What You Should Know About Driving at Night
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road safety rear view safety rear view camera nighttime driving night driving car safety back up camera

Driving at night is significantly more dangerous than driving during daylight hours; in fact, the National Safety Council has noted that traffic death rates are up to three times higher at night than during the day. Some of the many reasons for this include

  • Darkness that affects depth perception, color recognition and peripheral vision
  • Vision problems
  • Fatigue
  • An increased number of drunken drivers on the road

It is also worth noting that elderly drivers (over the age of 50) have a harder time seeing at night than younger drivers. Existing eye conditions, combined with darkness, make it exponentially harder to see properly, leading many otherwise safe, cautious drivers to have serious road accidents.

Nighttime Safety Tips

While driving at night is certainly not ideal, there are a number of things a driver can do to reduce the risk of accidents. To start with, you will want to make sure that you are well rested before taking to the road at twilight or during the night. Eating the right foods, getting sufficient exercise and avoiding alcoholic beverages for at least a couple of hours before you drive will help you stay alert and awake. Medications such as sedatives, antidepressants and antihistamines should also be avoided, as they have a similar effect as alcohol.

Another important aspect of road safety is buckling up. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has noted that well over half of all passenger vehicle deaths at night can be attributed to the fact that the individuals involved were not wearing a seatbelt.

Installing a camera system in the vehicle is also a wise option, particularly for truckers and others who frequently drive at twilight and/or during the night. There are a number of options to choose from, making it easy for you to pick the type of camera that best suits the needs of your vehicle.

Tech Rogers has also compiled a helpful guide with tips on night driving.

If you want to drive safe, avoid driving at night or during twilight hours as much as possible. However, if you must drive during this time, take heed to the safety tips outlined above. These simple, easily applied tips can save not only your life but the lives of others on the road as well.

Sources:

https://www.techrogers.com/safe-night-driving-guidelines-tips/

https://www.nsc.org/news_resources/Resources/Pages/DrivingatNight.aspx#.U_aHqcV dWx5

https://www.dmv.org/how-to-guides/night.php


https://www.nhtsa.gov/nhtsa/ciot/stats.htmlhttps://www.rearviewsafety.com/