Night driving presents a number of different challenges that many of us are not used to dealing with. As deadly car accidents are more common once it begins to get dark outside, it is a good idea to become familiar with the different obstacles you might encounter when driving during the night. Learning how to handle these situations effectively will make night driving safer for you and for everyone else on the road.
Is that an Alien abduction or bright lights?
If you know you will be driving at night, make sure you test out all of the lights on your car. Check to make sure there are no burnt out headlights or taillights and that your hazards are working as they should. Having all of your lights functioning properly will improve your vision at night and allow other drivers to see you better. If you are forced to pull off the road, make sure to use your hazards to alert others of your presence.
Learning how to use headlights properly is a great way to stay safe while driving at night. Headlights should always be turned on an hour before the sun goes down. Twilight can be a particularly difficult time to see other cars and objects on the road and headlights can help make this easier. Drivers should leave their headlights on for an hour once the sun begins to rise.
How long till sunset? Quick, put the lights on!
Always make sure that your car’s lights and windows are cleaned. Dirt build up on headlights can greatly reduce their effectiveness. Dirt on the windows of your car can make it difficult to see the road and amplify glare. If your car frequently becomes dirty, make sure to leave a few cleaning products in the truck in case of an emergency.
Glare is a common problem that affects drivers throughout the night. High beams from other cars can make it very difficult to see while you are driving. To help avoid this glare, divert your gaze to the left side of the road instead of looking straight in front of you. You can use the side of the road to help you steer without the distraction of glare. Make sure to adjust your rear-view mirror if trailing headlights are creating glare.
Don't glare at me!
Exterior mirrors are also very important for night driving. It is always a good idea to check your exterior mirrors once you get inside of your car to make sure they are both in their proper positions. Exterior mirrors can get bumped in parking lots, which can create problems for you while you are driving if it goes unnoticed. By properly adjusting your exterior mirrors, you can also help to minimize the dangerous blind spots along the sides of your car.
It is important for driver’s to slow down at night. Vision can become impaired and it can become more difficult to see the road ahead of you. Drivers can compensate for the reduction in visibility by decreasing their speed. If an unexpected obstacle presents itself, you should have plenty of time to stop in order to avoid an accident.
Along with slowing down, drivers should also increase their following distance. Response times are likely to be much slower at night than they typically are during the day. In order to stay prepared for unexpected situations, increase your following distance up to 5 seconds. This will allow you enough time to take evasive action in order to avoid an accident.
Braking distances are shorter in the dark, due to less light
Fatigue is a common issue that night drivers will experience. Anyone driving at night for an extended period of time should make several stops along the way in order to prevent fatigue from setting in. Take a quick walk or stop for a beverage to take a break from driving. Crack open a window while you drive to get some fresh air and to improve the ventilation in your car. If you feel overwhelmingly tired and short breaks and not working, find a place to stop for the night and get some sleep before driving on.
Drivers should prevent their gaze from becoming static. It is a good idea to look around continuously to monitor your surroundings while driving at night. Look for unexpected lights, curvatures in the road, signs, and other cars. This will help keep you safe while driving at night and help to prevent fatigue.
Never drink alcohol before driving. Even a single drink of alcohol can impair your reflexes. Alcohol acts as a depressant on the body, which means problems like fatigue become more of an issue. Drink driving is also against the law. Anyone who has consumed alcohol should not drive and instead find an alternative way to their destination.
If you do this, you're an idiot
Drivers should avoid smoking in the car during the night-time hours. As a cigarette burns, the smoke that is created can make it more difficult to see clearly out of your windshield. Smoking can also be a distraction. Consider what would happen if a cigarette is accidentally dropped inside of the car while you are driving. Aside from a serious burn or damage to the interior of your car, or possibly yourself, you will likely lose your focus on the road as you search for the cigarette.
As vision is crucial to driving, regular visits to the optometrist are an important part of night-driving safety. Depending on your age, you should have your vision checked every 1 to 3 years. The onset of certain conditions such as cataracts can make it more difficult to see at night. Over time, eyes can become more sensitive to things like glare. If you wear glasses to see when you drive, ask your optometrist about lenses that have an anti-reflective coating on them. This can help to prevent additional glare in your vision.
Make sure you can see!
You never know what you might encounter on the road. Night driving only complicates this by making it harder to see the obstacles that might be present. Staying alert, being prepared, and caution will help you safely get to your destination while you are driving during the night-time hours.
