Fatigue, lack of light, compromised night vision, rush hour and impaired drivers all contribute to making driving at night more dangerous than during any other time of day. In fact, the risk of a fatal crash is three times greater at night, according to National Safety Council research.
According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), 60 percent of adults have driven while they were tired, and another 37 percent have fallen asleep at the wheel. The reasons are many -- shift work, lack of quality sleep, long work hours, sleep disorders -- and it doesn't only happen on lengthy trips.
Most crashes or near-misses happen when you would expect drivers to be tired: 12-2 a.m., 4-6 a.m. and 2-4 p.m.
NSF offers this advice:
- Get seven to nine hours of sleep a night.
- Don't drive if you've been awake for 24 hours or more.
- Pull over and take a nap if you're drowsy.
- Travel during times you are normally awake.
When daylight saving time ends, many people spend more time driving in the dark. Depth perception, color recognition and peripheral vision can be compromised in the dark, and the glare of headlights from an oncoming vehicle can temporarily blind a driver.
Even with high-beam headlights on, visibility is limited to about 500 feet, creating less time to react, especially at higher speeds.
What should you do to combat darkness?
- Aim your headlights correctly, and make sure they're clean.
- Dim your dashboard.
- Look away from oncoming lights.
- Clean the windshield to eliminate streaks.
- Slow down to compensate for limited visibility and reduced stopping time.
Compromised night vision
Night vision is the ability to see well in low-light conditions. As we age, we have greater difficulty seeing at night. A 50-year-old driver may need twice as much light to see as well as a 30-year-old. Some older drivers may also have compromised vision due to cataracts or degenerative eye diseases.
Older drivers are recommended to:
- Have annual vision exams.
- Reduce speed.
- Take a driving course; even experienced drivers can benefit from a refresher course, and some of the rules have probably changed.
- Minimize distractions.
- Check with a doctor about side effects of prescription drugs.
- Limit driving to daytime hours if necessary.
Rush hour
Evening rush hour (4-7 p.m. weekdays) is a dangerous time to drive due to crowded roadways and drivers eager to get home after work. In winter, it's dark during rush hour, compounding an already dangerous driving situation.
How can you make it home safely during rush hour?
- Don't be an impatient driver; slow down.
- Stay in your lane and beware of drivers who dart from lane to lane.
- Even though the route may be familiar, don't go on autopilot; stay alert.
- In unfamiliar areas, consult a map before you go, and memorize your route.
- Don't touch your phone, eat, drink or do other things that are distracting.
Impaired drivers
Nearly 30 people die every day in crashes that involve a driver impaired by alcohol, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Drivers impaired by prescription medicines and other drugs increase that number significantly. Impaired drivers are most frequently on the road after dark, particularly between midnight and 3 a.m. on weekends.
While drunk driving has declined by about one-third since 2007, the number of drivers under the influence of drugs has increased. Many states have not yet updated their impaired driving laws to address this growing problem.
While we do only one-quarter of our driving at night, 50 percent of traffic deaths happen at night. It doesn't matter whether the road is familiar or not; driving at night is always more dangerous. By taking some extra precautions, we can all contribute to reducing these numbers.
For more information, visit www. nsc.org or call (800) 621-7615.
