You don’t always get to choose when you get off work. Sometimes, you end up leaving much later than you’d like. For example, the other day, you were driving home after midnight. Night driving has a lot of risks, and it’s definitely more dangerous than driving during the day. Of course, you do your best to follow the traffic laws and to make sure you take well-known roadways at night, but other drivers can be unpredictable.
There are multiple reasons why driving is more difficult and dangerous at night. Some reasons include:
- Lower visibility, which makes it hard to judge distances or to see animals, pedestrians or other hazards.
- Glare from other vehicles, which can be temporarily blinding.
- Fatigue, which can slow down response times and dull concentration.
- Drunk drivers, who are more likely to be on the roads in the evening and overnight.
The National Safety Council has pointed out that older drivers may need more light to see. For example, a 50-year-old driver needs, on average, around twice as much light to see as well as a 30-year-old driver.
What should you do to be safer while driving at night?
- Before you decide to drive at night, make sure your headlights are working and that you are feeling awake enough to drive safely. If not, it’s better to call a cab or ridesharing service, so you can get home safely.
- Another good tip is to slow down. Though you may be able to travel at the speed limit, doing so could be dangerous.
- Finally, use the right edge of the road as your guide, so you stay centered and can avoid glare from oncoming vehicles.
Night driving is dangerous, but with the above tips, you can be safer. If you do end up in a crash because of another driver’s mistakes, you may be able to seek compensation.
