Do you know when traffic death rates are the highest? According to National Safety Council at night there are three times more accidents.
Why is night driving so dangerous? One obvious answer is darkness. The medical profession believes that 50 year old drivers need two times as much light as 30 year old driver. Ninety percent of a driver’s reaction depends on vision, and vision is severely limited at night. Depth perception, color recognition, and peripheral vision are compromised after sundown. Other hindrances of night driving are drowsiness affecting driver’s concentration and reaction time. Another common offender of night accidents are alcohol impairment.
Fortunately, you can take several effective measures to minimize these after-dark dangers by preparing your car and following special guidelines while you drive.
- Don’t consume alcohol and other drugs that might impair your judgment while driving.
- Avoid smoking while driving because the nicotine and carbon monoxide will hamper night vision.
- Make sure to be driving the speed limit and keeping the correct distances from vehicles.
- Make sure all your lights are all functioning and illuminating correct area.
- When following another vehicle, keep your headlights on low beams s you don’t blind the driver ahead of you.
- If oncoming traffic has their brights on while approaching you try to avoid being blinded by glancing to right edge of road and using painted lines as guide.
- When driving long distances try to make frequent stops for snack or just a stretch to avoid drowsiness.
- If you are ever faced with car trouble at night make sure to use your flashers as pull over and if possible flares to mark off your position on the side of the road.
- Allow your eyes a chance to adjust to the darkness before you start driving.
- Put your navigation system in night mode.
- Try to minimize use of interior light.
- Keep your car in tip-top shape for maximum safety. Make sure Penske Automotive Groups service department regularly inspects your fluid levels, lights, tire pressure and breaks.
Driving at night is not all bad! Following these basic hints and suggestions should make night time driving safer for you and all around you.
