RoadSmart Report | January, 2006

Safety tips for driving at night

Driving at night requires a different set of skills than driving during the day. Depth perception is much lower at night and vision is diminished. Drivers can also become drowsy which can dull concentration and slow reaction time - increasing the chances of being involved in a collision. However, there are a number of helpful tips you can follow to ensure your safety the next time you are out driving at night.

• Use your headlights respectfully – turn your headlights on one hour before sunset to make it easier for other drivers to see you in early twilight. Keep your headlights on at least one hour after sunrise. Refrain from flashing your high beams at a vehicle with its high beams on; this will only increase the chance that two drivers will not be able to see. If your vehicle is equipped with fog lamps, use them with your low beams only when there is fog or inclement weather.

• Make it easy for others to see you – be sure all exterior vehicle lights work properly. In the case of vehicle breakdown, pull completely off the road and turn on emergency flashers.

• Avoid glare as much as possible – instead of looking directly at oncoming headlights, look toward the right side of the road and watch the white line marking the outside edge of the traffic lane. When headlights from vehicles following you reflect in your rearview mirror, adjust your mirror to cut out as much of the light as possible.

• Adjust your vehicle’s interior lighting – glare can often be reduced by dimming your dashboard lights. Avoid using any lights inside your vehicle while you’re driving at night.

• Keep all windows, headlights and tail lamps clean – dirty windows can increase glare, making it more difficult to see. Be sure to keep the inside and outside of your windshield, as well as your headlights and tail lamps clean. Tail lights help other motorists see your vehicle and know your intentions.

• Be attentive – vulnerable road users, such as cyclists and pedestrians, are much harder to see at night. Keep a watch for them.

• Increase your following distance – increasing the distance between you and the vehicle in front of you can make it easier to spot potential problems on the road and give you more time to respond. As well, proper lighting will enable you to react quicker and stop safely.

• Reduce speed – driving too fast is more dangerous after dark than during the day because you can overdrive your vision and headlights. Travelling at high speeds doesn’t allow enough time or distance to stop if you encounter an unexpected object on the road or in case of emergency.

• Prevent fatigue – night driving can be tiring, so ensure good ventilation inside the vehicle and take frequent refreshment breaks to give your eyes a chance to rest. If you are feeling extemely sleepy, stop at a rest stop or a safe distance off the road and have a nap.

• Use your vehicle mirrors to your advantage – exterior mirrors that are properly aligned not only reduce blind spots, they also reduce glare from vehicles behind you. The outside rearview mirrors should be adjusted so that the body of the vehicle is just outside of the driver’s view.

Contact:
Brian Kline
Manager, Vehicle Inspection
SGI
Regina
(306) 775-6189