Visibility
Ensure all headlights, tail lights, and indicators are working. Clean your windscreen inside and out — a dirty windscreen dramatically increases glare. Use high beams on unlit roads but dip for oncoming traffic.
Speed Management
Reduce speed at night — your stopping distance should never exceed your visibility distance. On unlit suburban streets, 50km/h may be too fast if there are pedestrians or cyclists without reflective clothing.
Wildlife Awareness
Perth's outer suburbs and regional roads are active with kangaroos at dawn and dusk. Scan the roadside for eye reflections. If a kangaroo is on the road, brake firmly but do not swerve — hitting a tree or oncoming traffic is worse than hitting the animal.
Fatigue Management
If driving from Perth to the South West or further after dark, stop every 2 hours. Power naps (15-20 minutes) are the most effective fatigue countermeasure. Coffee takes 20 minutes to take effect.
Regional WA
Avoid driving long distances in regional WA after dark if possible. No street lights, wildlife, road trains, and fatigue make it significantly more dangerous than daytime travel.