Driver guide · Ford of Peoria · Peoria, IL
Night Driving Tips: Headlights, Glare and Staying Alert
Fall and winter mean more miles in the dark. Here is what the Federal Highway Administration's driver safety training says about driving at night: why it is harder, how far your headlights let you see, how to handle glare, why clean lights and glass matter, and how to spot drowsiness before it causes a crash.
The short answer
Slow down so you can stop within the distance your headlights show you, about 250 feet with low beams. Look at the right side of the road, at the fog line, when oncoming lights are bright. Keep your lights, windshield and mirrors clean, dim your high beams within 500 feet of oncoming vehicles or vehicles ahead, and stop to rest at the first signs of drowsiness.
Why night driving is harder
Nighttime driving presents greater risks primarily because drivers cannot see hazards as quickly as in daylight, so they have less time to respond, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) says. The problems involve the driver, the roadway and the vehicle.
Driver factors include vision, glare and fatigue: people do not see as sharply at night or in dim light, and eyes need time to adjust to dim and changing light. Roadway factors include poor lighting and inadequate highway markings, and FHWA notes that drinking drivers and fatigued drivers are more common at night.
From FHWA, Pilot/Escort Vehicle Operators Training Manual, Module 7: Driver Safety Issues, read November 3, 2026.
How far your headlights let you see
FHWA says the vehicle factor that affects night driving most is the limitation of headlights. Drivers must be sure they can stop in the distance they can see ahead:
| Headlights | How far ahead you can see |
|---|---|
| Low beams | About 250 feet |
| High beams | Varies from 350 to 500 feet |
From FHWA, Pilot/Escort Vehicle Operators Training Manual, Module 7: Driver Safety Issues, read November 3, 2026. Adjust your speed so your stopping distance stays within your sight distance.
Glare and high beams
FHWA's guidance on glare at night:
Glare blinds for seconds
Glare can blind drivers for short periods, much like a camera flash, and it can take several seconds to recover. Even two seconds of glare blindness can be dangerous.
Look to the right
If an approaching vehicle has its high beams on, or its lights are particularly bright, look at the right side of the road, at the fog line.
Dim within 500 feet
Dim your lights within 500 feet of oncoming vehicles or vehicles in front of you. Do not turn on high beams within 500 feet of an oncoming driver.
Alcohol and medicines
Alcohol and medications can slow how quickly your pupils constrict, which extends the time it takes to recover from glare.
From FHWA, Pilot/Escort Vehicle Operators Training Manual, Module 7: Driver Safety Issues, read November 3, 2026.
Keep lights, windshield and mirrors clean
Dirty headlights cut down your ability to see and also make your vehicle harder to see, FHWA says. Headlights that are out of adjustment reduce what you can see and can create problems for other drivers if they point at them.
At night, make sure all lights are working and clean, including brake lights, tail lights and turn signals. Clean windshields and mirrors matter too, because bright lights at night can make dirt on the glass create glare. Keep eyeglasses clean and unscratched.
From FHWA, Pilot/Escort Vehicle Operators Training Manual, Module 7: Driver Safety Issues, read November 3, 2026.
Drowsiness and night driving
FHWA says crashes involving sleepy drivers occur late at night or early in the morning, or in mid-afternoon. They are likely to be serious and involve a single vehicle leaving the roadway, and they often happen on high-speed roads when the driver is alone.
Sleep is not voluntary. After about 17 hours awake, people become drowsy and the body begins to experience micro-sleeps, brief lapses that can last several seconds. At 50 mph, a 4-second lapse moves the vehicle 300 feet. FHWA also notes that drivers are not very good at judging their own alertness, and that being bothered by oncoming headlights can be an early sign of fatigue.
From FHWA, Pilot/Escort Vehicle Operators Training Manual, Module 7: Driver Safety Issues, read November 3, 2026.
Signs you are too tired to drive
FHWA says that if any of these happen, it is time to rest:
Eyes and head
Difficulty focusing or eyes closing, trouble keeping your head up, or you cannot stop yawning.
Lane keeping
Repeatedly hitting the rumble strips, jerking the vehicle back into the lane, or drifting across lanes.
Memory
Wandering, disconnected thoughts; not remembering the last few miles; trouble remembering exit numbers, addresses or street names.
Missed cues
Tailgating, missing traffic signs, or missing a turn or exit.
From FHWA, Pilot/Escort Vehicle Operators Training Manual, Module 7: Driver Safety Issues, read November 3, 2026. Grouped by this page; FHWA gives them as one list. If you are drowsy, FHWA says to sleep before driving; even a nap can save lives.
Lights and checkups at Ford of Peoria
The Works® at Ford of Peoria includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check. FHWA's night-driving guidance stresses lights that work and are clean; ask our service team to check yours.
Schedule service online and see our service specials first. Ford of Peoria is at 2211 W. Pioneer Pkwy. in Peoria. Get directions.
Ford of Peoria service hours
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Mon-Fri | 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. |
| Sat | 8 a.m.-noon |
| Sun | closed |
From Ford of Peoria's website, November 3, 2026. Holiday hours can differ.
Night driving FAQ
Why is driving at night more dangerous?
FHWA says nighttime driving presents greater risks mainly because drivers cannot see hazards as quickly as in daylight, so they have less time to respond. Driver factors include vision, glare and fatigue; roadway factors include poor lighting and inadequate markings.
How far do headlights let you see?
FHWA's training module says that with low beams drivers can see ahead about 250 feet, and high beams vary from 350 to 500 feet. Drivers must be sure they can stop in the distance they can see ahead.
How do I handle glare from oncoming headlights?
If an approaching vehicle has its high beams on, or its lights are particularly bright, FHWA says to look at the right side of the road, at the fog line.
When should I dim my high beams?
FHWA's module says to dim your lights within 500 feet of oncoming vehicles or of vehicles in front of you, and not to turn on high beams within 500 feet of an oncoming driver.
What are the signs I am too drowsy to drive?
FHWA lists trouble focusing or eyes closing, repeatedly hitting the rumble strips, trouble keeping your head up, constant yawning, wandering thoughts, not remembering the last few miles, tailgating or missing signs, drifting across lanes, and missing a turn or exit. If any of these happen, it is time to rest.
When are drowsy-driving crashes most likely?
FHWA says crashes involving sleepy drivers occur late at night or early in the morning, or in mid-afternoon, and are likely to be serious and involve a single vehicle leaving the roadway.
What does The Works at Ford of Peoria include?
The Works® at Ford of Peoria includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check.
Schedule a checkup
Book The Works, which includes a battery test, brake inspection and Multi-Point Inspection, at Ford of Peoria.
Sources
Night driving guidance is from the Federal Highway Administration's driver safety training module, read November 3, 2026. This page is a plain-language summary. Service details, address and hours are from Ford of Peoria's own website, checked the same day. Photo is illustrative.
- FHWA, Pilot/Escort Vehicle Operators Training Manual, Module 7: Driver Safety Issues, U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, read November 3, 2026
- General service: The Works, Ford of Peoria, November 3, 2026
- Address and service hours (structured data), Ford of Peoria, November 3, 2026