Articles - Night Driving

NIGHT DRIVING

In the UK about 25 per cent of all fatal crashes occur between 4pm and 9pm, the majority in the winter months. German road safety research has shown that while 75 per cent of all driving is done during daylight hours, more than 50 per cent of all fatal accidents happen during the hours of darkness.

Ninety percent of a driver's reaction depends on vision, and vision is severely limited at night. Even on well-lit roads, depth perception, colour recognition, and peripheral vision are compromised after sunset. The risk of death in the case of a crash is three times higher for night driving than for clear visibility conditions.

German road safety research has shown that while 75 per cent of all driving is done during daylight hours, more than 50 per cent of all fatal accidents happen during the hours of darkness. Similar accident figures have been found in US studies. The same research has also shown that approximately 50 per cent of serious accidents are caused as a result of the driver not having enough information about the road ahead to take avoiding action.

The stark reality is that the risk of death in the case of a crash is three times higher for night driving than for clear visibility conditions. How far can we see, and what does this distance mean? On dipped lights driving at 40 mph after seeing an object you only have about 1.5 seconds - on main beam 3 seconds. This is only the beginning. When you encounter a hazard on the road, you actually go through five steps before stopping the vehicle:

• Perception of the hazard, under poor visibility conditions
• Identifying the hazard under poor lighting conditions
• Considering the alternatives available, and deciding what action to take
• Reaction time - mental plus muscular
• Braking

Research has shown that a driver travelling at 40 miles per hour with dipped lights has as little as 1.5 seconds to react to a hazard on the road. This rises to a three seconds on beams.



NIGHT DRIVING In the UK about 25 per cent of all fatal crashes occur between 4pm and 9pm, the majority in the winter months. German road safety research has shown that while 75 per cent of all driving is done during daylight hours, more than 50 per cent of all fatal accidents happen during the hours of darkness. Ninety percent of a driver's reaction depends on vision, and vision is severely limited at night. Even on well-lit roads, depth perception, colour recognition, and peripheral vision are compromised after sunset. The risk of death in the case of a crash is three times higher for night driving than for clear visibility conditions. German road safety research has shown that while 75 per cent of all driving is done during daylight hours, more than 50 per cent of all fatal accidents happen during the hours of darkness. Similar accident figures have been found in US studies. The same research has also shown that approximately 50 per cent of serious accidents are caused as a result of the driver not having enough information about the road ahead to take avoiding action. The stark reality is that the risk of death in the case of a crash is three times higher for night driving than for clear visibility conditions. How far can we see, and what does this distance mean? On dipped lights driving at 40 mph after seeing an object you only have about 1.5 seconds - on main beam 3 seconds. This is only the beginning. When you encounter a hazard on the road, you actually go through five steps before stopping the vehicle: • Perception of the hazard, under poor visibility conditions • Identifying the hazard under poor lighting conditions • Considering the alternatives available, and deciding what action to take • Reaction time - mental plus muscular • Braking Research has shown that a driver travelling at 40 miles per hour with dipped lights has as little as 1.5 seconds to react to a hazard on the road. This rises to a three seconds on beams.