Are You in the Dark About Nighttime Driving Safety?
If you feel as though it is more difficult to drive at night than it is during the day, you are right. Driving requires skill and concentration at any time of day or night, but after the sun sets, it is more difficult for drivers to see things like signs and pavement markings. Wildlife and pedestrians are also harder to see, so when drivers do spot them, they often have very little time to react to their presence. The already limited visibility at night can be reduced even further when rain, snow, ice, and fog are present.
Not only is driving at night more difficult, it is more dangerous. In the United States, approximately half of all motor-vehicle-related fatalities happen at night, even though there are far fewer cars on the road than there are during the day. Many of the car accidents that happen at night are single-car crashes, where the vehicle goes off of the road.
The good news is that even though driving at night is more dangerous than it is during the day, it is safer to drive at night now than it was in years past. Since 1975, the number of nighttime motor vehicle fatalities has been declining steadily. During that time, improvements have been made to lighting, signage, and pavement markings to increase their visibility. Also, tougher drunk driving and seat belt laws have improved driver safety habits. Vehicles have also become more sophisticated, with headlights that provide much greater visibility and safety features like air bags.
You can increase your chances of arriving at your destination safely after a nighttime drive by implementing some simple safe driving practices. At night, reduce your speed so that you will have more time to react to anything that you might see in the road, or the actions of other drivers nearby. During the day, it is suggested that you allow one vehicle length for every ten miles per hour of speed. At night, be sure to leave at least that much, and preferably even more. Driving at night is harder on your eyes than daytime driving, so if your eyes begin to feel tired, pull into a parking lot or other safe location off of the road, and take a rest break. When there is fog, do not turn on your high beams. Low beams actually provide better visibility in fog than high beams do. Do not forget to dim your lights when you are behind another vehicle, so that you do not hurt the driver’s eyes. If bright lights from oncoming traffic are bothering your eyes, focus your eyes along the right side of the road. When you see a deer, remember that they travel in herds. Slow down, and scan the area for additional animals as you drive through. If you do get into an accident, make sure that you pull off of the roadway as much as you can. Use your vehicle’s hazard lights, and stay inside your vehicle until help arrives, if it is safe to do so.
If you or someone that you love has been injured in an automobile accident at any time of day or night, you need the assistance of an experienced Memphis car accident attorney at Bailey & Greer, PLLC. We will fight for you while you recover from your injuries, and we will work hard to get you the compensation that you deserve. To learn more about how we can help you, please call us today, at 901-680-9777. At Bailey & Greer, PLLC, we are small enough to care, big enough to fight, and experienced enough to win.
Since graduating magna cum laude in 2005 from the University of Memphis School of Law, Thomas has helped make a difference in the lives of victims of serious personal injury, wrongful death, and professional negligence. Thomas has extensive trial experience in both state and federal court. Among other victories in the courtroom, Thomas obtained several impressive jury verdicts and settlements
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