Night driving can be a bit of a challenge – your pupils dilate to the glare of nearby lights, things just look different in the dark — and that may affect your reactions and perceptions on the road. To help make sure you are driving safely, follow these tips for driving at night.
This post is sponsored by Charlie’s Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram.
KEEP IT CLEAN
Making sure that your headlights are clean, and of course your mirrors as well. (and make sure they are properly adjusted as well) This can help maximize your ability to see what is going on around you. Also make sure if you have plastic lens covering your lights that fade or become foggy, you can use a headlight polishing kit to make them clean and clear. Also make sure that your windshield and windows are nice and clean and streak free as well. A good tip is cleaning your windows with newspaper to remove streaks!
LIGHT IT UP
When it comes to lights at night, they can work against you just as much as they work in your favor. Make sure your headlights are aimed properly – because misaligned headlights can negatively impact your viability and distract other motorist as well.
PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR EYES
Our pupils dilate in the dark to let more light in – a lot of people are nearsighted at night, and objects don’t appear as clearly or sharply as they would during daylight. Darkness can also diminish your depth perception and peripheral vision, which means you may have trouble seeing objects and lights at night.
You can dim the lights on your dashboard and interior lights so they are visible, but not distracting or messing with your eyes. If someone behind you has their high beams on adjust your rearview mirrors so the lights aren’t going into your eyes directly.
Also be aware of how things will look different at night – like if you are traveling where there is wildlife, two small bright dots actually could be animal eyes in the distance. So be sure to look for reflections , since its more visible before you get right on top of the animal.
And lastly, of course, make sure you are getting your eyes checked regularly – at least every 2 years. If you do already wear glasses, make sure they are anti-reflective or they can be a real bear to drive in.
STAY AWAKE
One of the hardest things about driving at night -especially if you are driving long ways, is staying awake. Be sure to take breaks to get out and stretch when driving long distances, and if you feel yourself starting to nod of, don’t just turn up the radio – pull over and get some rest.
