Tips For Driving At Night

Driving at night definitely has its pros and its cons. In normal conditions, we receive about 90 percent of traffic info through sight. During the night hours, this is reduced increasing the risk of not being able to see objects on the road. However, at night the roads are quieter and you can, in a sense, feel more relaxed. For a smooth journey, here are some useful tips that not only help you drive safely, but also correctly.

Slow Down. Even though there may be less traffic, remember that for your personal safety you must be able to completely stop the car when necessary. Main roads typically have a limit of 65mph or higher so try to be aware in case a screeching halt is needed.

Watch How Closely You Follow. Make sure that you are maintaining a safe distance from the vehicles in front of you. As a simple and personal rule to follow, the safety distance should never be less than 3 seconds. This will also prevent dangers in case objects and debris from the road fly towards your car such as small pebbles that may get caught in the wind from larger vehicles.

Reduce Interior Lights. When you’re driving the last thing you need is for the inside of your vehicle to be a distraction – especially with all of the ones the night driving has to offer. Be sure to dim the lights on both your dashboard as well as the general interior area. The less light there is in the vehicle, the better you can see what’s going on outside.

Listen to Music. If you’re not a fan of music, listen to talk radio. The main idea is to be sure you’re staying awake on the road. Stopping every hour and a half if you’re driving long distances keeps you refreshed and helps prevent drowsiness and fatigue.

Don’t Be a Follower. Try not to rely on other car’s lights to follow the road lines. If there’s a pretty large distance between you and the other vehicle, on many smaller roads what can seem like a straight line may not be the case. Even if you see two perfectly straight stretches of road, there may still be a bend. Be sure to drive a safe speed and pay attention to road signs to be ready for any sharp turns in your direction.

Driving at night an help you solve common problems of everyday traffic, but is also sometimes just something you have no choice in doing. These tips hopefully remind you that when driving at night, the most important thing is for other vehicles to be able to see you and for you to see them. Drive responsibly.