Night Driving and Road Safety: What You Should Do?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the statistics of accidents during night time increases about three times! This can help us understand how dangerous it is to drive at night. But why is it so? Why do so many accidents occur during the night? And what preventive measures can be taken to avoid such life-taking, terrible accidents? Read ahead to discover answers to all your questions.

Why is driving at night so dangerous?

Driving seems like a very simple task to perform but in reality, it is a very complicated one! The driver needs to stay alert, both mentally and physically. According to many research and studies, it is concluded that during night time driving becomes a riskier task as the percentage of accidents are recorded to rise dramatically. The following are some of the reasons which can help us identify why driving is such a difficult task to perform, especially during the night time.

1. At night an individual's ability to clearly perceive the road ahead deteriorates drastically. This makes it difficult for a driver to view road signs, pedestrians, cyclists, animals, and other upcoming potential hazards on the road ahead. The driver completely depends upon the restricted amount of light provided by the car's headlight.
   
2. At night times the road consist of young as well as elderly drivers who are not experienced enough to tackle complicated situations. Young drivers are tempted to speed their vehicles on open empty roads. While the elderly drivers have limited ability to clearly view the road due to cataracts and degenerative eye diseases which usually occur as we grow older.
3. At night time, there are many pedestrians on the road who are returning in intoxicated conditions, not being able to make accurate decisions and judgments. Not only this but keep in mind that along with intoxicated drivers and drunk pedestrians you would be sharing the roads with drowsy drivers who might be returning home after a long hectic day at work.
4. At night, the low light condition makes it difficult to identify how far is the upcoming hazard or pedestrian situated, making it difficult for the driver to react accordingly. Hence, it can be said that the judgment ability of a driver decreases during night time.
5. The roads in the suburban area consist of wildlife nearby. Deer and kangaroos can appear out of nowhere in the middle of the road or in front of the car, resulting in a horrible accident if the driver is cruising the vehicle at high speed or is not attentive.
   
6. Most of the criminal activities, like placing objects in the middle of the road to halt the car by a crash and rob the driver and occupant, happen at night times. Usually, in order to harm the driver to steal valuable items, fatalities happen.

How to make driving at night safer?

Lets now learn what can be done to make driving at night a safer task.

1. Vision

1. To increase your visibility at night time make sure that headlights are operating properly and aim them in the correct angle/direction. It is recommended to turn on your headlights half an hour before sunset and close them half an hour after the sunrise.
2. To avoid glare from the upcoming vehicle and to get a better perception of the road ahead, keep your windshield and mirrors clean. Make it a habit to clean the windshield and mirrors regularly.
3. Last but not least purchase a reliable night vision system, like Lanmodo Vast Pro, which can substantially assist to broaden the driver's perception by permitting the individual to clearly view up to 300m of the road ahead by showing you a HD full-color images on its 8'' IPS screen.

2. Alertness

1. Refrain from using a mobile phone while driving as they act as a distractor which has caused numerous life-taking accidents. It is recommended to switch off the cell phone or turn it to airplane mode while driving.
2. Stay alert while driving. Do not engage yourself in serious conversation with passengers in the car. Prevent from watching a movie or show on television in the car. Moreover, do not get lost in songs playing on radio or mp3. Always stay alert about your surroundings to avoid any kind of mishap.
3. Look around for hazards and animals and react accordingly. In case an animal appears in front of your car, apply the brake immediately, repeatedly flash the light and press the horn.

3. Avoiding fatigue

1. Do not drive the car when you are drowsy. If exhausted or tired then take proper rest at some motel nearby before driving. You can also call a cab/taxi or you can ask your friend to drop you home.
2. Drive the car slowly and carefully. Speeding the vehicle will reduce the reaction time significantly, resulting in the driver to encounter a disastrous crash. Additionally, it is advised to keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the car in front of you.