3 Tips for Driving at Night

September 19, 2017

Driving at night can be an annoyance because of the lack of vision and having to rely on not only your headlights, but other drivers having working lights on their vehicles. Driving at night can be dangerous as 49 percent of fatal crashes nationwide occur at night as of 2009 statistics. That may not seem high since daytime crashes would be slightly over the majority, but consider the fact that fewer people are on the roadways at night, and this statistic illustrates the dangers of night driving.

Here are some tips to help keep you safe behind the wheel:

Adjust Your Lights

Of course, you need to have your dashboard lit up so that you can safely see your speed and other information on your car, but keeping it bright as it will wreck havoc on your vision. You should also turn down any other interior lights, such as your GPS. Many GPS units have nighttime maps for this very purpose.

You also want to make sure that all of your exterior lights are working correctly and are in good condition so that other vehicles can see you on the roadways. Get any non-working lights fixed as quickly as possible, as they let other drivers know where you are going at night with turn signals.

Avoid Unnecessary Sunglasses
You may have seen something telling you that yellow tinted sunglasses can help you to see better at night, but this is a myth. It cuts down on the amount of light that you see while driving. Prescription glasses wearers should use glasses with anti-reflective coating to help stop the light from moving around your lenses.

Be on the Lookout for Wildlife

Often, you may encounter more wildlife on the roads when driving at night, and this can pose a danger to you, your car, and the animal. You should be on the lookout for the reflections of light in the animal’s eyes up ahead of your path. This can appear like two tiny spots of brightness. You’ll want to slow down as much as possible without causing a car accident behind you. Trying to steer around deer and other animals may make you more likely to crash, as they will sometimes follow the headlights, which move them into your path.

Even with following all the possible precautions for safe nighttime driving, accidents can occur. If you’ve been in an accident due to the negligence of another, contact the law offices of Hoyt & Hoyt, P.C. to discuss the details of your case.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney/client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.