Fall is here, which means daylight is dwindling. That means it’s likely the sun will be setting, if there at all, during your commute home for work, while it’s brighter than normal in the early morning. Be sure you and your vehicle are ready for this transition with these tips from VIP European Auto Interiors.
TIPS FOR DRIVING AT NIGHT
Dirty windshields may only be an annoyance during the day, but at night, they can severely hinder your already affected view. But it’s not only during the night that you have to worry.
When the sun is rising or bright in your eyes, the grime can cause a glare that may blind you or other drivers if not taken care of. So it’s important to clean your windshield both inside and out regularly.
CHECK YOUR LIGHTS
In the dark, nothing is more important than your ability to see and other driver’s ability to see you. Ensure your headlights and taillights are working, that they are aimed properly, and your turn signals are in good working order.
To help increase your safety and that of others, we suggest turning on your headlights as early as an hour before sundown.
DON’T LOOK INTO THE LIGHT
On that same thread, to prevent temporary blindness or glares, try to not to look directly into the lights of oncoming traffic. In the dark, it’s tough to not focus on the beacons of lights in front, behind, and coming at you. Do your best to avoid this: you can still safely drive by pointing your gaze down and to the right, while focusing on the white line.
INCREASE DISTANCE AND REDUCE SPEED
We’ve all heard this tip since before but it is the best tip for keeping you and others safe on the road. When you’re in a situation that you’re not comfortable, don’t have full visibility or control, always reduce your speed and put more distance between you and the driver in front of you. Ignore anyone tailgating behind you (or better yet, let them pass), and stay calm and safe as you’re driving, learn from the best at improv defensive driving texas.
Use your headlights to help you gauge your distance and stopping time. If you can’t stop within the illuminated area you’re too close! Another way to gauge your distance is by using the 3-second rule: as the vehicle in front of you passed a designated landmark along the road (a tree, a construction barrel, etc.), there should be at least a 3-second gap before you reach the same area. If it takes less than 3 seconds to catch up, slow down!
We all know the desire to get home as quickly as possible, but just take your time to ensure that you do get home.