Driving at night does everyone find it hard

Grumpy_chap

MikeJXE said:

What did me was the last item, could lose my sight, I rang them and cancelled. My sight is more precious to me than my life 

I am not medically knowledgeable and one anecdote does not make a good basis for anything, but that may be worth investigating the level of risk on the "loss of sight".

My Dad took exactly the same view as yourself and refused the cataract operation for exactly that reason.  His cataracts got worse so he progressed to giving up driving and then eventually virtually blind.  At that point he decided to have the operation, as he had nothing to lose.  After which, he could see again (without glasses) and said he wished he'd had it done much sooner.

I would by default take the same view on this as you and my Dad, but with my Dad's experience, I might just think again about getting it done sooner when I reach the point that this is required.

user1977

sim2335 said:

if people find it so difficult to drive at night why are there not more accidents 

There are more accidents.

chrisw

I find this thread slightly disturbing. I didn't realise there were so many people driving around at night with poor vision.

Surely if you're aware you're having difficulties driving at night, don't do it. For your sake and everyone else's.

Marmaduke123

MikeJXE said:

General_Grant said:

Bonniepurple said:

I’ve got more used to it over the years, but I still find some headlights blinding.  I tend to drive a higher up car now, and that helps, which makes me wonder how many people are driving with poorly adjusted headlights.

Narrow, rural roads are fine as you can see the headlights in advance.  It’s the fast moving unlit roads that are really hard work for me.

FWIW I’ve heard that sometimes people have found that having cataract surgery has helped enormously.  Obviously that only works if you have cataracts though!

I have cataracts that have not yet reached the stage of needing an operation but I do find that headlights are more dazzling - there seem to be rays of light being emitted and I have been told this is what happens with cataracts.  I have given up driving as I did not feel it was safe to continue.

I'm 82 and have cataracts and my optician referred me for surgery and told me I am on the borderline and must wear glasses, that was July 2021, I saw My optician agin this year and had new glasses that I wear for driving, I got to the top of the queue in August and asked to go in for what you might call a pre-op. After reading the paperwork I am going to have to sign, like, could bleed, could have complications, could need other surgery. What did me was the last item, could lose my sight, I rang them and cancelled. My sight is more precious to me than my life 

They have to tell you about any possible complications, however small the chance of them actually happening.

Perhaps you don't realise that your cararacts will get worse, and you will in fact end up virtually blind because of them if you don't  have surgery.

I've had both my eyes done this year, with a few months in between.  Nothing to worry about, it's more of a procedure than an operation. I'm  coming up for 80 and was very short sighted from a young age as well as being marginal for driving because of the cataracts. I've now got perfect distance vision and just need glasses for reading. Cataract surgery gives you your vision back.

Keep_pedalling

Bit of an expensive solution as you would need to buy a car already fitted with them but nothing can beat full matrix LEDs. My ID3 is the first car I have had with them and they are brilliant. I don’t do that much night driving but at this time of year our weekly trip to our daughter’s requires us to drive back in the dark on a mixture of country roads and A roads and I just leave them on auto the whole way back.

Not only do they light up the road ahead they illuminate quite a bit of the surrounding area, so if there are wild animals about you are unlikely to be surprised by one running out in front of you. That still works when you are following another vehicle as the light is only blocked in the immediate area of that vehicle. Works well fo oncoming traffic as well, I have yet to be flashed by someone coming the other way. 

sevenhills

chrisw said:

I find this thread slightly disturbing. I didn't realise there were so many people driving around at night with poor vision.

Surely if you're aware you're having difficulties driving at night, don't do it. For your sake and everyone else's.

It's just a scientific fact, that if you have bright lights, your eyes lose the ability to see other areas.
Look at your TV, you can see all the details, turn up the contrast or brightness and you can no longer see all the details.

diystarter7

chrisw said:

I find this thread slightly disturbing. I didn't realise there were so many people driving around at night with poor vision.

Surely if you're aware you're having difficulties driving at night, don't do it. For your sake and everyone else's.

Hi


Nothing "disturbing" as I have cited, the opticians have told me my eyesight is really good when I put on glasses,

People have clear stated inc me we adjust our driving/etc.

It is just one of those things as one gets older and for some, it may affect confidence/etc.

All here are aware and have said they slow down, drive less and me, I drive less during the night and poor weather and slower as have others.

Most people have their eyes checked 2 years me at 1 year and its been going on for donkey's years,

Part of the problem many have cited here is poor maintained vehicles that dazzle them and poor road markings, worn road markings don't help.

I bet you there are people out there that need to wear glasses/eyes checked  and don't and that is what I really find "disturbing"

Thanks

BikingBud

diystarter7 said:

Hi

We have cars with LED headlights all round etc makes a big difference they tunr as you corner as well.
however, I've found it really hard at night especially in rain and new roads and where there hardly any markings and headlights in your eyes.

But the LEDS on the cars we have and the main one is a suv so higher up easier to see

I've complained to the opticians about this for over two yrs and they say my eyes are pretty good for my age I wear glasses when out and have anti-glare

In new areas I drive even slower and even more alret and esnure all my windows etc all round are as clear as possilby and use washes on my headlights to keep clean

Sadly, too many people, ush bike riders with no lights and pedsertains weari

I am sure you mean you sought advice from the optician as complaining to them really would be pointless. 

diystarter7

BikingBud said:

diystarter7 said:

Hi

We have cars with LED headlights all round etc makes a big difference they tunr as you corner as well.
however, I've found it really hard at night especially in rain and new roads and where there hardly any markings and headlights in your eyes.

But the LEDS on the cars we have and the main one is a suv so higher up easier to see

I've complained to the opticians about this for over two yrs and they say my eyes are pretty good for my age I wear glasses when out and have anti-glare

In new areas I drive even slower and even more alret and esnure all my windows etc all round are as clear as possilby and use washes on my headlights to keep clean

Sadly, too many people, ush bike riders with no lights and pedsertains weari

I am sure you mean you sought advice from the optician as complaining to them really would be pointless. 

Hi

Many thanks for that

When read in it's full context, it is clear to most I hope and I quote

I've complained to the opticians about this for over two yrs and they say my eyes are pretty good for my age I wear glasses when out and have anti-glare    (I'm safely assuming that when they check my eyes they are making an informed response)

Enjoy your day 

BikingBud

chrisw said:

I find this thread slightly disturbing. I didn't realise there were so many people driving around at night with poor vision.

Surely if you're aware you're having difficulties driving at night, don't do it. For your sake and everyone else's.

Absolutely, if at any stage you are not wholly comfortable stop driving. 

Safe driving requires a plan, based upon information that you constantly gather about the hazards that exist around you. Don't try and blame others for "poorly aligned lights" "worn road markings" etc, if you have trouble discerning what other road users, car drivers, cyclists, pedestrians etc are doing then you cannot develop a safe driving plan and should stop driving.