Driving at night with the stars above and the open road ahead, has a particular relaxing effect. However, as the sun sets and night falls, so do the dangers of driving on poorly lighted, dark roadways. Nighttime travel is more difficult because of reduced visibility, probable wildlife encounters, and the constant threat of drowsy driving.
This article will discuss important tips and safety measures for negotiating those eerie nighttime highways.
Driving at night can be riskier than driving during the day. Seeing other cars, traffic signs, and even pedestrians is more challenging in the darkness. In addition, there are numerous roads without street lamps.
Is it safe to drive at night? It is! Here are some actions you may take to make nighttime driving safer.
How to Prepare Your Vehicle for Safer Nighttime Driving:
1. Prepare your car
Make sure your windscreen is clean before beginning your travel. Although it might seem obvious, many people drive with dirty or smudged windscreens. Clean the interior and outside of your car's windows, mirrors, and windscreen because smudges or debris can scatter light and cause glare.
It's essential to check that your car is in top shape before starting a night's travel. Ensure your turn signals, taillights, and headlights are all functioning correctly.
Ensure your tires have enough tread and are properly inflated for better traction.
Have you ever used a penny to measure the thread depth in your tires? To do this, move the coin along the wheel's center.
2. Check your lights
Before leaving, check your lights. Do they operate correctly? Are they clean? Do they line up? Headlights out of alignment are less effective and may blind a driver in oncoming traffic.
Visibility on dark roads can be considerably increased by correctly setting your headlights. So ensure your headlights are pointed correctly to avoid blinding approaching motorists and efficiently illuminate the route. Consider upgrading to brighter or more concentrated headlight bulbs if your vehicle allows it.
3. Improve visibility
As soon as the sun sets, turn on your headlights. In towns and cities, dipped headlights are typically adequate for nighttime driving. On dark routes, you may occasionally need to activate your high-beam headlights. However, these lights must only be turned on when no oncoming vehicles are present.
Looking down towards the roadside edge will help you avoid being blinded by an oncoming car's full headlights. If you have been overwhelmed, you should pull over if it is safe to do so, slow down, and watch for oncoming bikes or pedestrians.
Highlights can aid with visibility, but they should only be used sparingly. When there is no oncoming traffic, only use high beams; when approaching other vehicles, only use low beams.
Other drivers may also get temporarily blinded by high beams, posing a danger.
4. Get your vision evaluated
You should maintain your regular eye exams when operating a vehicle. Seeing in low light can often be more difficult as our vision deteriorates.
5. Reduce your speed
If you slow down, you'll be able to drive more safely at night on dark roads. Drive as slowly as possible while still feeling in control of the vehicle. The headlights of a standard car will allow you to see for roughly 100 meters on a dark road in good driving circumstances. Only 30 meters can be seen with dipped headlights, and at 100 km/h, a car only takes one second to go that distance.
Driving at night necessitates a slower pace, especially on unlit, unfamiliar roads. If you slow down, you'll have more time to respond to unforeseen obstructions or animals. Follow the specified speed limits and change your speed as necessary.
6. Be extra careful
We at Tennessee Auto Insurance Agency are here to safeguard your freedom for the future. That includes assisting you in problem prevention and offering protection and care when issues arise. So we have compiled additional tips to make sure your car is safe at night!
Recent data show that auto thefts are rising despite new vehicles being constructed with ever-better security features. Most of the time, the riskiest time for robberies is at night, when burglars may sneak about sleeping neighborhoods while it's dark.
Remember to lock your vehicle
Pretty simple?
But it's simple to make the error, especially when lugging bags of groceries, supervising young children, or running to the front door to get out of the rain. Whether you test the door handle before entering the house or touch the key fob from your window before going to bed, try to make it a habit to ensure your automobile is locked. Just be sure to press the correct button!
Park in a Well-Lit, Secure Area
The modest streetlamp or motion-detecting light is one of the finest lines of defense against car crime. However, everyone's parking scenario is unique. Making the car visible to onlookers (or the police) makes it considerably less appealing for thieves to break into or steal.
Catalytic converter theft is on the rise, particularly in vehicles with high clearance, like SUVs. If you own one of these cars, think about squeezing it into a small space, a garage, or behind secured gates to prevent theft from the chassis.
Leave your car's documents at home
The temptation to keep car-related papers in your glove box is terrible. However, the burglar will find it much simpler to sell your automobile if they also steal your vehicle's Vehicle Licence / Registration certificate, sometimes known as the "logbook."
It might even be sent to another country after being disposed of in as little as an hour. Your logbook and insurance policy documents are considerably safer kept in your home, where you can easily reach them in an emergency.
Keep the expensive items hidden
Make your car unattractive to thieves. This entails stowing away anything valuable, including electronics, handbags, toolboxes, and even spare cash in the console.
Buy a steering-wheel lock
The least sophisticated solution—chunky metal steering wheel locks—is quite adequate, even as a visual deterrent.
Even while committed criminals with enough time could still disable the system, considering the work required, most wouldn't try. Speaking with the salespeople in automotive stores will help you determine which options are ideal for you, your car, and your driving style.
Guard Your Keyfob
As more and more vehicles with keyless entry enter the market, "keyless theft" has become a more widespread issue.
Thanks to the technology, owners may use a fob to open remotely, close, and even start their cars. Ingenious thieves, however, can utilize relay devices to fool the car into thinking the fob is nearby while it is safely inside the owner's home.
Without a shattered window or lock, they can steal the vehicle and drive off. Most reputable automobile merchants carry signal-blocking boxes and Faraday pouches, two tools that can assist in protecting against this crime.
7. Keep a Safe Distance When Following Other Vehicles
Following another vehicle's tail lights is simpler because their illumination can make you more visible. However, keep a safe following distance to give yourself enough time to react during emergencies or sudden stops.
8. Remain Vigilant and Prevent Sleepy Driving
Driving at night raises serious safety concerns around drowsy driving. People are frequently more prone to fatigue at night due to the body's innate circadian rhythms. If you feel sleepy, take a little break in a secure area. Although it can provide a short-term energy boost, getting enough rest is still important.
9. Reduce Interruptions
When operating a vehicle on dark roads, avoid distractions at all costs. Put your phone away, set your GPS before you go, and fight the impulse to eat or do anything else that might take your focus off the road.
10. Decide on a Route
Plan your trip. This will lessen surprises along the journey by increasing your familiarity with the road and its circumstances. GPS apps with real-time traffic and road condition updates can benefit nighttime driving.
11. Beware of wildlife
Dark roadways frequently pass in rural or forested locations, where wildlife may be more active. Watch out for animals crossing the road, especially when warning signs are nearby. When you see these warnings, slow down and be ready to brake or swerve if an animal starts to move.
Conclusion
Even while it demands extra caution and focus on safety, nighttime driving on dark roads can be a tranquil and gratifying experience.
You can drive at night with confidence and lower the risks involved by getting your car ready, adjusting your lights, slowing down, remaining vigilant, avoiding distractions, using high beams wisely, keeping an eye out for wildlife, following other vehicles at a safe distance, and planning your route.
Remember that safety should always come first and that taking extra precautions can make your nocturnal travel fun and secure.
It is also important to have good auto insurance coverage. At Tennessee Auto Insurance Agency, we insure you for less. Click here to get a quote.
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