Driving at night is a common practice. You may work a shift that means you either drive to or from work while it’s dark outside. You may not feel any particular way about driving at night, but you may want to remember that nighttime driving does pose certain hazards that driving during the day does not.
Fortunately, you do not have to develop a fear of driving at night. Rather, you may simply want to refresh yourself on safety measures you can take to ensure that you do not put yourself or others at unnecessary risk while on the road after the sun goes down.
Stay alert
Drowsy driving poses a substantial risk to travelers at any time, day or night. Of course, driving at night may raise the potential for fatigue setting in, and statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicate that accidents caused by drowsy driving are more likely to occur between midnight and 6 a.m. Therefore, you should make sure that you do not feel drowsy before you get behind the wheel while driving at night.
Stay off back roads
You may live in an area where you know the two-lane back roads like the back of your hand. However, when driving at night, avoiding these roads may work in your best safety interests. Typically, these roads have less lighting and more hazards, like hills and curves, than highways. Additionally, you may experience vision problems due to glare from the headlights of oncoming cars.
Stay clean
Because your ability to see clearly plays an important part in staying safe while driving at any time, so you may want to make sure that you clean your windshield and your headlights before heading out at night. Dirty or cracked windshields or lights could make it even more difficult to see at nighttime.
Stay defensive
Defensive driving can be beneficial any time you are behind the wheel. Staying extra defensive at night could help you notice hazards before they cause a serious accident. In particular, you may want to remain aware of the possibility of intoxicated drivers in your vicinity, and if you notice any concerning actions from other drivers, you should get off the road as safely as possible and notify authorities of your concerns.
Hopefully you will make it home safely no matter what time of day you travel. Of course, that outcome is not always guaranteed, and if you do find yourself injured in a car accident caused by another driver, you may want to consider your legal options for seeking compensation.