The correct tyre pressure and the accurate angle needed for parallel parking are often things we have to relearn after a bit of time off from behind the wheel. But it turns out that there are more serious things that can disappear from our minds, too.
The Highway Code states that headlights must be turned on when visibility is ‘seriously reduced’, and characterises ‘seriously reduced’ as when you can see less than 100 metres in front of you. But with some people having not sat behind the wheel for many months, we wanted to find out if drivers know when their headlights should be turned on.
Less than 20% know when to turn headlights on
The International Drivers Association surveyed 2500 UK drivers…
Just 17% of drivers answered correctly when asked what the correct distance at which visibility is ‘seriously reduced’ according to the Highway Code. This means that a massive 83% of drivers don’t know when to switch on their headlights.
More drivers thought the visibility distance was less than 100 metres, but nearly 30%[1] said they thought the distance was more than 100 metres.
The highway code states that headlights on your vehicle must be on when visibility is ‘seriously reduced’. Without looking, which of the following describes the point at which the highway code classifies visibility as seriously reduced?
|
Less than 20 metres |
23.56% |
|
Less than 50 metres |
22.58% |
|
Less than 70 metres |
7.78% |
|
Less than 100 metres |
16.62% |
|
Less than 120 metres |
2.24% |
|
Less than 150 metres |
1.82% |
|
Less than 170 metres |
0.42% |
|
Less than 200 metres |
2.38% |
|
Less than 220 metres |
0.42% |
|
Less than 250 metres |
0.98% |
|
None of these |
0.98% |
|
Not sure |
20.20% |
Older drivers are more aware of the rules on headlights than younger drivers
Despite younger drivers perhaps having more recently read the Highway Code in preparation for driving and theory tests, more older drivers know when to turn their headlights on than younger drivers.
More than 1 in 5 (20%)[2] drivers aged 45-54 knew the correct distance when asked, while a little less than 18%[3] of drivers aged 55+ answered correctly.
|
17-24 |
25-34 |
35-44 |
45-54 |
55+ |
|
|
Correct |
15.32% |
13.27% |
13.55% |
20.56% |
17.59% |
|
Incorrect |
84.68% |
86.73% |
86.45% |
79.44% |
82.41% |
Drivers between 25 and 34 years old are the least likely to know the correct visibility distance. Just 13.27% answered correctly, while slightly more aged 35-44 knew the correct answer.
Brighton drivers are hot on headlight law
The safest drivers, when it comes to knowing when headlights should be on, are those in Brighton. Almost 28%[4] of the seaside town’s drivers know the correct distance. Drivers in Plymouth (27.27%) and Glasgow (24.56%), are the next least likely to get into a predicament over their headlights.
Drivers in Belfast, however, fall behind. Fewer than 10%[5] of drivers in Belfast know the correct visibility distance for putting on headlights. This is closely followed by Cardiff (9.62%) and Newcastle (10.94%).
Michael Bissona , Motoring Expert, at IDA, said, “Although many modern cars have automatic lights, there are still millions of cars on our roads that don’t have this technology. And of course, this can still fail, so it’s imperative that drivers know exactly when their lights should be turned on for safety reasons.
“If you have an accident and do not have your headlights on when you should, you could be deemed liable, meaning you might not be covered by your insurance and could be left thousands of pounds out of pocket. Similarly, not having your lights on when you should, can be considered as careless driving. Careless driving carries an on-the-spot fine of £100 and three penalty points on your licence.”
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