New research has revealed that nearly one in three drivers actively avoid driving in the dark if possible.
Of those who said driving in the dark makes them nervous, more than two thirds (68%) said it’s because they don’t like having lower visibility.
Perhaps surprisingly, 18-24-year olds (37%) are most likely to feel nervous about driving in the dark, while experience counts, as only 25% of over 55s have concerns.
The survey of 2,000 motorists by SEAT UK comes as the country gets set for the clocks to go back (October 25, 2020), and the reduced daylight hours means most drivers will have to make more trips in the dark.
Lighting technology has advanced greatly recently, with auto-dip functionality and LED light systems. However, most cars on the road still use traditional halogen lights.
In contrast, SEAT claims the luminous efficiency of its latest LED bulbs mean they provide almost double the luminosity (900 lumens versus 550 lumens) of standard LEDs and even more so than halogen bulbs. The white light of an LED also allows drivers to see further into the distance.
The study comes as road safety group IAM Roadsmart is calling on the Government to scrap the annual clock change, saying the number of people killed on our roads could be reduced by 4.5%.