2010 March Safety Tip:

Night Driving

Driving at night presents a different set of challenges than driving during the day but many drivers are not aware of the hazards of night driving or ways to deal with them. 
Ninety percent of a driver’s reaction depends on their vision, which is more limited at night.  Depth perception and peripheral vision are diminished as well as color and contrast recognition.

Twilight is one of the most difficult times to drive because your eyes are constantly changing and adapting to the increasing darkness.  Traffic death rates are three times greater at night.  So, you should be extremely careful while driving at night and take as many precautions as possible. 

Fortunately, there are several effective measures and precautions that can be taken to improve your driving ability in the dark. 

Night Driving Safety Tips

Use your headlights appropriately - Turn on your headlights one hour before sunset and use them for at least one hour after sunrise. This will make it easier for other drivers to see you in early twilight. Ensure your headlights are aimed properly. Mis-aimed headlights can reduce your ability to see the road and also blind other drivers.

Keep windows and headlights clean – Be sure to clean the inside and outside of your windshield and windows, as well as your headlights/taillights. Dirty windows can increase glare and impair vision and dirty headlights can reduce efficiency by as much as 90%.

Avoid glare – if an oncoming vehicle has their high beams on and is impairing your vision, avoid glare by watching the right edge of the road and using it as a steering guide.

Increase your following distance and reduce speed – Increase your following distance by four to five seconds and do not overdrive your headlights. You should be able to stop inside the illuminated area from your headlights. This will give you more time to spot potential issues and react accordingly.

Prevent fatigue – Make frequent stops for light snacks and exercise. This will also give your eyes a chance to recover. Stop and get rest if you are too tired to drive.

Proper use of mirrors – proper positioning of your mirrors can not only reduce blind spots but also reduce glare from vehicles behind you. Outside rearview mirrors should be adjusted so the bodywork of the vehicle is just outside of the driver’s view. The rearview mirror can be flipped to its “day-night” setting to change the angle and reduce glare.

Drive Safe!