If You’re Driving at Night, Follow These 10 Safety Tips to Boost Your Nighttime Vision
It’s hard to avoid driving at night, especially during the fall and winter months after Daylight Saving Time ends, when it gets dark earlier. However, driving at night may carry increased risks, as it may be more difficult to see, especially if you already have a eye condition it affects your vision.
Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to reduce these risks and improve the safety of you, your passengers, and other drivers on the road.
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A dirty windshield can make it difficult to see when driving, especially at night.
10 tips for driving safer at night
Here are some simple ways to reduce vision problems when driving after dark.
1. Keep your windshield clean
Glare can increase when your windshield is dirty because dirt scatters light. Certain treatments, such as rain repellent, can also increase the glare on your windshield at night. Keep your windshield as clear as possible to minimize glare and improve visibility. AAA says a dirty windshield can also obstruct your vision and recommends cleaning your windshield at least once a week.
2. Keep your headlights clean
You can help increase visibility by making sure your headlights are free of dirt and debris. Checking headlight cleanliness is especially important if you live in a dusty area or frequently drive in areas where insects are common.
3. Use high beams if necessary
Be sure to use your high beams on rural roads near forests or fields and, as recommended by the National Safety Council, on longer or wider stretches of road. High beams can help you see deer in these cases, but avoid using high beams in rain or fog, as they can reduce visibility. Turn off the high beams when going up hills or around corners to avoid throwing the high beams into the eyes of other drivers.
4. Avoid looking at headlights
It may be instinctive to look directly at a flash of oncoming headlights over a hill or around a bend, but practice looking away. Looking into bright headlights can temporarily impair your vision and may also leave afterimages, making it more difficult to see after passing the vehicle.
5. Check headlight alignment
The Mayo Clinic recommends working with your mechanic to make sure the headlights are aimed correctly. Wear and tear on your car can cause misalignment, and some cars are manufactured with misaligned headlights. U.S. laws do not require manufacturers to test alignment after headlight installation, according to NBC News. The result can be devastating glare for other drivers at night, as well as reduced visibility for you.
Driving at night is more difficult due to factors such as glare and visibility.
6. Dim your car’s interior lights
Interior lighting should always be turned off or dimmed when driving at night. They further accustom your eyes to light, which can reduce your night vision (our eyes usually take a few minutes to adjust to the dark). If your interior lights are on to help you or a passenger see something inside your vehicle, it can add to existing distractions. Interior lighting is also another source of light that reflects off your windshield.
7. Keep your glasses clean
Like dirt on a windshield, stains on your glasses can scatter light and make glare problems worse. Clean your glasses properly using a specially designed eyeglass cloth, warm water, or a mild, moisturizer-free dish soap, according to Heartland Optical. Wiping your glasses on your shirt may be a common practice, but it can also introduce dirt and scratches to the lenses, further obscuring vision.
8. Wear the right glasses
Track your optometrist appointments so your doctor can confirm that you are wearing the correct prescription. You can also look at anti-reflective lenses, which have a coating that reduces reflective light. Avoid eyewear styles that obstruct peripheral vision.
Other options include night driving glasses, which typically have yellow lenses designed to reduce headlight glare. However, be sure to consult your doctor before using them. Some professionals believe they might compromise your night vision instead of improving it.
9. Stay alert when driving
Even small time changes can make us feel jet-lagged. Daylight saving time can disrupt your circadian rhythm (the internal clock that tells you when to go to bed and when to stay awake), according to Northwestern Medicine, and fatigue can lead to blurred vision.
10. Increase your following distance
When driving at night with reduced visibility, it can be difficult to see and quickly react to hazards on the road as quickly as during the day. Headlights don’t come on until far ahead, and tired drivers are likely to react more slowly to unexpected obstacles.
Whether it’s a deer running across the road or a large object that has fallen from another vehicle’s bed, these obstacles can force drivers to brake or swerve quickly to avoid a collision or damage to their vehicle. Increasing your following distance will give you more time to react and adjust if the driver in front of you needs to stop or swerve unexpectedly to avoid an obstacle.
