Are you an "owl" when it comes to driving at night?
Most people have trouble seeing well at night when driving, for a variety of reasons. Before we get into those reasons and some possible remedies, a little common sense is in order.
If you have ever driven a motorcycle, and done so at night, you know what it is like to be practically free of sight incumberances, and yet still have trouble seeing. Amazing as it may seem, even with an open faced helmet on, and no windscreen, it can still be hard to see. Wind (causing tears), reduced visibility (due to darkness) and the distraction of driving while avoiding potential hazards all take away from what should be a truly care free visual experience. But that's on a motorcyle, outside the normal scope of discussion we have here. What about auto drivers?
It is important that everyone, regardless of age or supposed "eye accuity" understands that visibility is hindered by the darkness. End of discussion. We as humans simply cannot see as well, with as much clarity, and as far in the darkness (even with street lights, etc.) as we can in the daylight. We also must accept that our sight sense is overwhelmed, or maybe over-taxed, in the darkness, clouding our judgment and what we can concentrate upon. In layman's terms: driving at night puts more pressure upon our brain. Result? We miss more, while having higher anxiety. It's a burden upon our system to drive at night, but that does not mean we cannot navigate the dark streets without hope. Ah dear driver, there is hope! (and not the hollow type Barak speaks of)
Some Reasons for Reduced Vision during Night Driving
1. Glare: Unless you're driving a buggy, you have a windshield. It keeps bugs and rain off your face. It also refracts light coming in, creating "halo's" and "sunbursts" that effectively knock out a portion of your visual field, even if for a moment. Some glare is unavoidable, but most can be cured by.....you guessed it.....having a clean windshield. It's been said, but not heeded -- cleaning the inside of your windshield, and on a regular basis, is a very important regular maintenance item. The more smudges and dirty film you have on the inside, the more you will suffer from glare, both at night and in day. But don't ignore the outside either. Keep it clean, and treated with Rain-X or similar product so that it sheds water, bugs, and dust effectively. Scrub the inside of those windows, and take a drive at night and marvel at the difference!
2. Candle Power: Are your headlights effective? Are they old? Have they ever been adjusted? Is one of them possibly burned out? Effectiveness may be hard to quantify, but if your headlights are more than 5 years old, it's time to change them. All halogen headlamps (about 80% on the road are of this type) lose candlepower over time. 5 years is considered the useful lifespan, if you want all they can give. If this is the case, or one is burned out, always replace them in pairs, and consider switching to a more white light brand that mimics the more powerful and clear "HID" (High Intensity Discharge) Xenon headlamps. Many brands offer these imitations that basically give off a more true white light, rather than the traditional yellowish light of more common halogen.
If you have halogen headlights and want to upgrade to the current champ - Xenon - you must check with your car's manufacturer to see if this can be done. Otherwise, you will have to purchase a kit that will be fairly expensive (upwards of $500) to retrofit your vehicle with these lamps. If you are purchasing a new car, invest in Xenon then, as the cost on a new car is considerably less than retrofitting. In any case, replace and upgrade, even if your current lamps seem "fine." You WILL see the difference.
If the plastic cover over your headlamps is hazy or cloudy, there are cheap kits you can purchase at your local auto store that will help you return them to a clear lens. Spend a few bucks and about 15 minutes and see better.
And please, in all cases, make a practice of cleaning your headlamps regularly, especially after driving in the snow or in rain. Just a quick wipe with an old rag can make a big difference.
3. No Smoking, Please: If you smoke, don't do so at night. Besides the obvious reduction in vision with a smoke filled cabin, your eyes are effected by the chemicals in the cigarettes and your pupils tend to shrink, letting in less light, and reducing night vision. Smoking while driving (goes for passengers too) is analagous to smearing vasoline on your windshield. Don't do it!
4. Practice Forward Viewing: A fancy way of saying, "practice looking further down the road." This is a great tip for driving under any condition, and especially at night. Force yourself to routinely (like 2 times every 5 seconds) look as far down the road as your natural vision will allow. In certain dark conditions, this may be just as far as your headlights shine, but most of the time, you will be able to pick up on small visual cues like animal eyes shining, a bicycle reflector, or a street sign glimmering, indicating intersections, hazards, etc. It is normal for most drivers to let their eyes rest on the road about 15 to 20 feet in front of their hood, and that is asking for trouble! Realize this and make a habit of looking into down the road, as far as 1/4 mile. You may be amazed how this will help you react far quicker and maintain a much safer position on the road.
5. Think Ahead: Sounds reasonable, right? Well, many drivers forget to think ahead (just observe drivers at any off ramp on any interstate) while playing with the radio, talking on their cell phones (sorry), eating a cheese danish muffin and a coke, or whatever. Distractions are always a bad idea, especially those we invite in on purpose. It's enough to just drive with both hands on the wheel and giving it our undivided attention so that we can get home alive, so we don't need any more stress. Stress is bad! So, especially at night, we want to remove as many distractions as possible (since our brain is already being over taxed) and focus upon driving and looking for hazards and thinking about our next move. Look for visual landmarks. Allow more time to merge and turn. Quit talking (if doing so) when entering intersections and on unfamiliar roads. Put down the cell phone! Sit up straight, use the high beams whenever you can, and pay attention.
If you were to snoop around for more fantastic night driving ideas, most would revolve around the basics of having a clear visual field, being alert, and improving your head lights. Don't be a lazy Lucy and just yawn at these stellar suggestions. Take a minute, invest a few bucks, and be amazed at how much better and further you can see at night!
It might even help you to drive more precisely at night.
