Tips for Driving at Night

Man driving at night in Florida.

Driving at night can be dangerous. In fact, it’s the most dangerous time to be on the road. Poor visibility, fatigue, criminals, and intoxicated drivers are just a few of the dangers of driving at night. Fortunately, there are a few things that all drivers can do to reduce the dangers presented by driving when the sun goes down. In this article, we share some tips for staying safe while driving at night. 

  • Turn off your interior lights and lock your doors: When you leave your interior lights on while driving at night, you make yourself a target to criminals. This, when combined with unlocked doors, can be a recipe for disaster. Therefore, always turn off your interior lights and lock your doors when driving at night. 

 

  • Skip the cruise control: Cruise control is a useful feature when driving long distances. However, it can also interfere with your ability to focus on driving. Therefore, when driving at night, limit your use of cruise control.

 

  • Know the terrain: When driving at night, it’s important to know where you’re going and how you’re going to get there. Therefore, when traveling in an area that you aren’t familiar with after dark, you should have a map or GPS handy to keep you from getting lost.  

 

  • See and be seen: Safe driving involves always having a clear view of the road. Therefore, if you have glasses, make sure you wear them—especially at night. Also, keeping your interior lights off (as we advise above) can help prevent glare. Finally, be sure to use your headlights to ensure other drivers can see you. 

 

  • Maintain your vehicle: Breaking down is the last thing you want to happen when traveling at night. Therefore, be sure to keep your vehicle serviced and make sure you have enough gas when traveling at night. 

 

  • Limit distractions: Distracted driving is never a good idea, but it is especially dangerous after dark. When driving at night, you should focus on one thing: the road. 

 

  • Stay alert: Remember: drowsy driving is impaired driving. Drowsy driving can be as dangerous as driving while intoxicated—especially after dark. Therefore, take steps to ensure that you remain alert when driving at night. Ways to stay alert while driving at night include taking regular breaks, avoiding driving while fatigued, and keeping the interior of your car cool.

Hire a Florida Personal Injury Lawyer

Finally, if you’ve been hurt in an auto accident in Florida, you need an experienced Florida personal injury attorney in your corner. Staples, Ellis + Associates, P.A., has over seventy years of combined experience helping auto accident victims in Northwest Florida. When you come to us for assistance, we will do everything in our power to ensure that you are fully compensated for your injuries.  Please contact our office today to set up a consultation with one of our talented attorneys.

Posted in: Auto Accidents, Personal Injury