Driving at night is often necessary even for people who usually keep first-shift schedules. During the winter months, for example, people may need to leave for work or take their children to school before the sun even comes up in the morning. They may not return home until after it has set.
Nighttime driving is statistically more dangerous than daytime driving for a number of reasons. Issues with visibility and a higher number of drunk driving crashes are both concerns for those driving at night. Thankfully, some small adjustments to driving behavior can help someone reduce the risk of driving when it is dark outside. Consider the following tips for driving more safely after the sun sets.
Avoid two-lane highways
Headlights can potentially blind drivers late at night. The bright lights of vehicles approaching someone in traffic can affect their night vision. The impact of headlight brightness is lower in well-illuminated areas. On rural two-lane highways, there may not be any other lights to diminish the impact of the headlights of oncoming vehicles. Two-lane highways are the location of many of the worst crashes that occur at night.
Maintain headlights and turn signals
Ensuring that a vehicle has functional headlights and turn signals before driving at night is of the utmost importance. Burned-out lights can significantly increase someone’s risk of a crash. They also put drivers at risk of citations issued by police officers. Inspecting, maintaining and consistently using headlights and turn signals can improve someone’s safety on the roads at night.
Avoid fatigued driving
Drowsy driving can be incredibly dangerous. People who have gone too long without adequate sleep may experience difficulty making decisions and might experience longer reaction times. Dark conditions only exacerbate fatigue in many people, as the body naturally reacts to the changing time of day. Drivers should ensure they have had enough rest before driving after dark.
Avoid interior lights
Oftentimes, the passengers in the vehicle have their phones out or use handheld electronic devices in the backseat. The light generated by those devices can create visual distraction and affect the night vision of someone driving after dark. Drivers usually also need to avoid using their cabin lights whenever possible during nighttime travels.
Regardless of the time of day that a collision occurs, those involved in a crash caused by someone else may have grounds to request compensation. Filing an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit could be the right response to a crash caused by another motorist.