Driving Anxiety at Night and How to Overcome It

Last Updated on October 1, 2022 by Ellen Christian

Do you have driving anxiety at night like I do? If you have anxiety driving at night, check out these tips and find out more here.

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I’ll be honest. I don’t do a lot of nighttime driving. When I run errands, I prefer to go out during the day when it’s light out. Since I work at home, I have that flexibility, but I didn’t always.

I can remember when I used to worry about having to drive at night because it was harder for me to see. 

Do you have driving anxiety at night like I do? If you have anxiety driving at night, check out these tips and find out more here.

 How to Overcome Driving Anxiety at Night

I thought it was just me, but it turns out that driving anxiety at night is something that many people experience. 

Did you know that 40% of people over 40 feel uncomfortable driving at night? This can be caused by a number of different reasons including deteriorating eye health.

It’s not as easy to see at night because there is less light and you need to deal with the glare from oncoming traffic.

city streets and lights at night

If you combine these two factors with driving in an unfamiliar area, you can see why so many people feel less comfortable with night driving. Here are a few tips to overcome driving anxiety at night that I hope will help you feel more confident behind the wheel.

What is the fear of driving at night called?

Many people have a fear of driving at night. The phobia is called vehophobia. While many people have driving anxiety at night because it is more difficult to see, others have this anxiety for different reasons.

a gps system in a car

Know Where You’re Going

I don’t go anywhere new without having the address programmed into my GPS. I don’t want to have to look for street signs or mess with a map while I’m driving.

And, I prefer a GPS that gives me verbal directions so I can keep my eyes on the road at all times. If you don’t have a GPS, look for an app for your smartphone that will do the same thing.

Why You’re Uncomfortable Driving At Night from FabOverFifty.

Be Prepared for Emergencies

Make sure that you have emergency supplies in your car in case of an accident or a breakdown. I recommend that you sign up for a site like AAA so you can have your vehicle towed and you can get to a safe location in case you need it.

You’ll also want to be certain to have road flares, maps, a jack to change your tire, and a car phone charger in your trunk.

blurred car lights

How do I become confident driving alone?

One of the best ways to overcome anxiety in any situation is by practice. Make yourself go out at night and drive. It can help with anxiety.

In the beginning, drive around your neighborhood or to an area that you know very well. Drive to places- like your doctor’s office or your favorite coffee shop.

Once you feel comfortable driving to those locations at night, go a few blocks further each time. You’ll notice you’re not as nervous driving at night as you practice more.

How can I see better driving at night?

EyePromise Vizual Edge is an advanced, high-quality formula containing the highest level of dietary Zeaxanthin and other essential ingredients to both protect and improve vision. Zeaxanthin (zee-uh-zan-thin), is the primary pigment in the macula in the back of the eye.

How to Overcome Driving Anxiety at Night

This improves and protects your central vision. Thicker or more “dense” macular pigment is like having “internal sunglasses” that protects and enhances your vision.

It also improves contrast to notice all movements on the road and notice details on and off the street This can help you overcome anxiety driving at night.

Do you have driving anxiety at night like I do? If you have anxiety driving at night, check out these tips and find out more here.

EyePromise is backed by more than 20 years of research. EyePromise vizual EDGE is available in softgels and in citrus-flavored chewables.

The formula also helps fight against Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). AMD is the most common cause of blindness in people over 55.  Learn more about eye health in this article.

Do you have driving anxiety at night like I do? If you have anxiety driving at night, check out these tips and find out more here.

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10 thoughts on “Driving Anxiety at Night and How to Overcome It”

  1. Having trouble driving at night was what drove (ha!) me to see my eye doctor, who found that I had early-onset cataracts. Seeing halos around street lights and a lot of glare are two symptoms. I'm "only" 54 but had rapidly developing cataracts in both eyes. After having them removed last year, plus the bonus YAG laser in both eyes last month, made driving at night a whole lot less treacherous.
    Reply
    • I have the beginning stages of cataracts as well. I am not looking forward to them progressing at all. It's good to know that there is some hope for the future.
      Reply
  2. I'm 48 and I have troubles with night blindness. If I know the roads very well and have a lot of street lights, I'm able to drive. But unknown territory or roads without lights makes it difficult to see and I avoid them.
    Reply
  3. I am over 40 and do find myself getting more of a glare that bothers me when I'm driving at night. I think part of the problem is that I don't do a whole lot of night driving. I agree that getting on the road more at night would help.
    Reply
  4. Wow, that is a high number (40%) that is uncomfortable while night driving. My parents are getting older now (they are 64 and 69, they'll be 65 and 70 this year) and I know they definitely have trouble with night driving. I too put on my Google Maps if I don't know where I am going (either daytime OR nighttime), I like that I can switch my dash to Bluetooth and the voice will come out through my car's speakers - that way I don't have to take my eyes off the road, generally.
    Reply

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