By Asige Vyeriza
Night driving isn’t the same as daytime driving. It’s a fundamentally different experience, governed by a new set of rules, risks, and responsibilities.
Statistically, you’re three times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash at night than during the day, even though only about 25% of all driving occurs after dark.
Human eyes depend heavily on light and at night, both acuity (sharpness) and depth perception drop dramatically. Peripheral vision also narrows, and the eye’s ability to distinguish colour fades.
To mitigate these effects:
- Keep your windshield spotless- Dust smears and streaks cause halos and scatter light, worsening glare.
- Adjust your mirrors to reduce glare- Flip the rear-view mirror to the ‘night’ setting and angle side mirrors slightly downward and outward.
- Dim your dashboard
- Use your lights properly- Low beams for traffic, high beans in rural or unlit areas, but dim them within 500 feet of an oncoming car or when following another car.
- Align your headlights- Your vehicle may have headlights aimed too low or too far to one side. Misaligned headlights reduce your visibility and can blind other drivers.
The Hidden Dangers of Fatigue
Fatigue is the silent killer of night driving. Unlike alcohol or drugs, it’s hard to measure and even harder to resist. Driving drowsy impairs reaction time, reduces awareness, and can lead to microsleeps; brief lapses in attention that are invisible to the driver but devastating in effect.
Signs you’re too tired to drive safely:
-Frequent blinking or yawning
-Wandering thoughts or missed exits
-Drifting from your lane or hitting rumble strips
Countermeasures:
-Plan long trips earlier in the day.
-Take a break every 90–120 minutes- stretch, hydrate, and get fresh air.
-Never drive when you’re nodding off -Pull over and nap. Even 20 minutes can reset alertness.
Master the Art of Managing Glare
The blinding beams of oncoming traffic, especially from SUVs or trucks, can momentarily paralyze your vision. Glare recovery time increases with age what takes a 20-year-old two seconds can what takes a 20-year-old two seconds can take a 50-year-old ten.
To reduce glare:
- Avoid direct eye contact with oncoming headlights. Shift your gaze slightly down and to the left, using the road line as your guide.
- Clean your glasses or windshield inside and out. Smudges and dust intensify glare.
- Consider anti-reflective lenses if you wear glasses.
- Use the sun visor at night. It’s not just for the sun, it can shield you from overhead streetlight glare or the high beams of tailgaters.
Drive Defensively
Night reduces your ability to spot trouble early. Animals, debris, erratic drivers, and stopped vehicles appear with little warning. You need to drive with heightened anticipation.
Best practices:
Apply the defensive driving formular (RUA)
R- Recognize the hazards ahead
U-Understand the nature of the hazards
A-Act timely on the hazards recognized
- Reduce speed. Driving at night should almost always mean driving slower than your daytime pace.
- Increase following distance. Leave at least 4–6 seconds between you and the car ahead.
- If your stopping distance exceeds what you can see ahead, you’re at risk.
- Accept the mistakes of other drivers/road users
- Adjust to the environmental conditions
- Avoid driving under influence
Scan actively. Use a zigzag pattern with your eyes; mirror, road ahead, roadside, for potential threats.
Rain and Fog
Inclement weather is dangerous enough in daylight. At night, it’s a multiplier of risk.
Rain creates reflections that mask road lines and amplify glare. Fog scatters light. use low beams, not high, to minimize whiteout.
Always keep your wipers, defrosters, and washer fluid in top condition. And never assume other drivers see you, your lights may be your only presence in their world.
Watch Out for Wildlife
In areas, out of town, animals could be a major threat after dark. They’re most active between dusk and dawn.
Watch for the shine of eyes reflecting your headlights.
Heed wildlife crossing signs. They’re not decorative.
Don’t swerve to avoid animals unless you’re sure it’s safe. Swerving often causes worse crashes than impact.
Mind Your Mindset (self-enhancement bias)
One of the most underrated risks of night driving is overconfidence. You’ve driven this route a thousand times, you know the curves, you’ve got adaptive headlights, what could go wrong? Everything.
Night driving demands humility, discipline, and respect for limits. yours and your vehicle’s.
Drive like your life depends on it. Because at night, more than ever, it does.
Night Driving Safety Checklist
Before you drive:
✅ Headlights and brake lights clean and working
✅ Windshield, mirrors, and glasses clean
✅ Adjust mirrors to minimize glare
✅ Avoid alcohol, even in small amounts
✅ Fatigue level assessed honestly