Taking the wheel at night is dangerous yet, necessary in certain circumstances. If you want to improve your safety when driving at night, read this post by Schell Distributing Inc. in Idaho Falls.

If you often drive at night, you know how difficult it is. Low light conditions make it difficult to see the road beyond what your headlights can illuminate. Also, it's not unusual to feel drowsy during night driving. Of course, driving in such conditions is very risky. So much so that 50% of traffic fatalities occur during the night, according to data by the National Safety Council. While it is dangerous to drive at night, there are many times when you have no other option. Let's say, for example, that you leave work at midnight or attend night school. In such cases, there is no choice but to take the wheel at night with caution. So, the best thing you can do when driving at night is to follow the right preventive measures to improve your safety. To learn about them, continue reading this post by Schell Distributing Inc.

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How to Stay Safe While Driving at Night

Check Your Car's Lights

When driving at night, you rely entirely on your headlights to see and be seen on the road. So, our first piece of advice is to check your vehicle's lights periodically. To do this, turn your brake lights, parking lights, and headlights on and off from time to time. Doing so will allow you to detect any problems that could put you at risk. For example, you could notice lights that flicker, emit a dim light, or don't turn on. In such instances, you could need to replace your bulbs with the help of your dealer or mechanic. Also, you should regularly check the cleanliness of your headlights as dirt stains can obstruct the light they emit, thus impairing your visibility. If you ever notice they are dirty, clean them with a soft brush. Finally, check your headlights frequently to make sure that your headlights are correctly aimed at the road.

Get Regular Eye Exams

It is no secret that many different eye disorders affect night driving. Conditions such as glaucoma or cataracts can pose a risk if undiagnosed and untreated. Let's say, for example; you have undiagnosed mild nearsightedness. In such a case, everything would be slightly blurry. Still, you wouldn't have too much trouble reading road signs or seeing pedestrians when driving in broad daylight. At night, it's a different story, though. Low light conditions could worsen your blurred vision, thus compromising your driving safety. That's why visiting your ophthalmologist at least once a year is so important.

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Don't Glare at Lights

As the day gets darker, the pupils expand to allow the eye to receive more light. The more the pupil dilates, the more sensitive the eye becomes to light. That's why looking at a bright glare when the pupil is at its widest opening can dazzle and even blind you for a few seconds. Such a situation is hazardous at the wheel but common. Many drivers are momentarily night blinded when glancing at other cars' headlights. Even if this blindness lasts a few seconds, it can put you and the people around you at risk. So, to avoid being blinded, don't look directly into other cars' headlights; instead, focus your gaze on the right (darker) side of the lane.

Slow Down

Our next tip is to drive at a slower speed at night. To better understand this point, imagine you are driving at high speeds on a very dark road. Although your headlights are on, they only illuminate a distance of about 350 feet in front of your vehicle. Any obstacle or hazard beyond the area your headlights reach eludes your visibility. Then, suppose a deer is crossing the road not too far ahead. In such a risky situation, you wouldn't have much time to brake, much less avoid the animal if you're going over 80 miles per hour. On the contrary, going at a slower speed of about 65 mph would give you more time to react safely.

Don't Drive When Tired

Have you ever felt your eyes getting heavy and having difficulty keeping them open while driving at night? Besides impairing your driving, drowsiness at the wheel carries the risk of you falling asleep on the road. That said, avoid taking the wheel if you feel tired. If you have no other choice and begin to feel symptoms of drowsiness at the wheel, pull over immediately in a safe place and lie down to sleep for at least 20 minutes to regain energy. On top of that, make frequent stops for fresh air and a short walk if your overnight trip is long. Don't forget to help yourself with a cup of coffee or an energy drink.

We hope the information in this post will help you stay safe when driving at night. For more tips on vehicle maintenance and driving safety, reach out to the experts at Schell Distributing Inc. at (208) 524-0322. Don't forget to browse AMSOIL's online store to place an order for the top synthetic oil in Idaho Falls.