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Bright Ideas for Safer Night Driving

Tips to Improve Visibility and Reduce Accidents

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By Susan Meyer Info icon
Updated January 7, 2025
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Susan Meyer

Senior Editorial Manager

Susan is a licensed insurance agent and has worked as a writer and editor for over 10 years across a number of industries. She has worked at The Zebr…

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  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
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Beth Swanson

SEO Content Strategist

Beth joined The Zebra in 2022 as an Associate Content Strategist. She is a licensed insurance agent whose goal is to make insurance content easy to r…

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  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
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  1. 1. Prepare your car
  2. 2. Adjust your driving
  3. 3. Vision concerns
  4. 4. Avoid drowsiness
  5. 5. Hazards
  6. 6. Plan ahead

Driving at night presents unique challenges for even the most experienced drivers, which can have dangerous consequences. Despite only about 25% of our total driving happening at night, around 50% of fatal car crashes occur after nightfall.[1]

There are a number of factors that contribute to this. Reduced visibility, glare from oncoming headlights and fatigue can make nighttime driving more hazardous. And then there’s the fact that more drivers who are impaired by alcohol or other substances are on the road at night.

 However, with the right precautions, you can significantly improve your safety and reduce the risk of accidents. Here are some essential tips to enhance visibility and address common nighttime driving concerns.

1. Optimize Your Vehicle for Night Driving

Night driving safety begins with you and your ride. Here are some steps you can take to ready your car for dark roads. 

  • Clean your windshield and mirrors: Dirt, smudges and streaks can scatter light, increasing glare and reducing visibility. Clean both the inside and outside of your windshield regularly.
  • Check your headlights: Ensure your headlights are clean, polished, properly aligned and functioning at full brightness. Dim or misaligned headlights can limit your ability to see the road and make your vehicle less visible to others.
  • Use the right lights: Use low beams in well-lit areas and high beams in rural or poorly lit areas. However, switch to low beams when approaching or following other vehicles to avoid blinding other drivers.
  • Inspect your wipers: Old or worn wiper blades can smear water and worsen visibility during rainy nights. Replace them as needed and ensure your windshield washer fluid is topped off.

2. Adjust Your Driving Habits

Now that your vehicle is road-ready, there are some things you can do to adapt your driving style for night driving. 

  • Reduce speed: Reduced visibility means less time to react to hazards. Drive slower at night to give yourself more time to respond to unexpected situations.
  • Increase following distance: Tailgating is particularly dangerous at night when depth perception is compromised. Maintain a greater distance between your car and the one ahead to allow more stopping time.
  • Avoid sudden maneuvers: Quick lane changes or abrupt turns can be harder to judge in low light. Signal early and move smoothly.

3. Combat Glare and Eye Strain

One of the hazards of night driving is not only the reduced visibility due to darkness, but the distractions from all the other lights on the road. Here are some tips for helping your eyes avoid strain. 

  • Dim your dashboard lights: Bright dashboard lights can cause glare inside the vehicle. Adjust the brightness to a comfortable level.
  • Avoid looking directly at oncoming headlights: Shift your gaze slightly to the right and use the road’s edge or lane markings as a guide to minimize the impact of glare.
  • Wear anti-reflective glasses: If you wear glasses, consider getting lenses with an anti-reflective coating to reduce glare from headlights and streetlights.
  • Avoid eye fatigue from digital devices: This one can’t always be helped, but If you know you will be driving at night, try to avoid straining your eyes earlier in the day with a lot of screen time. 
  • Watch out for vision issues: Untreated vision impairment, like cataracts, can sneak up on us and present problems when night driving. Consult an ophthalmologist if you notice halos around lights or otherwise a sudden drop in your night vision.

4. Stay Alert and Manage Fatigue

Beyond just driving at night, drowsy driving is another impairment that can keep us from driving our best. Here are some ways to combat it. 

  • Take regular breaks: If you’re driving long distances, stop every couple of hours to rest and stretch. Fatigue is a major factor in nighttime accidents.
  • Avoid driving drowsy: Signs of drowsiness include frequent yawning, drifting out of your lane or difficulty keeping your eyes open. If you experience any of these, pull over to rest or switch drivers.
  • Limit distractions: Avoid using your phone or engaging in activities that take your attention away from the road. This is true at all hours, but focus is even more critical at night.

5. Be Aware of Nighttime Driving Hazards

Nighttime brings with it additional hazards that you should be alert to. 

  • Watch for animals: Wildlife is more active during dawn and dusk hours, especially in rural areas. Look for reflective animal eyes and slow down if you see signs warning of wildlife crossings.
  • Stay vigilant for impaired drivers: Unfortunately, the likelihood of encountering drunk or impaired drivers increases at night, particularly on weekends. Be prepared to react if another vehicle behaves erratically.
  • Be cautious in poor weather: Rain, fog or snow can further reduce visibility and make roads slick. Use your fog lights if your vehicle has them, and reduce your speed accordingly.

6. Plan Ahead

If it’s possible to plan ahead to arrive at your destination before the sun goes down, that’s a good option too. If you have to drive at night here are a few final tips. 

  • Know your route: Familiarize yourself with your route in advance to avoid unnecessary stress or confusion. If possible, avoid two-lane highways, unlit backroads or other routes that will be more hazardous in the dark. 
  • Keep emergency supplies: Carry a flashlight, jumper cables, a first-aid kit and other essentials in case of an emergency. Depending on how remote an area you’re in and how late at night, there may be few drivers on the road, so you might not get help immediately in an emergency. 
  • Stay visible: If you need to pull over, use your hazard lights and reflective triangles to make your vehicle noticeable to other drivers.

Wrapping up

Driving at night requires heightened attention and a proactive approach to safety. By maintaining your vehicle, adjusting your driving habits and staying alert to potential hazards, you can significantly reduce the risks of nighttime driving. Always prioritize safety over speed, and remember that preparation is key to a stress-free and secure journey after dark.

Sources

  1. The Most Dangerous Time to Drive. National Security Council