Driving during the day means you can usually see everything clearly, and you are much more confident in the safety of your driving. When it’s nighttime, though, and everything is dark, it can be more challenging to differentiate particular objects on the road. Even people who are walking on the sidewalk may not be as obvious to drivers. So, to make sure you stay safe while driving at night, and so you don’t have to avoid the roads once the sun goes down, here are a few safety tips.  

Make Sure To Use Your Lights 

While daytime running lights are mandatory in Canada, it’s essential to make sure you turn on your lights about 30 minutes before dusk. In some urban areas, lights at nighttime are mandatory for driving, and you could even get ticketed for not having them on. Additionally, if you are driving in a rural area where it’s especially dark, you may want to turn on your fog lights for the broader amount of light they provide. However, they can be harmful to the vision of oncoming drivers, so if you’re passing many drivers going the opposite direction, you may not want to use them.  

Keep A Clear View 

As much as we all try to keep our windshields clean, it’s very easy to get them dirty with bugs, dirt and other debris. A dirty or even cracked windshield can obstruct your view, making it very dangerous for you to drive at night when it’s already more difficult to drive, so you’ll need to be extra cautious. Additionally, if your windshield wipers are old and don’t correctly clear your view or wipe away water as they should, it may be time to invest in a new set.  

Check Interior Lighting 

While it’s important to make sure your dashboard is functioning and lighting as it should, sometimes this can create additional distractions when it’s dark outside. If your vehicle allows for it and has the function, you should try to dim the lights on your dashboard and other interior controls so that it’s not as sharp of contrast and reduces possible distractions from driving.  

Keep An Eye Out For Wildlife 

While wildlife does like to run around during the day, it’s much easier to spot them from a distance and react accordingly so that you don’t hit them. At night, it’s much more difficult to detect that movement early and safely stop your vehicle. As best you can, keep an eye out for wildlife and drive at a safe speed so that you feel comfortable and can stop quickly if needed.  

Care For Your Eyes 

If you wear glasses for driving or everyday reasons, it’s crucial to pick glasses with an anti-reflective coating so that light doesn’t reflect off your glasses. Glasses that don’t have this coating can make objects and road hazards much more challenging to see at night because they can cause you to squint, impacting your ability to see things in the distance.  

Anyone who has been driving for any amount of time knows that driving at night is much different than driving during the day, and it’s important to make sure everyone involved is safe. By making sure you take a few extra precautions and keep your view clear of obstructions, your nighttime driving will be that much safer, and you’ll feel more comfortable being on the road at night.  

Contact ICD Insurance today 

At ICD Insurance, we care about your safety and hope you will follow these night driving tips. To get information on auto insurance, contact us today