Driving at night can be dangerous. The dark, the glare of headlights and taillights, and the unfamiliar surroundings are just a few factors that make nighttime driving more difficult than daytime driving. To help you stay safe on the road this Halloween season, we have compiled a list of 12 things to consider before hitting the highway in darkness.
Driving At Night Can Be Unsafe
Driving at night can be unsafe because there are not as many people on the road, so it may take longer for someone to notice if you have a problem, such as your car running out of gas. The first thing that we recommend is making sure that your headlights are clean and aligned properly. This will ensure that other drivers see you coming long before they’re around you.
Avoid alcohol and drugs- You don’t want to be out on the road while impaired because you’re more likely to cause a crash when you are driving under the influence.
There are many more factors that can affect nighttime driving. These include, but aren’t limited to;
- reduced visibility and glare from oncoming headlights,
- decreased depth perception at night,
- sleepiness due to lack of sunlight during the day or a shorter workday shift,
- Vision changes as people age, so they may need glasses with added light correction lenses for night driving.
Here are the top 13 things you should consider while driving at night. If you think this list is short, don’t forget to add your suggestions in the comments below.
- When driving at night, slow down and maintain a greater distance between your car and the one in front.
- Turn on your headlights (not just your parking lights). Many modern cars have turned on their headlights when it is getting darker automatically. But in case, if you forget to choose auto-on functionality, you may think that your headlights are on while it is off. Be sure to turn on your headlight if the auto-on button is not selected.
- When driving between sunset and sunrise, or when visibility has been reduced to below 500 feet. The grey hours of twilight and dawn are the most dangerous times of the day.
- Watch for slow-moving or unlighted vehicles, bicyclists, pedestrians, and animals.
- Allow more distance and time for passing.
- Don’t drive or keep driving if you’re tired.
- Never wear sunglasses when light levels are low.
- Keep your windshield clean, both inside and out.
- Keep your headlights clean. Dirt will dim their light and may distort the beam.
- Avoid looking into the headlights of oncoming vehicles. Instead, shift your eyes down to the lower right side of your traffic lane. This keeps the light from hitting your eyes directly.
- Dim your headlights to low beam when approaching or following another vehicle or on lighted roads.
- If you must park on a highway shoulder at night, turn on your emergency flashers or parking lights.