Nightime Driving: Avoiding Accidents
Auto accidents can happen at any time of day, but you have a greater chance of being in an accident at night. Almost 50 percent of car accident fatalities occur at night, even though only about 25 percent of automobile travel happens at night, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHSTA). Naturally, you don't want to be in an accident at any time of day, but the statistics show that it just makes sense to be extra cautious at night. This article looks at four key safety tips for nighttime driving.
Drowsiness
One of the worst things any driver can do is operate a vehicle when they feel drowsy. Of course, the average person is typically more likely to feel drowsy at night rather than during the day. According to the NHSTA, most accidents caused by drowsiness or fatigue occur between the hours of 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. The agency advises that the most effective way to avoid drowsy driving is to get an adequate amount of sleep, which is seven or eight hours a night. You should also check the labels of any medications you are taking to see if the pills cause drowsiness. It's a good idea to avoid driving between midnight and 6 a.m., if possible, as well.
Oncoming Headlights
The headlight glare from oncoming vehicles is a factor in some nighttime accidents. The reason for this is that your eyes do not adjust quickly enough when a bright light suddenly enters your field of vision, which can prevent you from seeing the road and possibly lead to an accident. To prevent headlight glare from causing problems, make sure you have your vision checked regularly. Also, keep your windshield and windows clean because dirt on your car's glass can make the glare worse. A critical point is to avoid staring directly at the oncoming car's headlights. Look at the right side of the road while keeping the lane markers in view.
Interior LIghts
When you drive at night, it's best to keep your interior lights off except for those on the dashboard. Interior lights can interfere with your night vision making it more difficult for you to see outside of the vehicle. The lights make your pupils contract, which reduces your ability to see sharp details in the surrounding darkness.
These tips should help you drive more safely during the nighttime hours, but, unfortunately, you are not able to control what the other drivers on the road are doing. It's possible that, even if you drive very safely at night, another driver could still involve you in an accident. In this case, you need to contact an auto accident lawyer to help you determine if you have a legal case against the driver at fault.
For more information, contact an auto accident lawyer near you.
