How To Prevent Car Accidents While Driving At Night
What is the best way to prevent an accident when driving at night? It is never easy to drive at night because the visibility becomes very low, increasing the risk of an accident. When you have to drive at night, there are several things you can do to help prevent an accident and be even safer when you have to drive in the dark.
Tips for Avoiding Night Driving Accidents
Read on for these safety tips to avoid night driving accidents!
Turn on Your Headlights
When you drive at night, either on a major well-lit highway or a deserted back road, you need to turn on your headlights. It is crucial that you can see the road in front of you and other drivers can see you.
On a major highway with ample streetlights, you might be able to see the road in front of you even with your lights off, but you still need to have these turned on because it makes your car visible to other drivers.
You need to be able to see the cars around you, and they need to see you in order to avoid an accident. Some vehicles even have a feature built-in that uses a sensor to turn your lights on automatically when it becomes dark enough outside.
Having a high-quality pair of headlights will help visibility and prevent nighttime wrecks!
Reduce Your Speed
Because it is harder to see at night, you might not detect a car in front of you suddenly stopping until you are very close to the stopped car. Riding bumper to bumper could lead to a rear-end collision or other problems with your car if you cannot stop in time.
The most effective way to prevent these accidents at night is to drive slower than the speed limit. Reduced speed and plentiful space between your vehicle and the ones in front and behind give you more of a buffer and make it easier to stop suddenly if you need.
You are also better off driving slowly at night because many nocturnal animals can come out at night and cross the road in front of you with no warning. If you are driving slowly, you will be able to brake and avoid a collision with the animal.
Take Breaks
Another critical risk associated with driving at night is fatigue. If you have to drive late at night when you would usually be asleep, you should take extra breaks and make sure you are not driving while drowsy.
Fatigue is a significant risk because studies have shown that driving while in a state of exhaustion makes you as inhibited as if you were intoxicated. Your reaction times are slower when you are drowsy, making a crash more likely to happen.
Avoid dangerous, sleepy driving by getting the recommended 8 hours of sleep per night in the days leading up to your night drive, and take breaks when needed. If you need to rest, stop to sleep, and continue driving after a nap.
While caffeinated drinks are also a possibility, it is not advisable because caffeinated drinks may keep you awake but not necessarily alert.
If you’ve been injured by the negligence of another, you could hire any car crash law firm in Katy, or you can hire a good auto injury lawyer in West Houston. Joe Stephens has been defending injury victims in Texas for over 3 decades from negligent individuals, companies, and greedy insurance companies. As an experienced auto attorney in Katy, Joe handles all cases personally, and his staff is always available to answer questions.
If You or a Loved One Have Been Injured in a Car Wreck In West Houston, Call Auto Accident Attorney Joe Stephens Now
If you or a loved one was involved in a car wreck at night in Texas, you might be entitled to financial compensation or a reward for your struggles. Keep the above tips in mind to avoid these crashes when possible, but know that you are not alone if you do experience a crash.
Call the best attorneys in Texas at Joe Stephens today for a lawyer who will fight for you. Our team of lawyers will help you in any and every way until you receive repayment for your struggles.
The Stephens Law Firm, Car Accident Lawyers handles auto accident lawsuits across Texas, including these Houston cities.