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Vehicle Factors |
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Headlights. At night your headlights will usually be the main source of light for you to see and for others to see you. You can’t see nearly as much with your headlights as you can see in the daytime. With low beams you can see ahead about 250 feet and with high beams about 350-500 feet. You must adjust your speed to keep your stopping distance within your sight distance. This means going slow enough to be able to stop within the range of your headlights. Otherwise, by the time you see a hazard, you will not have time to stop. Night driving can be more dangerous if you have problems with your headlights. Dirty headlights may give only half the light they should. This cuts down your ability to see, and makes it harder for others to see you. Make sure your lights are clean and working. Headlights can be out of adjustment. If they don’t point in the right direction, they don’t give you a good view and they can blind otherdrivers. Have a qualified person make sure they are adjusted properly. Other Lights. In order for you to be seen easily, the following should be clean and working properly: • Reflectors. • Marker lights. • Clearance lights. • Tail lights. • Identification lights.
Turn Signals and Brake Lights. At night your turn signals and brake lights are even more important for telling other drivers what you intend to do. Make sure you have clean, working turn signals and stop lights. Windshields and Mirrors. It is more important at night than in the daytime to have clean windshields and mirrors. Bright lights at night can cause dirt on your windshield or mirrors to create a glare of its own, blocking your view. Most people have experienced driving toward the sun just as it has risen or is about to set and found that they can barely see through a windshield that seemed to look o.k. in the middle of the day. Clean your windshield on the inside and outside for safe driving at night. Night Driving Procedures Pre-Trip Procedures.
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