According to the National Safety Council, traffic deaths are three times greater in low light conditions. As fall passes and winter approaches this issue comes to the fore.
This month Consumer Auto Advocate, Owen Murray appeared on WBFF Fox 45 to discuss how to be safe on the road after dark.
Improve your visibility
Be sure to keep your windshield and headlights clean and clear of dirt and grime. When light shines onto the windshield, if there is any dirt or grime present the glare can obstruct your vision.
Stay Alert
Distracted driving is dangerous. Be sure to put away all distractions and pay attention to the road.
Cracking a window to let cold air in or putting on an upbeat radio station can help to keep you alert during your drive. Just don’t turn the volume up too high as this will have an adverse reaction.
Don’t ignore fatigue
Driving in the dark can induce sleepiness and affect your reactions. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drowsy drivers are twice as likely to make performance errors compared to drivers who are not fatigued.
Make sure to share long drives and if you are beginning to feel drowsy, pull over and find a place to rest.
Combat Harsh Sunlight
It’s not just the darkness of the fall and winter months that can be dangerous. Sunrises and sunsets during the cooler months forces drivers to deal with low angled sunlight that is hard to avoid, making it difficult to see the road.
Use your visor where possible to combat the sunlight and keep the inside and outside of windows grime and grease free to avoid creating additional glare.
