Driving in the dark
can be extra challenging! So stay safe with our tips!!-Brought to you by PartsAvatar Automotive Lightings!!
There’s no doubt
that driving in the dark is more dangerous. With weather conditions and
unpredictable traffic, anything can happen if we aren’t alert. That is why
drivers are less confident while driving in dark.
Keep some tips in
mind when it comes to safety and night driving.
Rest Well
Keep in mind- a
well rested body is an alert body. Driving after long hours of work isn’t going
to be safe ahead! Make sure to complete your sleep before beginning the journey
and rest well. A lot of accidents happen during night time where the driver
sleeps while driving.
Keep your mind and
body fresh and then head off to road for your and other’s safety!!
Use headlights
You should turn
your car’s headlights
on about an hour before the dusk. This not only makes it easier for you to see
as the sun sets but also makes your presence more visible to other motorist on
the road.
Make sure to aim
them correctly as sometimes car’s headlights are uneven. Check owner’s manual
for further instructions and point them perfectly.
Clean the
headlights if they are cloudy, yellowish. If they are cracked and not working properly
then its better to replace them.
Increase the distance
Keeping distance
between you and the vehicle ahead of you is common sense. It is wise to
maintain larger distance because you can make accurate judgement in poor
visibility. There are several other reasons that justify this.
One reason is you
can make the other driver nervous and any bad reaction from his side can cause
a severe road accident. See, road is not a place to play pranks. Also the
closer you get, the closer your headlights are, the brighter they can seem and
more distracting they can be. It can limit their visibility and end up causing
severe problems.
If you are driving
under normal conditions, better use cruise control to stay under speed limit.
Stay Alert
A second of
distraction can cause severe accident. Keep your eyes moving. If you drive at
night daily, it’s vital to have your eyesight checked regularly as it will show
any underlying problem that is affecting your night vision.
The best way to
avoid an accident is to be watching for lights and keep checking those mirrors.
It’s important to keep an eye out for other car’s headlights, animals,
pedestrians and other objects.
On dark country
roads, the animals are everywhere. But you can often see the reflections of
your headlights in an animal’s eyes long before you can see the animal itself.
Pairs of tiny spots are clear warning that an animal is on the road.
Practice defensive
driving tips.
Stay Awake
Leave early as
possible. Starting off on a road trip with hours of driving instead of sleep
ahead can be tricky to get your body to agree to.
It’s good to get on
the road after five o clock as rush hour traffic clears up. Stay awake while driving
and keep your mind fresh. Don’t divert your attention!
Avoid unknown roads
If you can stick to
highways with clear dividers and lane markings, there is nothing like it. If
you do have to take a single lane or unknown roads, do so very cautiously. Try
to avoid such roads.
For example, if you
have an express way that takes you to your destination in 200 miles, it is
better than a single lane/ unknown road that promise the same destination in
170 miles.
Dim your dash lights
Dashboard dimmer
switches are there for some reason. If you’re driving around with dash light on
the max, you could be compromising your forward vision.
Turn down its
brightness a bit and don’t leave the map lights on. Most luxury cars have
focused reading lights that pinpoint objects without causing glare.
Clean the Windshield
Keep cotton,
microfiber towel or a newspaper to clean the windshield. Make sure car wind
shield is clean, and don’t touch it with your hands as the oil from your skin
will smear and light will glare when it will shine.
Dirty windows will
increase glare from other vehicles and are more prone to steaming up. Dirty
mirrors reflect the light coming from cars behind you in a wider, diffused
shape that can produce glare in your eyes, so clean them up.
Don’t forget to
switch your inside rear view mirror to the night or auto dim setting, which
darkens the mirror to prevent glare.
Take small breaks
When you spot a stretch
of road that has a few shops or drive through you may take small breaks so that
you feel relaxed. It’s always advisable to take regular breaks when driving
long distances but this is even more vital when you are driving overnight.
Carry plenty of
drinking water along with a few non oily snacks.
Stop yourself for a
water or coffee break to keep yourself alert.
Pull over when you’re drowsy
Whenever you feel
the first tinge of drowsiness just make sure to pull your car aside and stop
driving. Lock the car doors
and lower the windows partially for some air circulation.
An hour’s nap will
go a long way in keeping you fresh and alert for 3-4 hours or more. Don’t
ignore it. Most severe accidents happen when the driver falls asleep in the mid
of driving the car. It’s better to reach your destination late than never!
Having a hearty
five course meal at night isn’t advisable even though you aren’t driving. Eat
light and go easy on carbohydrates. Oily and fried food should be avoided so
that you don’t doze off at the wheel.
Learn what kind of
night driver you are and act accordingly. It’s best to avoid driving if you
have poor night visibility for the sake of safety.
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