When Daylight Savings Time ends, you may find yourself driving at night more often. While you may feel confident in your driving abilities, nighttime driving is risky for a host of reasons (which you can learn more about in our previous blog). Drivers should take extra steps to ensure they drive safely during the nighttime as they owe a duty of care to the others on the road. In this article, we will discuss various ways you can stay safe while driving at night.
Avoid Speeding
When driving at night, you should reduce your speed to ensure your safety. Speeding can reduce your reaction time, and as you have impaired vision at night, you need more time and space to react. You should also ensure you have a good amount of distance between your vehicle and others. Tailgating is never a good idea, but at nighttime, your depth perception can be impacted, and you may be closer to a vehicle than you believe. Slow down and give other vehicles their space so that you have enough time and space to react if needed.
Use Caution when Approaching Another Vehicle
If you are approaching a vehicle at night, you will need to dim your headlights (so as not to blind them). If you approach them from the front or behind, you should also ensure your high beams are off. When driving behind a vehicle, you should also avoid tailgating and be mindful of whether their lights are working efficiently.
Use Your Headlights
You should never drive at night without using your headlights. Not only do you need to understand headlight safety but you should also check your headlights before each trip. If you do not have working headlights or fail to understand how to sue them if they aren’t automatic), you put yourself and others at risk. Other vehicles may not see your car as quickly when driving, and your vision when driving will be even more limited.
Watch for Pedestrians, Cyclists, & Wildlife
Another reason to avoid speeding is to ensure you are diligently watching the road for debris and/or other people and wildlife. Many nighttime accidents can occur when a driver fails to notice a pedestrian or bicyclist. While they should be wearing reflective clothing and have lights on their person or bike, you should also be watching the road to avoid a crash.
Increase Your Visibility
You can increase the vehicle’s visibility by conducting vehicle maintenance and cleaning your vehicle. Specifically, you should:
- Clean your windows and headlights
- Adjust and clean your outside mirrors
- Avoid using interior vehicle lights while driving
Have an Emergency Kit in Case You Have Car Trouble
If you have car trouble, you should pull over into a well-lit area. You should also ensure that you have emergency lights, reflector triangles, and other safety equipment that warns other vehicles of your location. Be sure to cut on your hazard lights and interior car lights as well.
Don’t Drive Drunk or Drowsy
When it’s dark outside, you may suddenly feel tired. If that is the case, you should pull over and rest. Instead of driving under the influence, you should consider calling an Uber or Lyft.
Driving while impaired (by drugs, alcohol, or fatigue) affects you in more ways than one. You may swerve between lanes, nod off unintentionally, have delayed reactions, and drive recklessly in some other ways.
Take Breaks on Long Trips
As we mentioned, driving while drowsy is never a good idea. If you plan to undertake a long road trip or drive, you should plan to take breaks after a certain amount of time has passed. Group travelers should also consider switching drivers every few hours to ensure everyone is at their best.
Keep Your Windshield Clean
Nighttime driving is dangerous because of the reduced visibility drivers experience as well as night blindness symptoms. You don’t need another factor impairing your vision like a dirty windshield. If left unclean, your windshield can cause you to suffer from a blinding glare or blur your vision (depending on the type of debris and things on your windshield).
Don’t Look Into Any Lights
When you encounter oncoming traffic, you should avoid staring at or looking at the lights of their cars. Don’t take your eyes off the road, but cast your eyes to the right or away from the oncoming lights. Many drivers who do look at oncoming traffic lights can become temporarily blinded and/or distracted.
Injured in a Vehicular Accident? Contact Our Firm Today!
Backed by decades of experience, Michael Doyle, Attorney at Law is equipped to help you fight for your right to fair compensation. If you or a loved one are involved in a vehicular accident that occurred during the nighttime, our attorney can help you build a strong case and achieve the best possible case results. Once you retain our services, we can help you investigate the accident, establish liability, minimize your liability, and maximize your compensation.
Get the legal representation you need and deserve. Schedule a free consultation with our attorney by calling (505) 219-2176 or completing our online contact form.