There’s no denying that late-night driving can be nerve-racking—especially during road trips. And for good reason—because of factors like low visibility and fatigue, driving in the dark can be more dangerous than driving when the sun is out. The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that traffic deaths are three times greater at night compared to the day.
Late-night driving is sometimes a part of road trips. To be clear, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends against any kind of travel right now to avoid spreading or contracting COVID-19. But you may take a road trip when it’s safer to travel—and the below information can help improve your nighttime driving experience and minimize potential hazards.
If you’ve ever taken a road trip, then you’ve probably witnessed how quickly your windshield gets dirty throughout the journey. That built-up grime can increase glare from other cars and street lights, ultimately making it harder for you to see the road, according to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). (Damaged windshields can have the same effect, so it is best to fix any cracks before leaving.) Dirty and damaged headlights also shine less light on the road ahead, which again, interferes with how well you can see. Start your trip with clean lights and windows, and touch them up as necessary using the squeegee and water bucket you can find at many gas stations. (Or, if you’d prefer to avoid touching objects many other people may have touched recently, bring your own.)
Routine vehicle maintenance can help you avoid the stress of car troubles. This includes an up-to-date oil change, battery check, and tire rotation, according to the NHTSA. And like we said, fixing any cracked windshield or broken headlight makes it easier and safer to drive at night. Ask your mechanic to check if your headlights are misaligned, which can happen from regular use and cause them to not work as well. Test your headlights in the low- and high-beam settings to ensure they function properly.
Just thinking about getting behind the wheel might invoke stress if you’re constantly squinting at night. According to the Cleveland Clinic, there are several reasons you might have trouble seeing clearly at night, including nearsightedness, certain medications, cataracts, or retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic condition that impairs how well you detect light. Or you may notice more glare from lights because our eyes change as we age, according to the American Optometric Association. In some cases, like nearsightedness, updating your glasses or contact lens prescription may correct the problem. However, people with cataracts would require surgery to remove the film from their lens to notice any improvements.
Understandably, you may not feel comfortable going to the doctor’s office for an exam or surgery during the pandemic. (Here is what you need to know about seeking medical care during COVID-19.) Ultimately, speak with your eye doctor about any vision concerns and whether you can safely drive at night.
Forgetting about your high beams, especially in isolated areas, is a mistake because they can improve visibility when driving at night. The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators recommends using this setting whenever there are no oncoming vehicles around. Dim your high beams when another car approaches, and switch to low beams when you’re driving behind another vehicle or in the fog, rain, or snow. (Or some cars have fog lights that you can use in inclement weather conditions.)
You may remember this term from when you first learned how to drive. And chances are you already practice a lot of these strategies aimed at avoiding potential accidents, like looking at your blind spot when changing lanes. However, it’s important to be extra diligent at night because you may not see animals, pedestrians, or road signs.
“The risk of a collision between a car and a bicyclist or pedestrian is especially high at night,” Jana Price, Ph.D., senior human performance investigator at the National Transportation Safety Board, tells SELF.
