6 Tips for Driving Safely at Night
6 Tips for Driving Safely at Night
If one thing is for certain regarding the next few months, it’s that the days will continue to be shorter while the nights continue to be longer. But despite this change in daylight, our schedules will remain the same. We’ll go to work at the same time, and drive home at the same time. The only difference is that you might be making these drives while it’s still dark out. And when it’s dark outside, people are more prone to getting into car accidents or hitting objects on the road.
In order to avoid a worst case scenario on your drives, here are some simple and easy things you can do to make driving in the dark safer for you and your family.
1. Always check that your headlights are working
The law in Arizona states that you must have your headlights on any time after dusk and before dawn. Even if you think that it’s bright enough for you to see clearly, taking extra precaution by making the effort to turn your headlights on will help in more than one way. First, it could potentially deter an accident, as other drivers on the road will be able to easily spot you and your vehicle behind, ahead, and to the sides of them. Additionally, turning your headlights on at the appropriate times will help to avoid a traffic violation ticket.
2. Turn on your fog lights if necessary
Even if you have properly working headlights, they might not be bright enough for you to feel comfortable while driving in the dark. If this is the case, we suggest that you turn your fog lights on, rather than using your bright lights or continuing to drive while slightly uncomfortable. Unlike bright lights, it is completely legal and acceptable to have your fog lights on if you find yourself needing additional lights while driving home.
3. Don’t forget to drive the speed limit
For whatever reason, it feels like the car can sometimes seem like it’s going faster, even when you’re driving the designated speed limit. While you should never be driving over the speed limit, you can always drive in the furthermost right lane while at night, and even drive five miles below the speed limit if it helps you feel more comfortable.
4. Dim your dashboard lights
Once you turn your headlights on, you’ll notice that your dashboard will automatically dim down. However, sometimes your car won’t be able to dim down to a low enough level to where you can clearly see the road in front of you. Luckily, all cars have a knob or button that will dim or brighten the lights on your dashboard to a level you feel most comfortable driving with. Take a moment to find the knob or button and adjust the dashboard lights to a level that lets you see all of the features on your dashboard, while not posing as a block to seeing the road ahead.
5. Remember to take your sunglasses off
Sometimes, we can be driving in a sunset with our sunglasses on and completely forget to take them off in some instances. Always remember if you’re wearing sunglasses on a drive, and always be sure to take them off once the sun hasn’t impaired your ability to see the road or other cars.
6. Don’t look at oncoming traffic
If you’re driving on a two way street, you might have a tendency to look at oncoming vehicles. And when it’s dark outside, you might find that looking at these lights can not only hurt your eyes, but make the road seem blurry. This can even be worse when other drivers have newer, or more intense headlights, such as LED headlights. While you can’t avoid these people on the road, you can help yourself by averting your eyes away from the oncoming traffic, and focusing on the road right ahead of you.
Not only do these small things have the ability to help you have a safer drive, but can also help to save the lives of you, your friends, and your family. These are just a few of the ways you can drive safer at night, and we hope that you take these tips to heart the next time you hit the road!