Driving When It's Dark (continued)
Here are some tips
for driving at night:
-
Be aware that
it is much harder to see water hazards at night. Hitting
flood water at an unsafe speed will start with a loss
of control, then a violent stop. Pay close attention
to observe the difference between a wet road and flood
water, especially under bridges and low points in the
road.
-
Fatigue is
more likely at night. Drowsyness slows reaction time
and the risk of falling asleep at the wheel. Alcohol
acts as a depressant and just one drink can induce fatigue.
More people drink during the weekend.
Not coincidentally, more fatal crashes take place on
weekend nights than at any other time in the week.
-
Age
greatly effects a driver's ability to see at night.
According to the National Safety Council , 50-year-old
driver may need twice as much light to see as well as
a 30-year old.
-
When approaching
a vehicle at night, always dim your headlights. You
could cause the other driver to have a crash and your
vehicle involved as well. Don't look directly into oncoming
headlights. Watch the oncoming car out of the corner
of your eye and look toward the right side of your lane.
When following another vehicle, keep your headlights
on low beams so you don't blind the driver ahead of
you.
-
Keep to the
right side of your lane. If a vehicle with one light
comes toward you. It could be a bicycle or motorcycle,
but it could also be a car with one headlight out.
-
Be sure your
taillights, signal lights and headlights are working.
Check the alignment of your headlights and clean your
windows (inside and out) on a regular basis.
Accordning to Texas
Law:
- You must turn your headlights
on 30 minutes before sunset and leave them on until
30 minutes after sunrise.
- You must turn your lights on
any time you can't see at least 1000 feet ahead.
- It is illegal to drive with
only your parking lights on.
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