We have all been there. It’s late at night and you are on your way home from a prolonged work day, a party, or a show. Maybe you are road tripping through the states and decided to go through the night in order to eliminate traffic. Whatever the situation, almost every one of us has spent at least one night driving out on the roads in the late hours. When this happens, the potential for a dangerous car accident can skyrocket. Late night drivers often share the road with intoxicated motorists on their way home from the bar. As well, because the roads are typically empty, a tired driver may not be able to determine which streets are one way and which way those streets travel. There is no flow of traffic to gauge the correct direction.

In addition, you may not see barriers up ahead in the darkness. An animal may dart out onto the highway and you may not see it until it is too late. Another car with its lights off may be stopped up ahead and you won’t be able to detect the stopped automobile until you are only seconds away from a collision. In addition to these dangers, driving at night normally means drowsiness. You may be exhausted from a busy day and have a tendency to nod off behind the wheel. This can prove fatal. Traffic death rates are three times greater at night than they are in the daytime. Most people are unaware of the hazards that night driving poses and do not think about the practical ways to eliminate danger when driving at night. Yet the Motor Vehicle Lighting Council says that by thinking through a few practical actions, you may be able to reduce your danger of a nighttime driving accident significantly.

First of all, it is important that you align your headlights correctly if you are going to be driving at night. Many drivers do not even think to align their headlights, and limit their visibility as a result. Take your car to a repair shop if you believe that the visibility given by your headlights is unnecessarily limited. A mechanic can typically help you to fix this problem. As well, you should have your vision checked regularly to improve your nighttime driving safety. If your eyesight is deteriorating, you may need to obtain glasses. Because visibility is lower at night, it can strain already deficient eyes. The American Optometric Association recommends that drivers have a thorough eye exam conducted at least every three years and those drivers over 60 go to the optometrist for a checkup every single year.

As well, when driving at night is important to keep a mental note on how you are using your lights. There are times that it may be necessary for you to put your bright lights on, but make sure to turn them off when a car is approaching you from the opposite direction. High-beam lights can cause a person to temporarily lose visibility, which can be dangerous. If a driver approaches you with bright lights on, then stare at the edge of the road rather than looking at the oncoming car. This will protect you from the potential of temporary blindness.

As well, you should keep your headlights on for an hour after sunrise in order to make sure that others around you can see you as you are approaching. In the fog, use your low-beam lights. When driving at night, never turn your headlights off. A driver may not see you in the darkness if you do not have these lights to serve as a warning. If you have to pull over to the side of the road, make sure to turn on your hazard lights so that you can warn oncoming cars of your presence. When driving at night, don’t turn on any lights inside the vehicle.

This will limit your visibility outside the car. Keep all windows and headlights clean to make sure that you have full visibility, and make sure to keep your eyes moving so that you are prepared for any unexpected surprises. You should also increase your following distance at night. Make sure that you are at least 5 seconds behind any car that you are following in order to avoid an accident and give yourself more time to react should something happen. Also, regulate speed while driving at night. Just because it is dark and there aren’t as many people on the road is no excuse to drive over the limit. If you have been injured in an accident at night due to low visibility or another cause, contact a car accident attorney near you today!