Driving at night involves risks associated with reduced visibility and drowsiness. Keep reading this post by Jim Ackney in Edmonton for tips on how to safely tackle the roads at night.

Do you enjoy driving at night? Some drivers like to take relaxing rides after sunset when the streets and roads are free of traffic and noise. Although taking the wheel after dark has a charm, it is vital to recognize that driving at night is quite risky. From reduced visibility to the risk of falling asleep at the wheel, the night puts drivers in a challenging spot. Still, drivers can use specific techniques and habits to improve their night driving safety. With that in mind, this post has listed some tips for dealing with the road after dark. Read on for more information.

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How to Stay Safe While Driving at Night

Check Your Car’s Lights Periodically

For starters, it's critical that you keep your vehicle's lighting system in good shape. After all, you depend on your headlights to see the road at night and allow other road users to see you. So start by having your car's exterior lenses cleaned by a professional. You can even do it yourself, as long as you follow the instructions in the owner's manual. Another good idea is to perform a pre-driving inspection of the lighting system. Doing so is very simple; just turn all the lights on and off to verify that they are working correctly. If you notice a bulb is flickering or emitting dim light, have it checked by your mechanic, as it could be improperly installed or blown. Finally, check the aim of your vehicle's headlights. Doing so will help ensure the lights point toward the road and not oncoming traffic.

Schedule Regular Eye Tests

When it gets dark, it's a little more challenging to recognize other people, objects, potholes, and curves in the road. Yet, you depend on your eyesight to drive safely, so it's essential to visit your eye doctor at least once a year. Failing to do so could have dangerous consequences, as any undiagnosed eye condition could put you and those around you at risk. Even if you think your eyesight is fine, be sure to have your vision checked at least once a year.

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Avoid glare

Dazzle or glare occurs when a sudden bright light causes discomfort or momentary blindness in the middle of the dark. In that sense, it is worth explaining how the eye adjusts in low-light environments. As you know, the pupil constricts or dilates depending on the light available. When driving on a dark road, your pupils expand so that the retina receives all available light and the eye can see. The risky part occurs when oncoming cars have misplaced high beams aimed at you. Looking into the headlights while your retina is exposed and sensitive to the light can cause momentary blindness at the wheel. Given that risk, avoid looking at the headlights of oncoming cars. Instead, direct your gaze toward the white line marking the edge of the right lane until you pass the vehicle.

Slow Down

Slowing down will help you compensate for the lack of visibility to react safely to hazards on the road. To better understand this point, imagine that you are driving at high speed on a dark road. In such a hypothetical scenario, your gaze would cover clearly what your headlights illuminate. Therefore, any obstacle about 160 feet ahead of the car would elude your view. That being said, imagine there is a fallen tree obstructing your lane a few feet away. Going fast, you would not have enough time to stop for the obstacle. Conversely, driving more cautiously would allow you to swerve safely or emergency brake in front of the tree. Considering the above, choose to reduce your speed whenever you go on the road at night.

Don’t Drive When Tired

As we all know, driving when tired is a terrible idea, so avoid doing so at all costs. If you have no better choice but to take the wheel when you are fatigued, choose to sleep for at least 20 minutes before driving. Also, drink some coffee or take an energizing drink before lying down. According to recent studies, doing so may reduce drowsiness symptoms to be more alert at the wheel.

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