Learn how you can safely maneuver the roads at night.
With winter finally here, it gets darker earlier and earlier. This means that during winter, many Americans find themselves driving at night. Because driving in the dark means reduced visibility, there are many risks associated with driving at night. Learn how you can safely maneuver the roads at night with these tips.
1) Lights
Before hitting the road, it’s important to check that all your lights are clean and working properly. If you are driving in urban or populated areas, avoid using your high beams. These lights are too powerful and can blind oncoming traffic. However, if you are on unlit back roads, then you might need to use your high beams to see. Just make sure that you switch them off when you see another driver headed your way.
2) Defensive Driving
Because driving at night means reduced visibility, it’s important that you adopt certain defensive driving techniques to avoid an accident. For instance, when it’s dark outside, you should drive slower than you normally do. Additionally, you should leave a greater distance between your car and the car in front of you. Both of these defensive driving strategies will give you enough time to react to a previously unseen traffic hazard or any other driving emergency.
3) Drowsiness
When it gets dark, the body naturally prepares for sleep. This means that many people become tired while driving at night. Drowsy driving can impair your reaction time and falling asleep behind the wheel is incredibly dangerous for you and for the other drivers on the road. To avoid the hazards associated with drowsy driving, make sure you are well-rested and feel up to the task of driving. Remember, if you start to feel yourself nodding off behind the wheel, pull off the road and take a rest. It might seem inconvenient to you, but this is the best way to keep yourself and others out of harm’s way.
Follow these tips to help you stay safe while driving at night. Remember, another way to stay safe as you drive is to have the proper insurance protection in place. To find the right policies for your needs, contact the experts at VGW Walker Insurance in Texas. Our dedicated team is ready to get you covered today.
