The nighttime is the hardest time to drive because you are prone to many things such as the dangers of being attacked, accidents with no one to help, dizziness, and a lot more.
Therefore, when driving at night, it is most important for you to increase your following distance especially when it becomes difficult to see, use your headlights to increase your visibility by following the rules for proper use of high and low beams, and don’t look directly at the oncoming vehicle headlights to avoid being blinded by its glare.
When Driving At Night It Is Important For You To?
When driving at night, it is important for you to:
- Increase Your Following Distance: Increasing your following distance is one of the most important things to do when driving at night especially when it becomes difficult for you to clearly see because of the dark.
- Use Headlights to Increase Visibility: Since its night time, it’s obvious that everywhere is dark, use your headlights to increase your visibility. However, while using your headlights, consider following the rules for the proper use of high beams and low beams. It is very important.
- Avoid Looking Directly at Oncoming Vehicle Headlights: When driving at night, it is important for you to not use look directly at the headlights of an oncoming vehicle to avoid being blinded by its glare.
- Avoid Overspeeding: When driving at night, the most important thing you want to get right is your speed. When you drive at night, there is a higher possibility that your sight capacity is not as efficient as during the day. Therefore, getting your speed right helps with seeing clearly.
12 Safety Tips When Driving At Night?
Here are the safety tips you must know when driving at night:
1. Use Your Headlight Accurately
The headlight is designed for nighttime. It is as well important to know that your headlights also come with a user guide for effectiveness when driving during the night.
Aiming your headlights correctly is quite important at night so that the rays of light really pick the details that you need for a more appreciating driving experience.
Not all automobiles have the right alignment of headlights. Due to style and a desire to showcase a creative presentation, some headlight’s position has been a little bit altered.
Before the night bells ring and you need to hit the street for a night drive, ensure you make moves to check and adjust your headlight if need be. If you cannot do it yourself, consult a mechanic.
Aside from improper positioning, you also want to clean out the dirt if there is any in your headlight. It will prevent you from having a dim light when driving.
2. Keep Your Windshields Clean
A cracked windshield isn’t a good bet, especially when the crack tampers with your view. I wouldn’t suggest a night drive with this; you should have it fixed before any night drive.
A dirty windshield isn’t also something to ignore. You defiantly want to keep everything sparkling neat, to keep your view as crystal clear as it is supposed to be.
You can also subscribe for new wipers if you realize that the ones you have got aren’t functioning well. Whether there will be rain or not, you need to be ready for any outcome.
Driver’s precautions also suggest you do a wiper change every 8 months because of the grimes that develop with time and spread across the windshield.
3. Carry Along With you Your Emergency Kit Package
Night and emergencies are like 5 & 6; they are closely related to one another. An emergency kit should be a diverse resource that can attend to an urgent need, a few are; a flashlight, a spare tire, blankets, a jumper cable, a first aid kit, and maybe some chewing gums if you need them to keep yourself awake.
These things are important to ensure you can tackle any possible emergency event that might pop up.
4. Beware Of Wildlife
You need to be aware of animals, especially when you are driving along forested areas; you definitely want to use your speed wisely.
At dusk, wildlife loves to show forth, I assume they were not expecting another to be driving at such time, so they are probably taking their time to patrol the earth.
If you encounter wildlife, you definitely want to move with caution, so you don’t hurt the animal or get attacked.
5. Be Laser-Focused
Night driving requires multiple folds of focus compared to the daytime. You definitely want to get it right. When driving at night, you want to focus on details, and also, you want to take your eyes off the unnecessary.
Being focused requires you have your body doing the driving. Your eye moving accurately, your nose, perceiving well, your ears, are active as ever, and your hands doing the needful. Focus requires all-around activeness.
6. Maintain A Considerate Speed
You definitely don’t want to be too fast, you as well don’t want to be too slow when driving at night. There aren’t any specific speed limits for you to drive with because your movement should be dependent on the road condition, your driving skills, the weather condition, and your sight ability.
All of these things are what you’ll need to consider before speeding. The major point is that you are driving responsibly.
7. Wear Your Seat Belt
A seat belt is created to keep you safe. It keeps you within an acceptable sitting position. Even though no one is available to give you a ticket for driving without wearing your seat belt, put your safety in mind when driving at night.
8. Make Plans for Breaks
I assume you’re traveling the night because the distance is quite long, right? Long distances can get you worn out, fatigued, and dizzy.
To manage to have an excellent driving experience, you should make plans for breaks (maybe after every two hours, you stop to take a stretch), you should also make plans for taking a nap.
Nighttime can be dangerous, taking a break will mean you have found a place you see the potential for safety.
Only take breaks in safe locations. Don’t forget, it is nighttime; you have a disadvantage of passersby who can help.
9. Give Other Vehicles Spaces
In case you’re hoping you’ll be the only one driving at night, others also travel at night. If you happen to have cars ahead of you, don’t forget to leave a little space so as to avoid a collision. 10-second drive space is enough, and if the weather condition is bad, you should double it.
10. Plan Your Trip Ahead of Time
Not planning ahead comes with its errors. When you are sure you’ll be traveling through the night, you should get your map ready in case you’re not familiar with the road.
Also, get your kits ready, we already discussed what you might need earlier on. Finally, you don’t want to forget to get a fire extinguisher, who knows, you might need it or someone might need it.
11. Keep the Music Low and Steady
Amongst the thing that keeps you awake when driving at night is music. You can as well chew the lyrics as you do with your favorite meal.
But, ensure you don’t turn your music too loud, so you don’t attract wildlife or be too distracted to have your ears pick sounds from outside. Ensure you keep it low and steady.
12. Keep Road Signs in Mind
Road signs are there to keep you safe and informed. You shouldn’t ignore them. I know you might be tempted to ignore it, but that is fine, and we all do.
But, be mindful of the most important ones such as the stop sign, speed limit signs, dangers signs, and many others.
Conclusion
Drive with caution is the slogan but when driving at night it is most important for you to drive with extra caution. You don’t want to slack on the safety tips, do you?
