Dangers Of Driving At Night: How To Protect Yourself
Night driving is risky — more so than cruising in the daytime. Even if you would rather avoid it, sometimes it’s inevitable and you have to get behind the wheel late at night. What makes this so dangerous, and what can you do to limit the risk to you and your passengers?
Why Is Night Driving Hazardous?
According to the National Safety Council, only one-quarter of total miles driven are at night, but over half of all traffic deaths occur during these hours. While plenty of road hazards can compromise your safety during the day, there are specific reasons you are more likely to be involved in a car crash at night.
Decreased Visibility
First of all, your visibility is much more limited when it’s dark. Nighttime doesn’t only make it difficult to see road signs, animals and pedestrians, it also makes it harder to judge distances, such as the space between your car and the next.
In addition, night blindness affects people who have underlying issues with their eyesight. If you suffer from cataracts or nearsightedness, night driving will reveal this problem because you will lose your peripheral vision and also could lose your central vision. It’s a clear sign you should visit an eye doctor — it might save your life.
Impaired Drivers
One of the most obvious dangers of driving at night is the presence of impaired drivers on the roadway. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), one-third of all fatal crashes involve a drunk driver, and these are most likely to happen at night. Statistics for 2009 show that two-thirds of all fatal crashes between midnight and 3 a.m. involved an alcohol-impaired driver.
Drowsy Drivers
It isn’t just alcohol that creates an unsafe roadway. Lack of sleep can cause fatal accidents as well. Drowsy driving causes approximately 100,000 accidents each year, according to NHTSA estimations. Most of these accidents take place from midnight to 2 a.m., 4 to 6 a.m., and 4 to 6 p.m.
Construction Work
Since nighttime is also peak time for roadwork, this can contribute to additional dangers for drivers. Night driving is already dangerous, but having to watch out for workers and steer carefully around work areas makes it even more of a challenge.
Prepare for Night Driving Ahead of Time
Night driving is not a time to allow yourself to become complacent. To avoid getting involved in an accident, always stay alert to the behavior of drivers around you. Make sure your headlights, taillights and brake lights are all in good working order, along with your high beams.
Drive slower than you normally would, and leave a bigger space between your front bumper and the next car. Keep your windshield clean, and dim your vehicle’s interior lights to reduce glare.
If you are involved in an accident, Stauffer’s Towing can respond right away, no matter the time of night. With our 24-hour service, you can get the help you need if night driving leads to car problems or accidents.
