This weekend sees the first ever Formula 1 night race. We all know that driving in the dark can be a little tricky, so we’ve put together a handy little guide to help Lewis Hamilton and friends avoid the hazards of night driving….
Some people like driving at night. Others don’t. F1 drivers this weekend don’t have a choice. Many people have to drive at night, such as those who are involved in shipping and transportation, as well as those who are required to work the graveyard shifts in a multitude of fields and industries. However, studies and common sense have shown that night driving does have more safety issues involved than driving in the daytime.
Night driving – it divides opinion
On the other hand, many people prefer driving at night because there is less traffic, fewer police, and faster commute times. Nevertheless, severe weather conditions, wildlife, and drivers under the influence make this sort of driving a bit of a downer.
Studies have shown that night driving creates three times as many traffic deaths as daytime driving. For example, according to the United States National Safety Council, many individuals who drive at night don’t take into consideration special hazards that may occur, as well as how to react to them.
Night driving requires especially acute vision, colour recognition, peripheral field vision, and depth perception are not as acute during night-time hours as they are in the daytime.
Blurry vision is not what you need at night
For those of us who work all day, driving at night may be especially tedious because of weariness, boredom, and a desire to hurry up and get home. Still, reaction time naturally slows as we become drowsy or lethargic at the end of the day. A dozen cups of coffee may provide brief jolts of alertness, but does little to help us rationalise or react to a wide range of night-time driving scenarios.
Drinking and weekend partying also increase the risks of driving in the wee hours of the night or early morning. However, for those of us who don’t have any choice, there are ways to make your journey from point A to point B safer. For example:
1) Don’t drink and drive;
2) Make sure your headlights are properly aligned and focused on the road, and not through oncoming windscreens;
3) Believe it or not, try not to smoke when you’re driving. Studies have shown that carbon monoxide as well as the nicotine found in smoke can hamper your night vision;
4) Increase driving distance between vehicles and slow down as necessary, especially when you’re driving through rural areas where wildlife may be present;
5) If you find yourself growing sleepy, stop on the side of the road, walk around the car, do some jumping jacks, take on an F1 style pit stop, run over some mechanics; anything to wake you up;
6) In especially bad weather, stay off the road whenever possible.
Have a rest in a lovely Service Station – they’re so welcoming at night-time
Studies have also determined that night driving for young and inexperienced drivers increases the risk of accidents, injuries, and death. Teenage drivers around the world are still listed among the highest at risk drivers and nearly twice as many teenage drivers as those of any other age group are involved in crashes, fatal and non-fatal accidents, even those in the 30 to 60-year-old age group.
So far, it sounds like night driving isn’t as safe as daytime driving, but it may have some benefits. For example, everyone knows that the traffic in Britain, Singapore and around the world is notoriously heavy, especially in city areas. Driving at night may prove less stressful to some individuals who abhor driving in traffic, but really, the benefits of night driving are far outweighed by the dangers. So we’ve got a spread out race this weekend then!
Basically, when it comes to night driving, drivers are faced with decreased vision, increased glare from oncoming headlights, a lack of alertness, and to some extent, varying degrees of fatigue. Poor lighting along roadways also creates hazards, especially in mountainous areas. Still want to take that midnight drive over the mountain – have you ever seen a horror film?
Midnight driving – it’s a horror film waiting to happen
Another positive thing about driving at night, however, is that there are fewer pedestrians, cyclists and joggers on the road, but these are also balanced by the presence of animals such as deer foxes and badgers. If you are driving abroad remember that you may encounter other nocturnal animals such as possums, elephants and raccoons. If you’ve ever driven a rural road in the wee hours of the night and suddenly found yourself staring at the wide-eyed deer staring back at you from the middle-of-the-road, you know what is meant by hair-trigger reactions. Accidents at night are often caused by drivers attempting to swerve around wildlife.
Watching for drivers who are under the influence also adds stress to night driving, and requires individuals to either distance themselves from drivers who have trouble staying in their lane, or taking the chance of passing them.
Night-time driving is made increasingly difficult in bad weather. Everyone understands the frustrations of driving in the rain during daylight hours, but such conditions are compounded at night by the presence of wind, fog, or other weather issues. Such conditions may increase during snowfall as well as the need to add space to slow down or brake. Many drivers suddenly forget how to drive if it’s not clear and sunny, and suddenly discover that there’s a big difference between driving on wet or dry tarmac.
The night tends to exacerbate the bad weather
When it comes to night driving, always weigh up the pros and cons before setting out. There are times when individuals must make a decision to drive at night, but always be aware of the difference between night and daytime driving.
To recap, remember that there are several factors to watch out for when night driving. These include but are not limited to wildlife, drivers who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, poor lighting, poor weather conditions, your own mental alertness or level of fatigue and Force India Cars. Reduce driving speeds, give yourself more time and space to react to a wide variety of situations and most importantly, pull off the road if you find yourself daydreaming or dozing at the wheel.
Avoid these and Munkjacks in Singapore this weekend
Remember that it’s not just about you and the wide-open road, but that your decisions will also affect other drivers, wildlife, and property. Use good judgment and make sure you arrive safely at your destination.
