Safe Driving at Night

Night driving is safe as the density of vehicles would reduce however it has its own challenges and risks due to lack of visibility.

This lack of visibility brings out all the risks of the road.

If you have a choice,prefer a day,If it's inevitable,you can follow some guidelines based on scientific insights.

Let's see the main challenges and list strategies to reduce them if not eliminate completely.

1. Visibility - No matter how powerful the headlights are,it cannot cover the entire field of view

2. Sleep - risk of sleeping on the wheel

3. High Beams

4. Parked trucks without tail lights ON ( there is a risk of crashing against a parked truck, if the driver has a habit of driving on the road shoulder

5. Poor after crash support leading to delays

6. Crime

7. If vehicle breakdown,it takes time to get help

8. Lack of Food options

9. As there's a lack of contrast with the surroundings,we may not perceive our speed and may drive faster than required.

10. Vehicles rarely use indicators and we must rely on looking at their wheels,horn, dipping headlights etc

11. Stray animals etc

How to reduce the risks?

• Keep headlights and windshield clear. Dust will increase glare

• Use low beam and high beams effectively without blinding oncoming vehicles. We don't want two blind men hitting each other.

• Have enough rest and take adequate breaks

• If the car is fully loaded,rear can go down a bit and angle of headlights may change. Use headlights leveller to adjust the beams.

• Reduce speed and be super attentive as the reduced visibility would make our field of view narrow

• Never drive on the road shoulder

• Handling reduced visibility - Never overdrive headlights, the best solution. A detailed thread on it is at the end of this post.

• Handling Fatigue - If you feel tired,pull over and sleep near a restaurant or a fuel station etc. Avoid heavy meals.

• Handling High Beams - Do not directly at the lights but look at the road edge or lane markings and scan the road using peripheral vision.

• Handling reduced Perception due to darkness - increase following distance and slowdown in built-up areas

• If you drive a lot at night,prefer a car with auto dimming IRVM.

• If you wear glasses,use drive safe glasses by Carl Zeiss or any anti reflective glasses.

• Carry the following tools for emergencies:

  • Torch

  • Spare bulbs for headlights

  • Emergency contacts

  • Snacks etc

Stick to roads you are familiar with rather than doing an adventure with family on unknown roads.

If the weather is adverse with rain or fog at night, better to wait till morning or stop for a break near a restaurant or a fuel station.