The
National Safety Council (NSC) says that traffic death rates at night
exceed those during the day by as much as three times. Unfortunately,
many are still in the dark about the hazards of night-time driving. Some
are clueless about ways to properly handle such situations.
Tips for Driving Safely At Night
What's
so dangerous about night driving? The darkness, of course. Drivers'
reactions are largely hinged – about 90 percent – on vision, which is
substantially limited in the evening. Once sundown hits, color
recognition, peripheral vision and depth perception get compromised.
It's
even more difficult to see at night if you're an older driver. A
60-year-old driver may require two times more light to be able to see
clearly than someone who just pushed 30.
Traffic mishaps that
prove fatal are often the result of alcohol consumption. Alcohol plays a
part in nearly half of the deaths listed that are related to motor
vehicles use. An even greater number of fatal crashes happen on weekend
evenings than at other times during the week.
Fatigue is yet
another factor that makes night driving more dangerous. If you're
drowsy, your concentration is dulled, which then causes you to react
slower.
The good news is there are several measures you can take
to effectively reduce such after-dark perils. All these have to do with
getting the car ready and following certain guidelines while driving.
- Prepare
the vehicle for evening drives. Keep tail lights, windows, signal
lights and headlights clean – inside as well as outside.
- Never
mix drinking with driving. Alcohol significantly impairs driving
abilities and acts like a depressant. Even a single drink can trigger
fatigue.
- When in doubt, turn on the headlights. The lights won't
help make things more visible during early dawn or twilight hours, but
they will go far toward making other drivers see you on the road. It's
just as important to be seen as for you to see.
- Avoid
overdriving the headlights. The illuminated area should be enough so
stop there. If you don't you could create a blind crash spot in front of
your car.
- When oncoming vehicles fail to reduce the beams from
high down to low, you can avoid the resulting glare by doing this: watch
the road's right edge and use it as guide while steering.
- If
car trouble strikes, make sure to pull the vehicle off the road at a
significant distance. It is best to set up reflecting triangles close to the car
(about 300 feet at the back) right away to alert approaching traffic of
your situation. Turn both the dome light and blinkers on. If you have any additional flashlights, safety lights, or reflective gear in your car use them. Put on reflective safety vests or apparel for added protection when leaving your vehicle. And put any lights you may have on flashing mode outside your car (or on your hood). Get passengers
out of the car and away from the site and stay off the road.
- Headlights
should be aimed correctly. Improperly aimed headlights can blind other
car drivers and limit your ability to visualize the road.
- Don't smoke while driving. Night vision is hampered by carbon monoxide and nicotine in cigarette smoke.
- Reduce speed and raise the following distances. It's tougher to gauge vehicular speeds as well as distances when the sun is out.
- When behind another car, maintain headlights at low beams so the driver ahead isn't blinded by your light.
- Stop frequently for exercise and light snacking. If you are tuckered out, take a break and rest for a while.
When
the sun sets, it's time to observe some night drive safety measures.
Dusk is one of the toughest times to go driving. Your eyes have to
constantly adapt to the growing darkness so it's definitely a challenge
to keep seeing clearly at night. Take care when driving at sundown. If you have anymore tips please share them with us.
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