How to Stay Safe When Driving a Car at Night

Most of us would probably opt not to drive in the evening if we could avoid it. Nighttime is not the chosen time for any long or short distance driving unless you need to get to and from work or a gathering. The roads may have fewer cars, but visibility is reduced at night, drivers tend to be tired, and the glare from headlights can be blinding and cause an accident.

Then there are truckers. No one wants to be in a lane when a tired trucker starts veering over the line toward your car.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nighttime driving is responsible for roughly half of all fatal car accidents, even though fewer vehicles are on the road. Drive at night, and you face three times the risk of an accident when compared to daytime driving.

Avoid night driving if you can, but there are a few things to stay safe at night.

Safe Nighttime Driving

• Designated Driver – Driving locally? If you’re visiting a restaurant, a party, or a bar, ensure you have a designated driver who does not consume alcohol. The other option is to take a Lyft or Uber to and from your destination.
• Fatigued Driver – Whatever you do, you do not want to drive or operate a vehicle if you are tired. Nighttime visibility is reduced, so the driver must be alert and have enough rest. A sleep-deprived driver who has been awake for 20 hours is the equivalent of being impaired like a drunk driver. 
• Low Light – Low light reduces visibility, including depth perception, peripheral vision, and color recognition. Low light is especially challenging for older drivers to avoid hazards on the road, as a 50-year-old may need twice as much light as a 30-year-old to see well. Conversely, headlight glare is uncomfortable for the head-on driver and may cause him to slow down or drift out of his lane. However, using your bright lights would help when there are no oncoming cars.
• Vehicle Safety – Before hitting the road, make sure your car is in good shape. Do the tires have adequate air? Are the headlights bright and working? Are they pointed straight ahead and not aimed too high toward the other driver’s face? Always use your mirror dimmer if you are being blasted with light from the car behind you.
• Speed – Always drive slower at night and use your signals when turning. You will need more time to respond and react to obstacles and road conditions. The posted road speed limit was established after engineers studied how the road would handle real-life situations.

If you can, avoid two-lane highways at night where glare has the most impact, and you are at the mercy of a reckless, aggressive driver.

Car accidents often occur in urban areas, but most fatalities (62%) happen in rural areas. According to Alabama Crash Facts, in 2020, 932 people were killed in 853 fatal crashes. And for every fatality, there were about 40 injuries.

Excessive speeding, texting, drunk and tired driving, and failure to wear a seat belt account for many of these deaths and injuries. Getting behind the wheel of a car is not the time to let your guard down.

An Alabama Car Accident Lawyer

We hope these tips help you reduce any chance of a car wreck on the road at night. If the unfortunate happens, call Attorney Chip Nix’s law office to arrange a complimentary consultation during this difficult time. His decades of experience in representing individuals injured in car accidents all over Alabama will lead you in the right direction at a time when you most need guidance.

From medical injuries to timely filings and negotiating with the insurer for the other side, Mr. Nix understands how to navigate Alabama personal injury laws to seek full and fair compensation.

Mr. Nix has also represented thousands of individuals injured in truck, motorcycle, and pedestrian accidents. It takes just a moment to suffer an injury, but it can take years to recover fully. Contact the law office of Chip Nix at 334-203-6669 so you can have your questions answered and move ahead with your life.

Sources:

Progressive Insurance
https://www.progressive.com/lifelanes/on-the-road/tips-for-driving-at-night/

Sleep Foundation
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/drowsy-driving/drowsy-driving-vs-drunk-driving#:~:text=After%2020%20hours%20of%20being,Even%20mild

Drive Safe Alabama
https://drivesafealabama.org/serious-stats/