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At night the roads may be quieter, but driving after dark comes with its own unique risks and challenges. In a previous blog, we explored one of the biggest night driving dangers - impaired driving. This article will dive into two more significant factors that make nighttime one of the riskiest times to be on the road. 

“You're three times more likely to have a fatal accident at night than during the day.” 

Driver Fatigue  

Daytime brightness helps drivers stay alert, while the brain connects darkness and nighttime with sleep and relaxation. Between midnight and 6 a.m. and during the late afternoon, people experience dips in their circadian rhythm (the body’s internal clock that regulates sleep), which are the same times that drowsy driving crashes occur most frequently.  

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 25 adult drivers report having fallen asleep while driving” 

Drowsiness behind the wheel significantly increases your risk of an accident. Symptoms like a difficulty keeping your head up or eyes open, or an inability to recall driving the last few miles, compromise your alertness and mean you’re more likely to miss important road cues and react late to sudden changes. Similarly, trouble holding a consistent speed or drifting out of your lane creates added hazards for the drivers around you.  

A micro-sleep, the involuntary 4-5 second loss of attention, while driving at highway speeds can have a driver traveling the length of a football field with their eyes closed.  

These effects of sleep deprivation mirror the kind of mental impairment brought on by drunkenness. In fact, research shows that “driving after going more than 20 hours without sleep is the equivalent of driving with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08% – the U.S. legal limit.”  

The best way to protect yourself against the dangers of drowsy driving is to get consistent, quality sleep. Experts recommend you aiming for seven to nine hours of sleep each night.  

Nighttime Visibility

A few different factors decrease visibility at night, and when you can’t see your surroundings clearly driving becomes extra risky.   

Darkness dramatically reduces your ability to spot pedestrians, bikers, or wildlife on or near the roadway, often until they're dangerously close. Standard low beam headlights typically illuminate only 150 to 200 feet ahead, which isn’t sufficient when travelling at moderate speeds.  

A lack of forward illumination doesn't just limit what you can see — it limits how much time you have to react, brake, or steer clear of danger. 

At the same time, too much light can also make driving harder. Modern headlights tend to produce a brighter and more concentrated beam that, while illuminating more of the road, often create a "discomfort glare" for oncoming traffic. Other drivers can experience several seconds of reduced vision or even momentary blindness as their eyes struggle to adjust to the bright lights. On two-lane roads this is especially hazardous, as oncoming vehicles pass close together at high combined speeds. 

The safest approach to limited visibility in either case is to give yourself more room to work with. If the road is unlit or you’re having trouble seeing ahead, slow down below the posted limit, extend your following distance, and stay especially alert near intersections, curves, or roads where pedestrians, animals, or other vehicles are most likely to appear suddenly. 

Although driving at night can be more challenging than driving during the day, a little extra preparation and attention can go a long way. Staying focused, driving defensively, and adapting to the conditions can help make every nighttime drive a safer one. 

Sources:

https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drowsy-driving 

https://www.nsc.org/road/safety-topics/fatigued-driver?srsltid=AfmBOorp44L5leHj3a4Fv2rUiaj-wwNs6IwLAGLYrOZ6rod8chosSv44#/ 

https://www.sleepfoundation.org/drowsy-driving 

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a28209160/night-driving-safety/