We’ve officially turned the clocks backward an hour, which means it now gets darker outside sooner. According to the NHTSA, fatal accidents are three times more likely to happen at night than during the daytime. So we’ve pulled together a few tips to help you drive safer during nighttime hours.
How to Drive Safer at Night
Use your Lights
This is a no brainer, but make sure to use your headlights to stay visible not only in the dark, but in bad weather conditions such as rain, snow or hail as well. While you’re at it, test all your lights including low beams, high beams, daytime running lights, turn signals and brake lights. Don’t forget to check the angle of your headlights too – too much of an angle can be blinding to other drivers or not illuminating enough for you.
Be a Defensive Driver
Night time driving poses many risks, some of which include not so stellar drivers, nocturnal animals and unseen road hazards. So prepare for the worst and drive defensively.
Take Care of Yourself
Making sure you’re comfortable and alert can help make nighttime driving easier. This means adjusting your dashboard lights to a less distracting brightness, getting your eyes checked to make sure you don’t need a nighttime driving prescription, and not driving while drowsy.
Plan Your Route
We’re all busy and we’ve all got places to be, but planning your route and slowing down may decrease the likelihood of being involved in a crash at night. So while figuring out which road you’d like to travel, try to pick the route that is well lit and has more than one lane. Don’t forget to slow down too, as according to the NHTSA speeding-related crashes are responsible for 37% of nighttime-driving fatalities.
MAPFRE Insurance offers a variety of car insurance coverages and value programs to make sure you’re protected when you hit the road at night. Get a Massachusetts car insurance quote online to see if you could save with MAPFRE. If you live in another state, get a quote or connect with a local independent insurance agent near you.
