzling. The Highway Code (Rule 115) says that if you are dazzled by oncoming headlights, you should slow down, and stop if necessary.

Practical tips that instructors commonly give include:

• Avoid looking straight into the lights; look towards the nearside edge of the road instead
• Keep your windscreen clean inside and out, as dirt and smears scatter light
• Use your interior mirror’s anti-dazzle setting if it has one
• In stationary queues, apply the parking brake and take your foot off the footbrake once the traffic behind has stopped, which reduces glare for the drivers behind you (Rule 114)

Speed, stopping distances and visibility

The rule to remember is simple: drive at a speed that lets you stop well within the distance you can see to be clear (Rule 126). At night the distance you can see to be clear is often much shorter, so a speed that feels comfortable in daylight can be too fast in the dark.

The Code also recommends at least a two-second gap behind the vehicle in front on high-speed roads, at least doubled on wet roads. For more detail, see our guide to stopping distances. Remember that the same speeding penalties apply at any time of day, as shown in the Highway Code’s penalties table.

Tiredness and night driving

Tiredness is a real risk at night. The Highway Code (Rule 91) says driving when tired greatly increases your risk of a collision. It advises you to:

• Not begin a journey if you are tired
• Avoid long journeys between midnight and 6 am, when natural alertness is at a minimum
• Take a break of at least 15 minutes after every two hours of driving
• Stop in a safe place if you feel sleepy

Alcohol is another risk after dark. If you want to read more, see our guide to the legal definition of drink driving.

Night driving tips for learners

GOV.UK says that when you are learning to drive you can drive at any time, day and night, as long as you are supervised and display L plates. The first time in the dark can feel unfamiliar, so it helps to build up gradually:

• Start on roads you already know well
• Ask your instructor to talk you through the controls for your lights before you drive
• Practise dipping your headlights until it is automatic
• Leave extra distance and drive more slowly than you would in daylight
• Make sure your lights are working and clean before a journey; the Code (Rule 97) says your vehicle must be legal and roadworthy
• If you need glasses or contact lenses to drive, wear them, and speak to an optician if you find it harder to see in the dark

Checking your lights is also part of the vehicle safety questions on the driving test, so it is useful to know them. Our show me, tell me page explains these questions. If you feel nervous about the dark, our page on support for nervous drivers may help. An automatic car also means no clutch or gear changes to manage, which leaves you more attention for the road, one reason many learners choose automatic driving lessons.

Common mistakes and penalties

• Leaving main beam on when other vehicles are approaching or in front of you
• Forgetting to switch lights on at dusk, in dull weather or when it starts to rain
• Leaving fog lights on after visibility has improved
• Driving too fast for what you can see, so you cannot stop in time
• Staring into oncoming headlights instead of slowing down
• Driving when tired without taking breaks

The lighting rules marked MUST in the Highway Code are legal requirements, and the Code refers to the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989. The penalty depends on the offence and is decided by the police and courts, so we have not quoted a fixed amount here. Lighting problems can also affect whether a vehicle is roadworthy.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to use headlights on a road with street lights?

The Code says you must use headlights at night except on roads with lit street lighting, which are generally limited to 30 mph. It also says you should use dipped headlights at night in built-up areas, so that you can be seen.

When can I use full beam?

Only when it will not dazzle other road users, such as on an unlit road with no vehicles ahead or approaching. Dip your lights for oncoming traffic and when following another vehicle.

When should I use fog lights?

Only when visibility is seriously reduced, generally when you cannot see for more than 100 metres. Switch them off as soon as visibility improves.

What should I do if I am dazzled?

Slow down, and stop if you need to. Avoid looking directly at the lights.

Can learner drivers drive at night?

Yes. GOV.UK says you can drive at any time, day and night, while learning, as long as the rules for supervision and L plates are followed.

Is it harder to drive at night?

It can be, because you can see less and judge distances less easily. Driving slower, leaving more space and planning ahead all help.

Quick checklist

• Lights on between sunset and sunrise, and headlights at night on unlit roads
• Dipped headlights when other vehicles are near; main beam only when no one will be dazzled
• Fog lights only when visibility is seriously reduced, and off when it improves
• Speed low enough to stop within the distance you can see to be clear
• Windscreen, mirrors and lights clean and working
• Breaks every two hours, and avoid driving when tired