Special Features of Driving on the Night Road
Strangely enough, most accidents happen exactly in the dark time of the day. It would seem that the number of cars on the roads is less, pedestrians meet less often. Where does the danger come from? The thing is that night driving has its own characteristics, which should be taken into account. It is about them and we would like to talk in our article.
Physical condition
Even if you feel awake and sleepy, it is worth considering that there is such a thing as biorhythms. At night, the body of any person is tuned to rest and even if you are not attracted to sleep frankly, you still have a worsening ability to concentrate and reduced speed of reactions. Therefore, while driving at night, it is better to refrain from dangerous maneuvers or speeding, especially if we are talking about the winter time.
If there is a potentially dangerous car near you (it moves from side to side, the speed is too low or the driver is outright reckless), it is better to pass it forward or, on the contrary, to move away on the maximum distance. Thus, you can exclude the extreme moment, to which you may not have time to react.
For the long road it is best to stock up on coffee and a candy bar and a plaid with a pillow. Strong coffee and chocolate with nuts will help you not only to stay awake longer, but also to keep a clear mind, but if you feel that the fatigue is too strong, we recommend not taking the risk, and to lie down for at least an hour, parked in a safe place. This way you’ll help your body to build up strength for a few more hours of driving.
If you can not stop, here are some tips to help you stay awake at the wheel:
Take a passenger with you if possible. Ask him to talk to you along the way, and if you feel that your eyes are completely slipping, play simple word games (such as “cities”). On the one hand this will keep your brain relaxed, but on the other hand your passenger won’t miss the moment if you start to fall asleep.
Listen to the radio. It is best to choose dynamic music or humorous programs. The main thing is that the programs should not be monotonous.
- Periodically air the cabin by opening a window.
- Bring a bottle with plain clean water, so you can wash your face.
- Make stops. Changing your body position can help cheer you up.
Visibility on the Road
The main danger of night driving is poor visibility. Therefore, it is important to check the condition of all lights before you go on the road. Don’t forget to wipe down the windshield as well – streaks and dust can reduce visibility.
If you are driving on the highway, it is best to keep a fairly large distance, because the clearance lights of trucks can give a false impression of their dimensions. Unfortunately, there are often cars that have their lights and dimensions off, which also needs to be taken into account.
Tip: To avoid being blinded by oncoming headlights during a difficult maneuver, cover one eye and open it when the car passes. This way you will not lose the ability to see the road as clearly as before, due to the fact that the other eye was not blinded.
Speeding
Following the speed limit is the main guarantee of safety on the road at night. Every driver is accustomed to a speed at which he feels most comfortable. Make a habit of driving a little slower than usual at night. Such a simple trick will help you to compensate for the reduced reactions and sleepiness.
Also, keep in mind that the human eye cannot see at night as well as during the day. Therefore, it is best not to rely on them completely and use all available means to increase visibility – for example, high beams.
But even with all these precautions, do not exceed the speed limit by more than 10-15 km / h. Otherwise, you may find yourself in an emergency situation that you will not be able to cope with.