There may be fewer people on the road after the sun sets, but deaths caused by cars and traffic occur three times more often at night than during the day, according to Penn State’s Environmental Health and Safety department. Fifty-five percent of all driving fatalities happen when it is dark and 62 percent of pedestrian fatalities happen at the same time.
Why is night driving dangerous?
Driving on roads without street lights can make it seem as if a person is heading into the dark because headlights only allow individuals to see a certain distance in front of them, the source reports. Depending on simulated light sources does not allow a driver’s peripheral vision to function as well as it does during the day. Darkness may also make it more difficult for people to gauge distances and movement ahead.
Fatigue may play role in accidents
Individuals are more likely to be tired when they are traveling at night, and exhaustion dulls drivers’ concentration and slows their reaction time. The study found that people are least alert between the hours of 3 a.m. and 7 a.m. When a person typically goes to bed may also affect what time they begin to have feelings of fatigue.
Alcohol-related crashes more likely
Alcohol may be one of the leading factors in nighttime car crashes, the study shows. More deadly crashes happen on Friday and Saturday nights than any other time during the week. Drivers are cautioned to look out for individuals that may be intoxicated on the roadways and avoid getting too close to them.
There have been several intense anti-drinking and driving campaigns over the years, but 40,933 people still died from alcohol-related crashes last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
How to drive safely at night
In an effort to reduce the number of traffic accidents at night, and make sure you keep your car insurance quote as low as possible, experts recommend that drivers limit their speed and distance their vehicles from other drivers even more than they normally would. Having a greater distance will allow a motorist more time to stop their car in the event of a road hazard.
Headlights should always be used when driving at night, as well as when there are inclement weather conditions such as rain or snow. Ensuring that a vehicle’s headlights are clean and working properly may help increase visibility.