A Guide on Safe Night Driving

Driving at night compromises vision due to headlight glare, reduced depth perception and visibility limited to 500 feet ahead.

Cataracts and other degenerative eye diseases make driving harder for adults 60 and older. Younger drivers with visual impairments can also struggle in low-light conditions.

Distracted drivers are dangerous at any hour, but the risk compounds at night. It's easy to get complacent on an empty road, but anything that takes your hands off the wheel or eyes off the road can be deadly.

Drowsy or fatigued drivers caused 91,000 crashes in 2017. Drowsiness behind the wheel can affect anyone, but it's most common among commercial drivers, graveyard shift workers and people with untreated sleep disorders, those who take sedating medications and those who don't get enough sleep.

Twenty-eight people die every day from drunk-driving crashes, one person every 52 minutes. Drunk driving carries serious consequences, yet many still drive drunk. Sixty-two percent of drunk-driving-related deaths occur on weekends.

Driving in the snow, rain or fog can make nighttime driving all the more dangerous. You'll deal with reduced visibility and slippery roads, both of which can cause you to lose control.

Less traffic at night might make speeding feel safe, but it raises your accident risk. Stick to posted speed limits and follow traffic laws regardless of how empty the road looks.

Oncoming headlights can temporarily blind you. Shift your gaze down and to the right, using roadside markings as a guide until the vehicles pass.

Stay alert to your own condition and what's happening on the road. Watch for signs of fatigue in yourself and keep an eye out for erratic or reckless drivers.

If you're getting tired, pull over and rest. Pushing through fatigue behind the wheel puts you and others at risk.

Driving under the influence killed 10,500 people in 2018. If you've been drinking, don't drive. Call a friend or take a taxi instead.

Bright dashboard lights compete with what you're trying to see outside. Dimming them also cuts down on window and windshield reflections, helping your eyes adjust to the dark.

If you wear glasses, use a pair made for night driving. Anti-reflective coating cuts down on glare and keeps light from scattering across your lenses.

Use your high beams when visibility is low, but switch to low beams when following another car or driving through fog, rain or snow. Fog lights are another option in severe weather.

Headlights shift out of alignment over time. You can realign them yourself using your owner's manual, or have a shop do it.

A dirty windshield cuts your visibility in ways you might not notice until it's dark. Before a nighttime drive, clean your windshield and windows and remove any bugs, dirt or grease.

Get quotes from several insurers instead of going with the first one you find. Rates for similar coverage vary more than most people expect.

Insurers offer discounts for many reasons. Completing a safe-driving course, installing anti-theft devices or wearing your seatbelt can all lower your rate. Some discounts still apply even after an accident.

Your deductible is what you pay out of pocket after an accident. A higher deductible often means a lower monthly premium.

In some states, insurers factor your credit score into your rate. Good credit can mean lower premiums.

For careful drivers who live somewhere prone to bad weather, accident forgiveness keeps your premium from rising after the first at-fault accident.