Most drivers travel from place to place without thinking about how the time of day could affect their driving or cause an accident. The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) notes that driving at night can increase the risk of an accident.
Night vision and fatigue
Drivers may have difficulty with night vision. This means they have reduced ability to see in low-light conditions. This can be caused by aging, degenerative eye diseases, prescription medications or other more common factors, like wearing glasses that are not anti-reflective or failing to clean their windshield properly.
By aiming their headlights correctly, dimming their dashboard lights and slowing down, they can reduce the risk of an accident caused by night vision difficulties.
Fatigue can cause the driver to fall asleep at the wheel, either driving locally or on longer trips and may be the result of a lack of quality sleep and irregular or long work hours. NHTSA reports that there are thousands of accidents each year caused by driver fatigue.
Drivers are encouraged to get sufficient sleep at night, stop regularly to rest and not to drive if they have been awake for 16 hours or more.
Rush hour and impaired driving
Also, rush hour can be dangerous because roadways may be crowded with drivers who are impatient to get to their destination. In late fall and winter, the roadways are darker during rush hour which, along with weather factors, can cause a serious accident.
Drivers should be aware that impaired driving, caused by alcohol or drugs, can put the lives of other drivers at risk on the road. These accidents frequently occur at night as well.
If a person is injured in a car accident, it can have a negative impact on their life physically and financially. An experienced attorney can provide advice and pursue compensation for their injuries.