Driving comes with safety risks at any time of day. But driving at night makes many of these dangers even more pressing, which often fatal road traffic collisions involving pedestrians. In fact, despite there being 60% less traffic at night, there are 40% more accidents in the dark.
London’s M25 is one of Britain’s busiest motorways, and there were 7,673 reported accidents between 2007 and 2016, involving 13,064 vehicles and leading to 80 reported deaths.
So combining both these facts, it’s worth taking stock of the dangers of night-time driving, so that you’re better equipped to deal with them. Let’s run through the major ones.
Enhancing Visibility
Perhaps the biggest problem with driving at night is that it will be darker. This means that your visibility will be restricted. We can counter this with headlights, but it’s worth bearing in mind the limitations of headlights, too. You might find yourself surprised when a hitherto unseen pedestrian steps out in the road at short notice.
By turning on your full beams, you’ll have a better view of the road in front of you. This is particularly useful on country lanes, where street lighting is limited and unseen dangers, like fallen trees and animals, are more visible.
Don’t forget to turn the full beams off whenever you see another pair of headlights around the corner, however. You don’t want to dazzle the driver of the oncoming vehicle.
Staying Alert
Another reason that night driving is statistically more dangerous is that we tend to be more tired during these hours. If you’ve been working all day, and you’re just returning home in the early hours, then you might be slower to react to events on the road in front of you. This is a particular risk in the case of shift workers, who might be chronically sleep-deprived without even knowing it.
Caffeine might seem like a solution to this problem – but it’s only a short-term one. In fact, an extra cup of coffee might actually disrupt your sleep, which will put you at greater risk in the long term.
A better approach is to take sleep hygiene seriously. Give yourself a good wind-down routine, and make sure you’re as consistent as possible when it comes to sleep.
Pay attention to those motorway signs that say “tiredness kills, take a breakdown”, as indeed fatigue causes about 4% of accidents.
Dealing with Glare
It’s vital that you don’t look directly into the headlights of other vehicles. Instead, follow the left-hand markings, and use the lines to keep track of your position. The slower you’re driving, the easier this will be.
Emergency Procedures
If you’re involved in an accident at night, or you suffer a breakdown, then it’s vital you make the area safe for other motorists. Set up an emergency triangle, then start to deal with the problem. Call the emergency services, or your roadside assistance, once you’ve established that you’re not at risk from other vehicles. Always consider quality car insurance, as this might include additional features that will protect you in this situation.
Speed Management
All of the problems we’ve talked about can be mitigated by lowering your speed. Drive at a lower speed, and you’ll have more time to react. What’s more, the severity of any collision will be lessened. Just five miles per hour less can make a difference.
