Night Driving Safety
Dangers of Night Driving
Traffic death rates are three times greater at night than during the day. Yet many of us are unaware of the special hazards of night driving.
Why is night driving so dangerous? One obvious answer is darkness. Ninety percent of a driver's reaction depends on vision, and night vision is severely limiting. Depth perception, color recognition, and peripheral vision are compromised when driving at night.
Older drivers have even greater difficulties with night vision. A 50-year-old driver may need twice as much light to see as well as a 30-year old.
Minimize Night Driving Risks
- Prepare your car for night driving. Clean headlights, tail lights, signal lights and windows at least once a week.
- Aim your headlights properly when driving at night.
- Don't drink and drive! Drinking and driving is a leading cause of accidents – including night driving accidents.
- Avoid smoking when driving at night. Nicotine and carbon monoxide hamper night vision.
- Turn your headlights on at dusk. Lights will not help night vision in early twilight, but they'll make it easier for other drivers to see you.
- Reduce your speed while driving at night and increase your following distances. Remember not to overdrive your headlights. You should be able to stop inside the illuminated area.
- When you’re driving at night and there is another driver ahead of you, keep your headlights on low beams so you don't blind the other driver. If an oncoming vehicle doesn't lower their beams from high to low, avoid glare by watching the right edge of the road and using it as a steering guide.
- If on a long road trip that includes night driving, make frequent stops for light snacks and exercise. If you're too tired to drive, stop and get rest.
- If you have car trouble while driving at night, pull off the road as far as possible. Turn on your flashers and the dome light. Stay off the roadway and get passengers away from the area.
- Observe night driving safety as soon as the sun goes down. Twilight is one of the most difficult times to drive, because your eyes are constantly changing to adapt to the growing darkness.
