Night Driving in Rio Vista
I’m Ed Smith, a Rio Vista car accident lawyer. With summer over and winter months coming up, drivers will have to drive in low-light conditions more and more often. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), almost half of all U.S. passenger vehicle occupant deaths occur during night hours. This, in combination with the report that indicates about 25 percent of travel happens during the night, means that the rate of fatality per vehicle mile traveled is about three times higher in the evening than during daylight hours.
Because nighttime driving presents a higher risk of being involved in an car accident, drivers may want to practice these night driving safety tips in order to avoid serious traumatic injuries.
Watch Youtube Video ~ What to do to Make Driving at Night Safer. In this video you will learn some helpful tips to keep your nighttime driving safer. This video was created by DefensiveDriving.com.
Always Use Headlights
Having your headlights on more often than not is a good habit to get into and experts suggest turning headlights on around an hour before dusk even arrives. This makes it easier for drivers to see as the light fades and ensures a smooth transition from light to dark, without drivers needing to strain their eyes before turning on their headlights.
Drivers should also use headlights in times of bad weather that may make it more difficult to see or be seen on the road. Recent studies have indicated that headlight usage may also prevent car accidents during the daytime under clear conditions.
Leave Space
While following another vehicle too closely is almost never a good idea, low visibility can make it even worse. Tailgating during the night can cause drivers ahead of you to be distracted by your bright headlights, reducing their ability to pay attention to the changing conditions of the roadway in front of them. Tailgating at night can also make other drivers nervous, and cause them to make unsafe maneuvers ahead of you, which can lead to a serious collision. Sometimes tailgating can lead to road rage.
Stay Alert
For many, driving at night presents the risk of drowsiness. If darkness tends to make you drowsy, it is a good idea to try to avoid driving during the night or to start driving when it is still light out in order to help your mind, body, and eyes adjust to the changing light conditions.
Driving without ample sleep is dangerous. Fatigued drivers are less able to react to dangerous situations and can even fall asleep while driving. Making sure that you have enough sleep before driving is important, but with longer nights, the issue is even more pressing.
Know the Road
If possible, drivers should try to stay on familiar roads at night. Drivers who know the roads they are driving on are more able to spot dangerous conditions and avoid car accidents than those who are unfamiliar with their surroundings. If you have to drive in an unfamiliar place, making sure that you know where you are going beforehand is important so that you can avoid being distracted by maps or GPS apps while driving.
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Rio Vista Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Rio Vista car accident lawyer. If you’ve been hurt in a vehicle accident, please call us at (707) 564-1900 for friendly, free advice. Additionally, you can dial (800) 404-5400 or visit autoaccident.com to contact me.
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