During the winter months, we find ourselves spending a lot of our time driving in the dark, whether it's early in the morning or early in the evening. Unfortunately, driving becomes more dangerous at night.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA), traffic deaths triple during the evening hours. Not only is your vision compromised at night, but common risks on the road are more dangerous in the dark.
Common dangers of night driving include:
Vision issues - Despite using your headlights, the dark offers limited visibility of the road in front of you, as well as traffic signs and signals, drivers, and pedestrians around you. Not only do you have less time to react to unexpected situations, but the darkness makes it more difficult to judge other vehicle's distances and speed.
Drowsiness - After a long, hard day at the office or in the classroom, many people tend to be fatigued while driving. However, this drowsiness increases when driving at night. Fatigued driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving because being tired negatively affects your judgment, vigilance, movement, and your overall ability to operate a vehicle.
Rush hour - Between the weekday hours of 4 PM and 7 PM, the roadways are extremely crowded because every driver is eager to return home from work. Since the day becomes night around those hours during the winter months, driving during rush hour becomes even more dangerous.
Drunk driving - People who partake in happy hours at bars and restaurants will find themselves driving in the dark. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost 30 people die each day in car accidents involving alcohol impairment.
If you find yourself driving at night, you must become an even more defensive driver and remain on high alert. Drive more slowly to give yourself more time to react and give yourself more space between the vehicle(s) ahead of you to help you be ready for any unexpected road conditions.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Hartford, CT, contact Zayas Law Firm today at (860) 854-9156 and schedule a free initial consultation. Get a legal team with more than 50 years of combined experience on your side!