Tips for Driving at Night

With Michigan’s unpredictable winter weather and short hours of daylight this time of year, motorists have a greater chance of needing to hit the roads after dark.

Even with modern vehicles with advanced lighting, a lot of drivers still prefer to travel during the day. And there are a few good reasons for that. First, we naturally prefer to be awake during the day and asleep at night. As a result, we’re more apt to be sleepy when behind the wheel after dark. In addition, there’s our relatively poor night vision and the potential for headlight glare. These factors show why we need to be more careful when behind the wheel at night.

Research revealed that in fatal crashes over a five-year period, 4,835 people lost their lives in crashes in Michigan, with more than half of those occurring after dark. And other statistics show that night driving is dangerous, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

However, with some precautions and sound judgment, you can make night driving much safer.

What are Some Good Tips for Night Driving?

Operating a vehicle at night doesn’t have to be intimidating. You can use these tips to decrease the risks and drive with greater confidence after sunset:

1. Don’t drive if you’re tired. The less rested you are, the less attentive you’ll be when you’re behind the wheel. You can take in some caffeine, listen to the radio, or getting fresh air by opening a window—these will help keep you alert. However, if nothing’s working, you need to take a break. Rather than taking risks pushing through the fatigue, stop and rest.
2. Try to stay away from two-lane highways. Two-lane highways at night add another degree of danger. Small mistakes can turn deadly as there is less time to react, and you’re much closer to oncoming traffic.
3. Keep your windshield and mirrors clean. Visibility is a major part of safety when driving at night. The better you can see, the safer you’ll be. Be sure that your windshield and mirrors are all clean and clear. A dirty windshield scatters light and makes the effects of glare worse.
4. Modify interior car lights. The light sources inside your vehicle can create a distraction as your eyes move between the road and your dashboard. Try to keep unnecessary interior lights off and dim the brightness of your display lights.
5. Adjust your headlights. Your headlights are critical when driving at night, so make certain that they’re working correctly. Keep the protective cover clean and see that their bulbs are bright enough to do their job. Plus, the angle your headlights is important: if it’s too low, you’ll be unable to see what’s ahead, and too high and you may blind oncoming motorists.
6. Use your high beams only when needed. Good working high beams greatly improve visibility and can create much safer driving conditions, especially in poorly-lit areas like some of the wooden drives around Grand Rapids. However, the power of these brighter lights can blind other drivers traveling in the other direction, so switch to your low beams when you asse oncoming traffic.

While driving at night certainly adds safety risks, using caution and being proactive will help keep you safe. Plan your route, make smart decisions, and follow these tip to make the drive a safer one for you and everyone on the road.

Contact Us

While we do only one quarter of our driving at night, 50% of traffic deaths happen at night. By using these tips, we can all contribute to reducing these numbers.

If you or a family member has been involved in an auto accident in Michigan, you may be entitled to compensation for serious injuries. You need a reliable Michigan car accident attorney that understands the Michigan no-fault insurance laws and can get you what you deserve.

For a free consultation with an experienced auto accident attorney in Michigan, contact Buchanan Firm. Our firm proudly serves people all across Michigan, including major cities like Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Detroit, Lansing, Holland, St. Joe, and Ann Arbor, and rural towns such as Lowell, Ada, Fremont, Newaygo, Grand Haven, Rockford, and Cedar Springs. We will meet you after hours, at home, or in the hospital to accommodate you.