Tips and Tricks for Driving at Night

For all of you night owls out there, you might not mind that it’s already getting dark before dinner time, but for drivers who aren’t too fond of driving at night, or would like to prepare themselves for any additional risks, we have collected some tips and tricks for driving at night or in the dark.

This isn’t meant to scare or intimidate you, but rather make you aware of the potential risks to driving because accidents and fatalities are three times greater at night. It’s no wonder though, considering that out of all our senses, we primarily rely on our eyesight for driving.

1. “Turn off your brights!”- How many times have you mumbled this, or heard the driver you’re with shout as an oncoming car passes by? Hi-beams are especially helpful in rural areas, increasing your lighted-line of vision to 350-500 feet, but as soon as you see the lights of another vehicle approaching, be sure to temporarily switch yours off.

2. “Dim the lights”- Depending on how dark it is outside, the lights on your dash and instrument panel can sometimes become distractingly bright. If this is the case, check your owner’s manual on how to dim them and help reduce some of the glare.

3. Leave the industrial strength night vision glasses at home- Some companies make false claims that yellow tint glasses will improve your vision at night, but according to the Sunglass Association of America, this is just a placebo effect.

4. “Wait, retake that picture, my eyes are glowing”- Similar to when you take a picture with the flash on and someone’s eyes in the group glow, animals’ eyes are also going to reflect your headlights and glow bright green or yellow/orange in the dark. Keep an eye out for these eyes especially as the days get darker, nocturnal animals will come out earlier than usual.

5.  Navigating a maze of construction- Road construction can be confusing enough to navigate through, tipped over cones and dented barriers are proof enough but driving at night can be especially difficult. The reflective strips there to guide you can be confusing, so take it easy, drive slow, and continue to look ahead of your weaving lane as well as the redirected oncoming traffic.

For any other tips and tricks for driving or taking care of your vehicle, just click the button below. We not only want to be your source for new and used vehicles but additionally serve as as a reliable outlet for any questions you might have about caring for your vehicle.