SAFE NIGHT DRIVING

Night time, especially Friday night, Saturday night and early Sunday morning, is the most hazardous time to drive in our major cities. A sizeable number of fatal accidents occur between sunset and sunrise.

Various factors contribute towards the accidents. These are:

a) Some drivers exceed the set speed limits,
b) Others drink too much and try to drive home when they are too drunk to do so
c) Others refuse to drive within the range of their vehicle's headlights.
d) Others are simply incompetent or reckless

Most of these accidents occur in clear weather and on dry roads. This means that human error plays a major role as a causative factor. Many drivers drive too dangerously.

Here are some helpful suggestions to safer nighttime driving:

1. Slow down and drive within the range of your vehicle's headlights.

2. Dim your vehicle's headlight beams at least 500 feet ahead of approaching vehicles.

3. Dim the headlights when following another car. Your vehicle's headlights reduce the other driver's vision. A reasonable distance to dim your headlights when trailing another vehicle is 200 feet or closer.

4. Keep headlights clean. Headlight dirt can cut your light output by 75 percent. Proper headlight aim is also very important and should be checked periodically.

5. Never look directly at a glaring headlight. Keep your eyes on the left edge of the road, but at the same time, pay attention to where the oncoming vehicle is by quick glances in that direction.

6. Greatly reduce speed when confronted with oncoming headlights, especially when the headlights are not dimmed. Maintain reduced speed until your eyes are recovered from the glare.

7. Go slow on curves and bends. Remember that your car will not automatically follow the direction of the curve or bend.

8. Avoid using light of any kind in your car while driving.

9. Do not drive if tired. Fatigue reduces your ability to see clearly, and you may fall asleep when least aware of it.

10. Obey the speed limit. Remember that all roads have their set corresponding speed limits in the country.