How Late-Night Driving Is Riskier Than You Think
Even if the calmer roads are inviting, driving at night presents serious risks that are frequently disregarded. Night driving is currently actively linked to a greater risk of collisions and fatalities than driving during the day.
Driving at night becomes difficult because of the impairments to peripheral vision, color identification, and depth perception in the dark. Drivers are thrice more likely to be involved in a fatal incident at night than during the day. Furthermore, over 50% of crashes happen after sundown, according to a 2024 WorldMetrics analysis.
This blog post will discuss the additional hazards of driving at night. Driving after dark presents unique challenges that all drivers should understand.
Dissection of a Recent After-Dark Disaster on a U.S. Highway
The Denver Gazette reports a recent incident near Colorado Springs where an 18-year-old driver mistakenly drove northbound in the southbound lane. This carelessness led to a severe crash. The juvenile driver and a 60-year-old man suffered significant injuries.
Although investigations are still underway, authorities believe the adolescent may have been operating a vehicle while intoxicated. A car accident lawyer in Colorado Springs would find such an investigation section crucial for a DUI (Driving Under Influence) case.
It is essential for securing just compensation for the victims. Overall such incidents highlight the increased hazards of night driving, particularly involving reduced visibility and impaired judgment.
Impaired Driving
One of the most severe concerns connected to traveling at night is impaired driving. The alleged intoxication probably influenced the young driver’s choice to join the freeway in the wrong direction. This sad event serves as a reminder of how deadly it may be to drive after drinking when vision is lowered.
Late at night is when the frequency of drunk driving accidents peaks. This is corroborated by a published paper from the Rutgers Centre of Alcohol and Substance Use Studies. The findings validated that drunk driving is more common at night and raises the risk of collisions.
This problem is exacerbated particularly on the weekends. According to Forbes, 16% of fatal collisions involving alcohol-impaired drivers occur during the week. In contrast, 28% happen over the weekend.
Alcohol impairs cognitive functions, slows reaction times, and diminishes a driver’s ability to make sound decisions. A 2022 study examined the effects of alcohol on driving performance in four-choice reaction time. The findings revealed that performance was impaired at < 0.01 BAC.
Reduced Visibility
One of the biggest problems with driving at night is reduced vision. In this incident, the young driver’s wrong-way travel may have been worsened by difficulty seeing road signs or lane markings.
The danger was likely made worse as it involved a teen driver. Teen drivers are usually less experienced in driving, making them more prone to make errors in the dark. The risk of being involved in a crash is higher for teens and young adults who drive at night. A 2023 study published in the Journal of Safety Research found that teen drivers accounted for nearly 70% of the 19,847 crashes they analyzed.
Scotopic vision, or nighttime visibility, is characterized by a reduced capacity to detect color, depth, and peripheral movement, reports Cleveland Clinic. Moreover, reduced vision makes it challenging for drivers to see traffic signals, obstructions, or other cars in time to respond effectively.
The Importance of Vigilance for Staying Safe
Driving at night increases the hazards involved. Therefore, drivers must be extra cautious and take safety measures to protect themselves and other road users.
According to Springs Law Group, speeding is a consistent cause of car accidents. It’s essential to pay attention to how other people drive. With enough information in this regard, you can prevent hazards by seeing indicators of impaired driving, like swerving or uncontrolled speeding.
FAQs
1. Why is nighttime visibility reduced?
As the human eye’s low-light vision is limited, visibility is diminished at night. Impairment of peripheral vision, color perception, and depth perception might make distinguishing road signs, barriers, and other cars difficult. Another factor contributing to reduced visibility at night is the glare from oncoming headlights. This intense light can temporarily blind drivers, making it difficult to focus on the road ahead.
2. How does drinking affect one’s ability to drive?
Alcohol slows response times, and weakens decision-making abilities, all of which affect one’s ability to drive. Driving needs coordination between the feet, eyes, and hands. Alcohol impairs this coordination, making it difficult to steer, brake, or maintain lane position. Also, alcohol acts as a depressant, making drivers feel relaxed and drowsy.
3. Are accidents more likely to be deadly at night?
Yes. The reason is that there are more drunk drivers. Also, there is less visibility throughout the night, and accidents during this time of day are more likely to be fatal. There are around three times as many fatalities at night.
4. What should I do at night if I see a motorist who is intoxicated?
Try to keep a safe distance from and refrain from passing an intoxicated motorist if you come across one. Do not try to stop the vehicle yourself or get the driver’s attention. This can escalate the situation and put you in danger.
The tragic car incident that occurs at night serves as a sobering reminder of the hazards involved in driving after dark. This becomes specific, when it is caused by drunk drivers and decreased visibility. Drivers may contribute to ensuring their safety and that of other road users. For this, they need to be aware of these dangers and take action to reduce them.
