According to a 2017 survey published by the ROSPA, 40% of all vehicle collisions occur during nighttime due to reduced visibility and more difficulty in assessing the speed and distance of surrounding vehicles and objects.
With drivers no longer having the advantage of natural lighting to complement their vision, driving in the dark can be a bit of a challenge and requires greater safety precautions than usually required. Here are a few tips you must follow when you’re driving at night to prevent any accidents on the road.
Use Your Headlights
While you mostly don’t need your headlights during the day, having them on is definitely a priority when you’re driving at night. If you’re on the road in the evening, it’s best to turn them on half an hour before dusk so that you can see your surroundings as the sun sets.
Having your headlights on also makes it easier for other drivers on the road to see you. However, avoid using high beam lights as those can have the opposite effect and drivers sharing the road will be temporarily blinded by the intensity of the light, which can lead to accidents.
Lower Your Speed
You should be mindful of your speed regardless of the time of the day, but special care should be taken when you’re driving at night. It’s a good idea to lower your speed when it’s dark out as your reaction time is slower at night than it is during the day.
Even with your headlights turned on, it’s more difficult to see what’s in front of you on the road during nighttime and driving at reduced speed is an additional safety precaution you should take.
Clean Your Windshield & Mirrors
Dirty mirrors and a smudged windshield can reflect and distort light, distracting the driver. This can significantly affect your vision at night, producing a glare in your eyes from the lights being reflected from cars around you.
To ensure clear visibility, wipe your windscreen before you head out at night so that any mist or residue that may have set during the day is removed. Also wipe your side-view and rear-view mirrors, and adjust them to an angle that enables you to see the cars behind you, without reflecting their beaming headlights in your line of vision.
Dim Your Dashboard Lights
There’s a reason cars have dashboard dimmer switches. Having a bright dashboard lit with LEDs can be quite distracting while you’re driving at night, and can diminish your vision.
Make sure you dim the lights on your dashboard and the instrument panel to avoid unnecessary reflections on the windshield. This will allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness properly, and will improve your nighttime vision.
While taking the necessary precautions allow for safe driving at night, having adequate driving skills is even more crucial! Get your driving education at our driving school in Arizona and learn all the tips and tricks with our driving lessons!
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