MELBOURNE, Australia, August 31, 2023 – Most people understand that driving on dark and dimly-lit roads can be difficult and dangerous – but a disproportionate number of drivers involved in crashes after dark are teen and novice drivers. The reason for this, according to some reports, are fatigue related, a lack of night-driving experience and the reduced times to react, or recovery from glare after being dazzled by bright lights¹.

Statistics from the Governors Highway Safety Association² in the U.S. show that young or novice drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal collision between 9 pm and midnight than during daylight hours.

Similarly, figures released by the Victorian Government and Transport Accident Commission³ in Australia show young drivers are seven times more likely than fully-licensed drivers to be killed or injured when driving in the dark, nighttime is perhaps one of the most dangerous times for Australia’s teenagers and young adults to be on the road.

Here are some key tips and lessons drivers should remember when driving at night:

Clean the inside of your windscreen

Most people think of the dirt on the outside of the windscreen as the main visibility culprit vs. the grime that’s on the inside. But both are critical to being able to see well. Frankly, it’s no picnic to be driving down the road at night only to realise the steam and grease from last night’s takeaway has left the inside of your windscreen a smeary mess. External light will hit these streaks and cause glare on the inside of the vehicle.

Use the correct lights

If you’re driving in a fog, then make sure you use fog lights where fitted. These are designed to be used in bad weather conditions where visibility is poor. They work by aiming a beam of light that illuminates the area in front of your vehicle rather than projecting a beam down the road and lighting up the fog. In addition, high-beam headlights can have the opposite effect, lighting up the fog and making it impossible to see down the road. You should only activate the fog lights at times of reduced visibility. Also, daytime running lamps are designed to improve the visibility of your vehicle to others during the day. They are not designed to replace the function of your fog lights.

Don’t look at the light

When driving at night your eyes adjust to the dimly lit cabin and the dark road ahead. Sudden blasts of light, like the headlights of oncoming vehicles, reduce the contrast in your night vision, hindering your ability to see hazards¹. To avoid being dazzled look slightly to the side of the light beam to protect your night vision. You can also turn down the interior lighting level of your dashboard to help with night vision.

Keep an eye out for animals

A lot of animals are more active at night and, for obvious reasons, they’re harder to see. One tell-tale sign will be light reflected in their eyes, which will appear as pinpoints of bright light. You’ll often see their eyes before you can see the whole animal.

Furthermore, a good habit to form while driving is to always look as far down the road as your visibility and conditions allow. Spotting hazards from a distance helps ensure you’re always best prepared for what’s ahead.

What’s the range?

Low-beam headlights generally project a beam out to around 70 metres while high-beam headlights project out to around 200 metres. Ranger, Ranger Raptor and Everest’s Matrix LED with glare-free high beam boast a clever high-beam boost function, which, when conditions are safe and right, can project a beam, with a cluster of dormant LEDs, further helping to illuminate even more of the road and any potential dangers.

Matrix LED with glare-free high beam

Advanced Matrix LED headlights with glare-free high beam work with the vehicle’s forward-facing camera, to detect head or taillights up to 800 metres away. When the system detects another vehicle, it turns off those LEDs that would otherwise dazzle other road users, keeping the oncoming vehicle, or the vehicle being followed, ‘in the dark’. While light is blocked from reaching the other vehicle, the high beam lighting keeps the area around that vehicle illuminated.

Not all roads are straight

Ford’s Matrix LED headlights also offer dynamic bending functionality (low beam only) which uses sensors to measure vehicle speed and steering angle to swivel the headlight up to 15 degrees. That’s enough ‘bend’ to illuminate most hairpin turns. In addition to dynamic bending lights, Ranger also offers static cornering lights that activate when the vehicle is turning.

Automatic High Beam Control

If your vehicle is not equipped with Matrix LED with glare-free high beam, but has Automatic High Beam Control, then this system will use Ranger’s forward-facing camera to detect head or taillights of other vehicles and switch high beam on or off if conditions allow.

Driving Skills For Life

Ford Driving Skills for Life involves practical training with expert instructors to help participants become more skilled and safer drivers. The program covers techniques that are not typically covered in L-Plate driver instruction, and is focused this year, in some markets, on the risks of driving at night on Australian roads such as emergency braking, steering and vision, cornering, parking and a ‘fatigue suit’ designed to demonstrate the dangers of driving when sleep deprived. DSFL has provided free, advanced driver education to more than one million people worldwide since its founding in 2003.

Notes:

_{¹The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, June 2017, Driving at Night Factsheet. Accessed June 2023. <https://www.rospa.com/rospaweb/docs/advice-services/road-safety/drivers/driving-at-night.pdf>}

_{²Governors Highway Safety Association, 1 May 2013, Promoting Parent Involvement in Teen Driving. Accessed June 2023. <https://www.ghsa.org/sites/default/files/2016-11/TeenDrivingParentReport%20low.pdf>}

_{³Transport Accident Commission. Accessed June 2023 <https://www.tac.vic.gov.au/about-the-tac/media-and-events/news-and-events/2022/encouraging-night-driving-practice-to-save-young-lives>}

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About Ford Motor Company

_{Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for customers and deepen their loyalty. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services. The company does that through three customer-centered business segments: Ford Blue, engineering iconic gas-powered and hybrid vehicles; Ford Model e, inventing breakthrough EVs along with embedded software that defines exceptional digital experiences for all customers; and Ford Pro, helping commercial customers transform and expand their businesses with vehicles and services tailored to their needs. Additionally, Ford is pursuing mobility solutions through Ford Next, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 177,000 people worldwide. More information about the company and its products and services is available at corporate.ford.com.}