According to the National Safety Council, half of the traffic deaths in 2022 happened at night even though only one quarter of driving occurred during that time. Clearly, driving at night is harder than driving during the day. Many factors can make driving after dark riskier including reduced visibility, headlight glare, fatigue, and the increased number of impaired drivers on the road. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to drive safely at night and reduce the chances that you’ll need to contact a car accident lawyer.
Improve Your Visibility and Reduce Glare
Maintaining good visibility is one of the biggest challenges for night driving. Even with headlights, you can only see in front of the car about 250 feet with regular beams and 500 feet with high beams. The distance leaves you with a short reaction time when you see a hazard ahead, so you need to do everything you can to maximize your visibility.
Start with a clean windshield and mirrors. Keeping the glass streak-free can help reduce glare from both streetlights and oncoming headlights. If you wear glasses for driving, it’s also best to invest in anti-reflective lenses. Divert your eyes toward the right side of the road. Additionally, you should reduce your speed at night to give you more reaction time.
Properly adjusting and maintaining your headlights will also improve your visibility. Well-aimed headlights let you see what’s ahead of you and minimize the glare for approaching drivers. However, headlight alignment can shift over time, so you should routinely clean your lights and check their angle. Consult your owner’s manual or talk to your mechanic about periodic inspections.
Avoid Fatigue and Stay Alert
For most people, fatigue and drowsiness are more likely to set in at night. To avoid the risk of dozing off while driving, plan ahead. Make sure you get at least seven hours of sleep before a long drive and avoid driving if you’ve been awake for more than sixteen hours.
As much as possible, plan longer trips for your most alert time of the day. Incorporate breaks into your drive. It’s best to take a break about every two hours to clear your head and help you stay focused. Whenever you start to feel drowsy, pull off the road and take a break or a short nap if needed.
In addition to getting adequate rest, pay attention to nutrition. Dehydration can contribute to fatigue, so make sure you have water or another nonalcoholic beverage to sip while you’re driving. Avoid low blood sugar and brain fog by bringing a light, high-protein snack.
Do everything you can to avoid distractions inside the car while you’re driving. Dim your dashboard lights to reduce glare and focus your night vision. Put your mobile phone in “do not disturb” mode and don’t use it unless there’s an emergency. You can listen to a stimulating podcast or music to keep you alert as long as it won’t be distracting to you.
It goes without saying that you should never drive impaired. If you plan to drink alcohol, arrange for cab or a designated driver. Check with your doctor about any prescription medicines to make sure they won’t affect your driving. Of course, you can do everything right and still be at risk. There are more impaired drivers on the road after dark, than during other hours. Stay alert and watch out for erratic driving patterns so you’re ready to respond safely with defensive driving techniques.
For various reasons, driving at night is more dangerous than during daylight hours. You can help reduce your personal risk by taking action to improve your visibility, reduce glare, avoid fatigue, and stay alert. Being proactive can help keep you safe. However, if you have a collision, proving fault is essential for recovering compensation. An experienced accident reconstruction agency will work closely with your attorney to establish and highlight fault.
