Typically, there are far fewer cars on the road at night time. Nonetheless, driving at night is still widely regarded as being more dangerous.
Why is driving at night time so dangerous?
Compromised vision
Humans have not evolved in a way that requires night vision. For hundreds of years at least, humans have slept throughout the night. In practical terms, this means that people simply don’t see as well in the dark as they do during daylight hours. Hazards can be missed, reaction times can be skewed and sudden bright lights can cause temporary blindness as the eyes adjust. All of these factors increase driving dangers and the potential for accidents.
Fatigue
The cycle of humans sleeping at night generally means that they feel more tired at night time. This is the case even if an individual has napped during the day. Some studies suggest that as many as 300,000 fatigued driving accidents occur every year, with a significant number of these occurring at night time.
How can drivers stay safe at night time?
There are a few things that drivers can do to protect themselves at night time. Firstly, drivers should ensure that they are well-rested. It’s also essential that drivers use headlights. This allows them to see where they are going and also alerts other road users to their presence. It can also help to increase following distances at night time to counter any potential decrease in reaction times.
If you have been injured in a collision, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Seeking further legal information will help establish whether or not your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence.
