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Night Driving
Night driving is considerably more
dangerous than driving in the daytime. Indeed, three to four times
more deaths occur while driving at night, than driving during the
day. RepairNation.com wishes everyone to be a safe driver.
Below are a few reasons why driving
at night is more dangerous and tips for safer night driving.
Night Drivng Is Dangerous
 Reduced
Vision at Night. No one can see as well at night as in the daytime
- normal 20/20 vision is reduced to 20/50. Older drivers have even
more difficulties. A 50-year-old driver needs twice as much light
to see as a 30-year-old. In addition, depth perception, color recognition,
and peripheral vision are all impaired after sundown. This makes
identifying and avoiding potential dangers more difficult.
Reduced
Reaction Time. Ninety percent of a driver's reaction time depends
on vision, and, at night, headlights only illuminate 350 feet head
- much less than in normal daytime conditions. That reduced distance
decreases the amount of time a driver has to identify problem, make
corrections and avoid collisions.
Impaired
Vision/Abilities. Night time drivers are more likely to suffer
from fatigue, or be impaired by alcohol or drugs. Driving at night
on the weekends is even more dangerous. More fatal crashes occur
on Friday and Saturday nights than on any other day of the week.
Alcohol plays a part in more than half of these deaths. Never drink
alcohol and drive.
Tips for Safer
Night Driving:
Drive
Defensively. Remember, driving at night is the most dangerous
time to drive. Beware that other drivers may be fatigued or under
influences of drugs or alcohol.
Never
drink and drive.
Don't
drive while stressed. Driving while emotionally charged, such
as after an argument or fight with a loved one or a work related
incident, is extremely hazardous. Indeed, many accidents occur under
these conditions because drivers don't focus their usual energy
on driving. At night, reduced visibility compounds problems. Allow
time to relax so you can focus your concentration on driving.
Reduce
speed. It is more difficult to judge other vehicles' speeds
and distances at night. Give yourself extra time to react to other
drivers and events which may occur unexpectedly.
Increase
following distance. Leave more room between you and the vehicle
in front of you. Follow the 2 second (1-1000-2-1000) rule when traveling
behind a moving vehicle.
Avoid
distractions. Avoid smoking, using a cell phone, reading a map,
disciplining children and anything else that might momentarily take
your attention from the road. Remember, there is always a possibility
that another car or a deer could suddenly pull out in front of you
at any given moment.
Keep
your eyes moving. It's easier to pick out dark and dimly lit
objects this way. In addition it helps reduce eye fatigue.
Turn
on headlights. Headlights should be turned on a half hour before
sunset. Use highbeams only in rural areas and dim for oncoming traffic.
Highbeams should not be used within 500 feet of an approaching vehicle
or 200 feet of a vehicle ahead of you. Be courteous, remember, your
actions could cause another driver to lose control and possibly
crash (maybe into you).
Avoid
being blinded. When an oncoming driver does not dim their lights,
or road conditions aim oncoming vehicle lights towards you, avoid
the glare by watching the right edge of the road and using it as
a steering guide until the vehicle has passed. Avoid flashing you
high beams to signal the other driver to dim their lights, it might
serve as a distraction and interfere with their driving.
Avoid
passing. Unless absolutely necessary, avoid passing vehicles
in front of you at night. If you must pass, be patient and follow
the vehicle until you find a suitable straight stretch in the road
with no oncoming traffic. Remember, distances are more difficult
to judge at night, don't take unnecessary chances. Wait until you
are absolutely sure of what's in front of you.
Avoid
fatigue. Keep your eyes moving, listen to the radio and change
your seating positions periodically. It will help you stay alert.
On long journeys, make frequent stops for snacks, fuel or to use
the restroom. The exercise and fresh air will reduce fatigue and
allow you to better concentrate on driving. If you become too tired
to drive, stop and rest.
Watch
for animals, particularly in rural areas.
Use
lowbeams in fog, mist, or haze. Lowbeams work better in fog
because with highbeams, more light from the water vapor (fog)
is reflected back towards the driver which increases glare. See:
Driving in Fog
Prepare
car for safe night driving. Perform this quick test every two
weeks; turn on your vehicle's lights and walk around vehicle. Check
headlights, taillights and turn signals to ensure that they are
working properly. Make sure headlights are properly aligned and
clean. Even a small amount of road film can dramatically reduce
visibility. In addition, Keep your vehicle's windows clean. Clean
windows each time you fuel up. To reduce dangerous glare from oncoming
traffic, periodically clean the inside of your vehicle's windows.
Prepare
for trouble. Problems always seem to occur when least expected.
Planning ahead can minimize stress, prevent a catastrophe and possibly
save lives. Plan ahead by carrying a road emergency kit.
In
case of car trouble, pull off the road as far as possible. Avoid
stopping on the highway. If possible, pull into a low-use parking
lot or side street. In high traffic areas, turn on flashers immediately
to warn other vehicles and set up flares or reflecting triangles
300 feet behind your vehicle.
For more driving tips, see 'Related
Topics' on side bar above
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