4 Dangers of driving at night

Driving at nighttime is more difficult. Even while attentive, it’s easy to suddenly be involved in a serious accident in the night if you don’t know what to watch out for on the road.

If you commute at night or regularly drive late into the evening, here are a few of the dangers you should be extra cautious of.

Blurry sight

Passing a regular optometrist test may not mean much if you still have trouble focusing your vision at night. Especially for older individuals, it can be difficult to see clearly in low light.

If you wear glasses, look for anti-reflective lenses to reduce the chances of being temporarily blinded by the glare of oncoming headlights. If your sight is blurry or you have difficulty reading signs while driving at night, seek help from your optometrist.

Low light

Unlit parking lots and evenings after daylight savings has ended are dark. If there isn’t adequate lighting while you’re driving, be aware that your depth perception and peripheral vision may suffer.

Adjusting your headlights, cleaning your windshield and dimming your dashboard are all ways you can combat the darkness.

Drowsiness

Humans are not nocturnal. Our biological clock produces circadian rhythms that cause us to feel sleepy when it gets dark. However, driving when you are tired can be deadly.

Drowsy driving has been compared to drunk driving. There are a few ways to wake up before heading out on the road. But, you should never drive late at night if you are having trouble keeping your head up, unable to focus, yawning or experiencing other symptoms of drowsiness.

Animals

If you drive on rural or low-lit roads, animals are an important hazard to be cautious of at night. Hitting one accidentally could be cause for injury or costly damages to your vehicle.

One way you can avoid hitting animals is to look for two bright dots — eyes — and reduce your speed. However, if you are too close to the animal to slow down by the time you notice it, many experts suggest that it is less dangerous to hit the animal than to accidentally swerve into oncoming traffic.

If you are involved in a car crash, it’s important to consult with an attorney about the legal action you may be able to take. Injuries and costly damages to vehicles can result in lost wages, high medical costs and undeserved suffering. An experienced lawyer can help you seek compensation.