The Dangers of Night Driving

Many of us hate night driving because of its dangerous conditions. Only a quarter of all driving is done at night, but more than half of all fatal accidents occur then. Did you know that you are three times more likely to have a fatal car accident at night than during the day? This is due to a variety of reasons. Your depth perception, ability to distinguish color, and peripheral vision are worse in low-light conditions. You also tend to be more tired at night than during the day. Here are some important tips to keep you and those around you safe while driving at night.

(1)  You should keep your headlights on one hour before dusk and one hour after dawn to increase your vehicle’s visibility.

(2)  Dim your instrument panel and dash lights.  Many cars have dashboard dimmers, and dimming these lights will give you a better vision of the road ahead.

(3) Conduct regular maintenance checks on your vehicle to ensure that all lights and turn signals are functioning properly.

(4)  Decrease your speed and increase your following distance.  It is more difficult to judge other vehicles’ distances and speeds at night.

(5)  Many wild animals roam near the roads at night and can cause devastating accidents.  An animal’s eyes will reflect your headlights.  If you spot two tiny bright spots in the distance, slow down.  The best way to avoid large animals, such as deer, is to slow down as quickly as you can because deer will often try to follow your lights and move in front of you.  Deer also travel in herds, so if you spot one, slow down because there is a good chance more deer are near.

(6)  If you have car trouble at night, pull off the road as far as possible.  Turn your flashers and inside lights on and place reflecting triangles near your vehicle and 300 feet behind it if you have them.

(7)  Don’t ignore fatigue:  stop and get a quick snack or take a little walk before you get back on the road.

Many of us have to drive at night. Please, follow these safety rules to keep yourself and others safe on our roads at night. However, if you or anyone you know has been injured in any type of vehicle accident, contact me immediately for a free discussion about your potential case.

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