5 Important Safety Tips to Observe While Driving at Night

For most drivers, driving during the day is easy. But when it comes to night driving, even the most experienced driver can make mistakes that could lead to accidents. Driving at night is not the same as driving during the day. Visibility of the road during the night is very minimal, with distractions from on-coming vehicles’ headllights making it even worse. Bad weather such as heavy rains at night can reduce visibility much further.

Therefore, to avoid making grave mistakes that could lead to accidents while driving at night, here are some tips that can help you drive safely;

1. Don’t look at the headlights of the on-coming vehicles

Looking at the headlights of the on-coming vehicles while driving at night can blind you for a moment. Those few seconds when you are not seeing clearly are enough to lead you into a ditch, or hit a pedestrian on the sidewalk. The best thing to do is to look at the marking lines on the road, keeping the car within the lines.

2. Keep a safe distance

Keeping a safe distance while driving is a safety measure even during the day. However, you should observe it even more while driving at night because of poor visibility. This will give you enough braking distance in case the vehicle infront suddenly stops.

3. Adjust your headlights correctly

The first thing to do before driving at night is to adjust your headlights at the correct angle. Even if you are driving a new car, the headlights may not be adjusted to a good position. You can solve this problem yourself by following instructions in the owner’s manual. You can also take the car to a dealer and have a mechanic adjust it for you prior to your journey.

4. Watch your speed

This is one of the most important factors to consider. Night driving demands extra attention, only achievable when driving at moderate speeds. To be on the safe side, try to drive slower than you would during the day.

5. Use low beams

Use only low beams while driving at night, unless there is no vehicle coming from the opposite direction. High beams are brighter and elevated. Your high beams can blind other drivers, making them lose focus, possibly leading to an accident.