For most people, driving at night can be a source of anxiety, and rightfully so because of the dark. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, road fatalities increase during the night.
Of course, you can maintain a healthy vision for safe driving, but you could also use some tips to help you see clearly when driving at night. Here are a few.
Clean Your Windshield
Usually, you won’t notice that your windshield is dirty during the day, but it can cause glare when it is dark. Besides, grime and dirt can accumulate on your headlights. You don’t need to be told that this can obstruct your vision while driving.
In that regard, you want to ensure that your windshield and windows are clean all the time. You can do it yourself or get a professional to do it.
Avoid Wearing Glasses or Wear the Right Ones
Whether prescription or not, glasses add another layer between your eyes and the road. To some extent, that will hinder your vision so avoid wearing them if you can. However, If you must, ensure that you wear the right glasses to improve your vision when it is dark.
The best option here would be to get prescription lenses that come with an anti-reflective coating as it allows more light to pass through your eyes and blocks unnecessary light from reflecting in.
Blur Your Dashboard
Your car’s dashboard can be a source of bright lights that are likely to distract you, especially when driving at night. To that effect, you would want to dim them just to reduce the chances of a fatality on the road. Turn your GPS navigation to night mode as well if you have it.
Another thing you may want to do is to diminish the brightness of your headlights by setting your rearview mirrors. our
Keep a Sober Mind
Being intoxicated with drugs or alcohol can compromise your ability to see clearly when driving at night and you don’t want that because you are likely to cause an accident when in such a state. If you cannot avoid indulging in the same, you may want to call a can or use a designated driver to take you to your destination safely.
Avoid Over Speeding
It doesn’t matter how much of a hurry you are in, but you want to avoid overspeeding especially at night because your vision is compromised. You see, as you are overspeeding, you also compromise your ability to see the road and your surroundings. You won’t know when you miss a bump or hit an animal on the road.
Avoid Yellow-Tinted Glasses
You have probably heard that yellow-tinted glasses are ideal for driving at night because they improve visibility and contrast as well as reduce glare when it is dark but nothing could be further from the truth.
There is no evidence to back that claim up. The glasses are known to decrease the amount of light entering the eye so they make it harder to see if anything. If you have to wear glasses, ensure that they have an anti-reflective coating as this prevents the bouncing around of light in your lenses.
Install Fog Lights
Just as the name suggests, fog lights are designed to help drivers see the road rather than just lighting up the fog. They aim as low as possible since fog usually hangs several meters above the ground. That means that a fog light is likely to blind oncoming drivers because it produces glare in fog.
Moreover, the lights can be used even when it is not foggy since they spread wider than average low beams and can therefore help you see further. As you get the fog lights, remember that when placed low in your car’s front, they will create huge shadows in front of uneven potholes, bumps, and small rocks making them look bigger.
Have your Eyes Examined
The need for regular eye checkups cannot be overemphasized. That is how your optometrist will be able to catch any issues you may have. After that, they will be in a position to prescribe treatment. An eye screening will catch conditions like glaucoma or cataracts that lead to poor night vision.
Final Thoughts
Obstructed or poor vision is a recipe for fatalities on the road, especially at night. However, with the tips we have talked about here, you can reduce the chances of that happening. Feel free then, to make the most out of them.
