Night driving can be a fun and relaxing activity for teens, as they also get the chance to practice their driving skills away from the hectic daytime traffic. However, poor visibility and other factors can make driving at night potentially dangerous, which makes following these basic guidelines very important.
Drive Slower
This may sound obvious, but constantly keeping it in mind can make the difference between a fun night out and a potential tragedy. Speed is more often than not a crucial factor in traffic collisions, but the danger increases with the lack of visibility and the lack of experience of the person behind the wheel. Teens should always remember that just because the roads are less crowded it doesn’t mean that speeding is less dangerous.
Be Wary of Your Energy Levels
Nighttime is when we are biologically programmed to get sleepy, and the last place you want to be when you get sleepy is behind the wheel of a car. All drivers, but especially new ones, should only drive when they know they have had enough sleep the night before, minimizing the risk of dozing off while driving or having their reaction times dramatically decreased.
Keep a Clean Windshield
You can get away with having a dirty windshield on a dry sunny day, but at night you need every little bit of clarity you can get. The impaired vision caused by a dusty windshield can make you miss certain items on the road and also makes the lights of oncoming vehicles reduce your vision even more. While remembering to use windshield wipers and wiping fluid is enough for the outer part of the window, remember to also wipe the inner part once in a while.
Keep a Safe Distance From the Car in Front
This is also an important piece of advice for all times of day, but one that is especially important at night. Studies have shown that humans are less accurate in judging distances when it’s dark out, so the gap between you and the car in front should be even larger than what you perceive as being safe. You should double the distance if the road is also wet or icy.
Avoid Driving Alone
The best way for teens to get used to driving at night is to spend a while practicing with adult supervision. This way you can gain some much-needed experience in adjusting to nighttime conditions while having someone beside you to keep you alerted. As long as they don’t distract you from driving, even a friend or sibling is preferable from driving alone, as they can keep you from getting sleepy and alert you of any potential road hazard that you may have missed.
Being able to drive a car is a huge step in a teen’s life, as it represents one of the stepping stones on the journey to adulthood. Controlling a large piece of metal on wheels is, however, a potentially dangerous task and one that implies huge responsibility. Luckily, by following these tips you will safely enjoy the freedom and fun that come with having a car.
Some rights reserved by mario_n64
Connect with us
