4 Dangers of Night Driving and How to Combat Them

Many of us lead very busy lives that can have us on the road at odd hours. Regardless of your lifestyle, the odds of you being on the road at night are fairly high. Here are a few dangers of night driving that you should be aware of: 

1. Poor Vision

As obvious as this danger may seem, when it comes to night driving, it’s worth mentioning. When the sun goes down, so does our ability to see clearly, and the older we get, the more this is true. Less light means less sight.

There are a few ways to combat this nighttime danger. If you feel your confidence waning when you drive at night, try to get your driving done during the day. However, for many of us, this isn’t an option. If you have to drive at night, you can do things such as have an annual eye exam, slow down, and remove distractions so you can focus on the road. Use your high beams appropriately so that you don’t lower other drivers’ abilities to see.

2. Fatigue

Unless you’re nocturnal or working a third shift at the factory, nighttime is when you’re most likely sleeping. The more you drive during the time you’d normally be asleep, the more likely you are to experience dangerous fatigue while driving.

According to the United States Department of Transportation, drowsy driving killed 795 people in 2017. Those are just the fatalities — in 2017, around 91,000 crashes involving drowsy driving were reported to the police. These crashes occurred most often between midnight and 6 a.m. in cars that were occupied by only the driver. Be sure to look out for signs of drowsiness while you’re driving to avoid adding to the thousands of people who crash because of it every year. 

3. Other People

You pride yourself on your safe driving during both the day and night, but there’s still one danger you will never be able to completely avoid: other people.

Just because you’re a safe driver, don’t assume that other drivers are making the same safe choices that you are. People are creatures of habit, which is both good and bad. Stay aware of what’s going on around you while you’re driving and refresh yourself on defensive driving techniques to help you avoid drivers who aren’t forming good night driving habits.

4. Poor Car Maintenance

Poor car maintenance can reduce your ability to react to nighttime dangers on the road. Stay on top of your vehicle’s routine maintenance such as brake jobs, alignment adjustments, oil changes, and tire rotation and inspections. By performing these basic tasks or having your mechanic perform them for you, you’ll be better prepared for reacting swiftly and confidently the next time you find yourself on thr road at night.

Safety should always come first, no matter where your travels take you. When you’re driving at night, you need to stay as alert as possible to avoid falling prey to these after-dark driving dangers.

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