According to a survey conducted by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in 2017, 40% of road accidents take place during night time. The hours of darkness gravely affect driving conditions. Being behind the wheel at night result in visual difficulties causing road accidents. Judging the speed and distance of the vehicle to the pedestrians utilizing the road, it is proven that driving at night is a challenge on roads where effective lighting design is absent.
Driving at night may seem challenging but you can’t disregard the fact how it reduces the travel time as compared to driving during the day. As a responsible road user, you have to take extra precaution. The hours where the environment is minimally visible is the time when the road users are most vulnerable. Contribute to the reduction of road casualties and promote road safety with these 6 safety tips for long drives at night.
Check Brakes and Engine Before Leaving
Since you will be on the road for a long span of time, make sure that your brakes and engine is ready for hours on the road. Take time to check it prior to traveling to prevent unwanted and unscheduled stops. It’s very inconvenient to experience engine problems while driving at night. Apart from the limited help you can get, it’s hard to repair engine problems with minimal lighting source.
Drive with Sense of Focus
Eyes on the road as they say. Driving without a sense of focus is as risky as driving under the influence of alcohol. It is an activity which requires manual, cognitive, and visual attention promoting road safety.
Most people have the habit of texting or calling while driving. Living in a technology-aided era, it’s really hard to keep your phones out of reach. The notifications may sound too distracting and tempting too. The sense of urgency of these texts and calls you receive is not as important as the lives at stake.
Avoid Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
A large number of people disregard the harm of drinking then driving. Not because you got home safely doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to make it a habit. Driving requires mind and body coordination while driving at night requires twice as much.
Being under the influence of alcohol slows down your body’s sense of reaction. Your mind’s processing time is slower than when you are sober. If a pedestrian crossed the street all of a sudden, stepping on the brakes with force is the ideal response. But since alcohol alleviates your reflexes, road accidents occur.
Rest in Between Long Drives
If the travel time to your destination requires three hours or more, take time to rest in between. It would be best if you have company along the way whom you can exchange driving with. Driving can really be tiring, especially on your back and leg part. Practice proper driving position to make it less tiring for you being able to last on the wheel for hours.
Driving on sundown is a lot more challenging than driving during the day. The human body is programmed to rest during the night. Drowsiness is quite difficult to conquer especially driving on a dark environment. Condition your body in taking the wheel for hours to prevent compromising road safety.
Don’t Drive Under Pressure
Plan the route you’re going to take beforehand. Choose the simplest and most convenient road to take to cut down the travel time. In case of road constructions and repairs, it would be best to plan alternative routes too so you won’t feel under pressure when unwanted situations arise.
It’s more difficult to check and look for alternative routes when the environment is dark. The street signs are not that visible compared to during midday. The inconvenience it provides is accustomed to stress and pressure of looking for other routes consuming more time on the road. Drive with ease and convenience when everything is provided with a back-up plan.
Adjust to the Provided Lighting by Street Lights
Solar-powered street lights are what you commonly see on the streets and on the side of the roads. Apart from being energy-efficient, the ability of streetlights to provide direct and vibrant lighting on roads giving a great sight of your route. Moreover, it would be best to adjust your car’s lighting to the lighting provided by the streetlights.
When your full lights are on, there is a high probability of affecting the eyesight of the vehicle driving towards your direction. When a highly utilized road is properly lit, road safety is taken into consideration as their top priority lowering cases of road accidents.
Effective lighting is a low-cost intercession which is a long-term solution to cases of road accidents due to driving at night with limited visibility. Bright lighting design makes the drivers feel safe driving at night and improve their sense of focus.
Conclusion
As a road user, you couldn’t deny the fact that driving at night is more convenient. Driving on a road free from traffic is relaxing as it pleasures your mind. Late-night drives are quite enjoyable especially when spent with friends, family, and partners. Take the opportunity of driving without stressing out about the other vehicles on the road. Enjoy late night drives with extra precaution!
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