35.46. Is driving at night safer than driving during the day because there are relatively fewer vehicles on the road?
UAВодіння вночі є безпечнішим, ніж водіння в денний час, оскільки на дорозі відносно невелика кількість автомобілів?
This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns road safety during nighttime and debunks the common myth that "night driving is safer because there are fewer cars." In practice, the level of risk is determined not only by traffic intensity, but primarily by visibility, the driver's ability to recognize danger in time, and reaction speed. At night, these factors worsen: the road situation is harder to read, headlight glare occurs more often, and fatigue and drowsiness reduce concentration, making trips potentially more dangerous even on an "empty" road.
The question tests knowledge of terms and requirements from sections of the Traffic Rules related to nighttime and insufficient visibility, as well as the driver's duties. In the context of the theoretical exam, it is important to understand the logic of the Traffic Rules: the driver is obliged to be attentive and respond appropriately to changing conditions (clause 2.3), at night and in poor visibility to choose a speed that allows stopping within the visible road area (clauses 12.1–12.2), and to use lighting devices correctly (clauses 19.1–19.2). This means that fewer cars do not compensate for limited visibility and additional nighttime risks.
The answer option claiming that night driving is safer due to less traffic ignores a key factor: at night, the driver controls the situation only within the "corridor" of the headlights, notices pedestrians, cyclists, obstacles, or changes in terrain later, and may lose orientation due to glare or blinding. The correct approach expected in the Ukrainian Traffic Rules exam is the understanding that nighttime safety is achieved through increased attentiveness, proper lighting, and reduced speed, not merely by lower traffic intensity.
Clause 1.10 (term “Nighttime”)
Nighttime — the part of the day from the end of evening twilight to the beginning of morning twilight.
Clause 1.10 (term “Insufficient visibility”)
Insufficient visibility — road visibility in the direction of travel that is less than 300 m in twilight, fog, rain, snowfall, etc.
Clause 2.3 (subclause “b”)
To ensure road safety, the driver is obliged to: be attentive, monitor the road situation, respond appropriately to its changes, monitor the technical condition of the vehicle, and not be distracted from driving this vehicle on the road.
Brief application: at night, due to poorer visibility and increased risks (glare, delayed detection of obstacles), the requirement for increased attentiveness becomes critical, so “fewer cars” by itself does not make driving safer.
Clause 12.1
When choosing a safe driving speed within established limits, the driver must take into account the road situation, as well as the characteristics of the cargo being transported and the condition of the vehicle, so as to be able to constantly control its movement and drive it safely.
Clause 12.2
At night and in conditions of insufficient visibility, the speed must be such that the driver can stop the vehicle within the visible distance of the road in the direction of travel.
Brief application: the Traffic Rules directly emphasize that at night/under insufficient visibility, safety is ensured by reducing speed to “within the limits of visibility,” not by the fact of lower traffic intensity.
Clause 19.1
At night and in conditions of insufficient visibility, regardless of the degree of road lighting, a moving vehicle must have its low (or high) beam headlights and rear position lights on, and the trailer must have position lights on.
Brief application: the Traffic Rules recognize the increased danger of nighttime due to limited visibility and establish a special obligation to drive with lighting devices turned on.
Clause 19.2
High beam headlights must be switched to low beam: at a distance of no less than 250 m from an oncoming vehicle, as well as in cases when they may dazzle other drivers.
Brief application: at night, there is an added specific risk of glare, so the rules separately regulate the use of high beams; this also refutes the thesis that “nighttime is safer” only because of fewer cars.
Thus, the correct answer is “No.”, given that according to the Traffic Rules, nighttime and insufficient visibility directly require increased attentiveness, mandatory use of lighting devices, and choosing such a speed that stopping is possible within the visible distance of the road, and therefore lower traffic intensity does not make nighttime driving safer than daytime driving.
At first glance, it seems logical: there are fewer cars at night, so the risk is lower. However, road safety is determined not only by the number of vehicles, but primarily by how well the driver can spot danger in time, correctly assess it, and have enough time to react. These abilities are significantly reduced during the hours of darkness.
At night, visibility is limited. The driver can actually control the situation only within the area illuminated by the headlights, and everything outside this “corridor” is harder to notice. This is especially dangerous regarding pedestrians, cyclists, animals, road surface irregularities, or objects on the roadway: they may be detected later than during the day, leaving less time for maneuvering or braking. Therefore, at night, speed should be chosen so that you can stop within the visible section of the road, and this is a basic principle of safe driving.
The second reason is fatigue and decreased attention. At night, performance naturally drops, drowsiness occurs more often, and reaction time increases. Even if the road seems “empty,” this can create a false sense of security, causing the driver to unconsciously relax or exceed a safe speed. In practice, this increases the risk of an accident, especially in the early morning hours.
The third typical danger is glare from lights. Oncoming headlights, improper or untimely switching between high/low beams, and reflections on wet pavement can temporarily impair vision and orientation. In such a situation, even a brief “loss” of clear visibility can become critical, because there is less time to correct a mistake than during the day.
Therefore, the correct answer is "No," because the lower traffic intensity at night does not compensate for limited visibility, the risk of glare, and decreased attention and reaction speed of the driver, which increases the overall danger of driving.