Night driving...

Fatigue, compromised night vision, rush hour, and impaired drivers are some of the risks we face when driving at night. Depth perception, color recognition and peripheral vision can also be compromised in the dark, and the glare of headlights from an oncoming vehicle can temporarily blind a driver.  Plan proactively if you have to drive at night and understand the risks.

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Night Driving Tips

AIM YOUR HEADLIGHTS:  It's worth the effort to aim them correctly. If you do it yourself, use the instructions in your owner's manual. Be patient. It may take a few tries before you have them pointed perfectly. Just make sure those newly aimed lights are not blinding oncoming traffic.

DON’T STARE AT ONCOMING LIGHTS:  Turn your gaze away from other lights on the road, and don't look at oncoming high beams.  Lower your gaze, but focus on the road ahead of your vehicle.  If bright lights shine from the vehicle behind you, adjust your mirrors to reduce the glare from the lights.

DIM YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL & DASH LIGHTS:  Dimming dash lights can remove reflections on the windshield and allow your eyes to better adjust to the darkness ahead, improving nighttime visibility.

KEEP YOUR WINDSHIELD & WINDOWS CLEAN, INSIDE & OUT:  Clean the insides and outsides of your windows regularly using water and a clean cloth. Carry an additional cloth or towel in the vehicle for emergencies.

WEAR THE CORRECT EYEWEAR:  If you have corrected vision, make sure you wear your contacts or glasses when required.  Glasses should have anti-reflective coatings. This coating stops additional, unnecessary light from reflecting inside your lenses while allowing more light to pass through.

KEEP YOUR EYES HEALTHY:  To reduce the effects of eye fatigue at night while driving, eye doctors often recommend keeping your eyes moving, scanning all around your field of vision instead of focusing on one area. The American Optometric Association suggests checkups every three years if you're under 40, every two years until you're 60, and annually after that.

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