Driving after dark is much more dangerous than driving during the day. In fact, half of the roadway fatalities out there occur after dark, even though that’s when the roads see the least amount of traffic.
Understanding why night driving is so challenging can help you stay conscious of the risks and be more proactive about your approach to safety. Here are three of the most common reasons that deadly accidents happen.
Reduced visibility
The most obvious problem with night driving is the reduced visibility. It’s obviously a lot harder to identify hazards in your path, other vehicles, bicyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians in the dark – but that’s not the only issue. Older drivers gradually lose their ability to see clearly at night, with drivers over 60 years old needing three times the amount of light to safely navigate their vehicles than drivers in their 20s.
Fatigue and drowsiness
Human beings follow a natural sleep-wake cycle that corresponds to light and darkness, and that can make it harder for drivers to stay awake at night. Even a driver who is just mildly fatigued can have slower reaction times.
Drunk drivers
Night is when all of the party animals come out to play – and some of them may be sharing the roads with you after having more than a reasonable share to drink.
Fall is rapidly approaching, and that means you can expect the days to gradually get shorter and shorter – so you will probably find yourself driving in the dark more often. If you end up in a crash due to another driver’s mistake, you have every right to ask for compensation for the harm that you’ve suffered.