If you can’t see, you can’t drive. Your headlights can let you see what’s right in front of you, but beyond that, driving at night is effectively like driving blind. In the daytime, you can see for miles out on those big Indiana highways, but at night, we need to adjust our driving habits for just how little of the road we can actually see. So how do we do that?
Give Yourself Time
If you must drive at night, it’s best to leave early so that you have some extra time for the trip. When you have more time to get where you’re going, you can…
- Drive slowly, so you have a greater reaction time out on the road.
- Plan your trip around the safest route, sticking to well-lit roads and streets.
- Hit the road before you start to get tired.
Keep It Clean
Keeping all of your glass clean will help to improve visibility. Here’s a quick checklist of everything that you need to be clean for greater visibility on the road at night…
- Windshield
- Windows
- Headlights
- Rear view mirrors
- Side view mirrors
- Glasses (if you wear them)
You can reduce glare on your windshield by rubbing it down with a newspaper. This will keep your windshield from catching the blinding light of oncoming headlights.
Maintain Your Night-Vision
Your eyes automatically adjust to the dark, but they can adjust right back just as quickly. Here’s how you can keep your night-vision strong.
- Don’t look right at oncoming headlights.
- Limit light-distractions in the car like phones and screens.
- Dim your dashboard lights and other interior lights where possible.
Be Aware Of Compounding Conditions
Indiana can get pretty rainy, especially around Fishers, where humidity tends to stay pretty high all year long. You can manage these dangers…
- Give yourself twice as much stopping space in rainy conditions. Twice as many car lengths between cars, and twice as much space to brake for a stop sign.
- Be aware that high humidity can affect the roads the same as rain. Slick roads are the real danger when it’s wet out.
Take Care Of Your Eyes
Even if your car is in perfect condition, if you have vision problems or strained eyes, that can present a danger of its own. Eyesight issues can affect almost anyone no matter their age, but it becomes more important to care for your eyes as you get older. Here are some tips…
- Keep eye-drops on hand in case your eyes get dry or irritated.
- Make eyesight tests a regular part of your check-up routine. Even if you already wear a prescription, you might have additional eyesight issues developing.
- Know your limitations. If you have trouble seeing at night, ask for a ride or find somewhere to sleep until morning.
Of course, the best tip we can give you will be to just avoid driving at night. That’s not always an option, but when it is, when the ride can wait til morning or you can get it done in the afternoon, it’s always better to drive in the day.
