According to the National Safety Council, driving at night is three times more dangerous than driving during daylight hours. This is due to many factors, but the most important ones are: fatigue, compromised vision and other drivers who may be impaired. Many people try to avoid driving at night, but for some, options might be limited. School, work, social outings, and emergencies can justify night time driving. Even though people are aware of the risks, many still continue to drive at night.
A poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation found that more than 60% of adults have driven when they were tired and another 37% had fallen asleep at the wheel. These numbers are alarming not only because fatigued drivers are endangering themselves, but also because of the danger they pose to other drivers on the road. Though it may be obvious, drivers who know they will drive at night should get adequate rest (7–9 hours) and should also avoid driving during hours they normally devote to sleeping.
Lack of sleep is not the most common factor that compromises the driving ability. Lack of light affects everyone’s ability to drive at night. When less light is present, depth perception, color recognition, and peripheral vision are dramatically reduced. This can lead to lower reaction times and even a total lack of ability to recognize potentially dangerous situations. Though the lack of vision affects everyone, it affects everyone differently. More specifically, according to the American Optometric Association, a driver who is 50 years old may need twice the amount of lighting to see as well as someone who is 30 years old. Unfortunately, vision dramatically weakens with age.
More than 30 people die everyday in alcohol related crashes according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Impaired drivers are most commonly on the road between the hours of midnight and 3 am. These reckless individuals endanger their own lives as well the lives of everyone around them. Realistically, it is impossible to avoid driving near intoxicated people. They could be anywhere. However, drivers can reduce their risk of being involved in a substance related accident if they reduce their night driving.
The National Safety Council states that 50% of fatal accidents occur at night even though traffic volume is vastly lower compared to daytime hours. At the end of the day, many people who drive at night may not have options when it comes to their commuting hours. However, for drivers who are able to plan ahead, statistics clearly suggest that planning ahead to avoid driving at night is the safest option.
If you or a loved one is nervous about driving at night, there are ridesharing services that exist to ensure you get to your location as safely as possible. Use a ridesharing service like GoGoGrandparent to ensure your nighttime commute is as safe as can be. Call us today to schedule your evening rides: 1 (855) 464–6872.
