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The Dangers of Driving at Night



Photo by Brent Cox on Unsplash

As it gets closer to turning the clocks back, it will get dark earlier so its time to think about how the changes will affect your daily driving. 



Road authorities agree that night driving presents unique challenges, increased risks and numerous deaths and injuries. Night driving involves more concentration, visual awareness and the ability to identify different hazards and make adjustments earlier than in daylight situations. 

Fatigue (drowsy driving). Knowing the signs of becoming drowsy behind the wheel is important and could potentially be lifesaving. Many of the signs are similar to distracted and drunk driving.  Alertness is drastically reduced and attentional resources become less available for driving. Just as it occurs with distracted drivers, for example, a driver interacting with a cellphone, cognitive resources are directed away from the task of driving.  Drowsy driving is an internally influenced distraction, but the result is the same — cognitive and visual resources are withdrawn from driving. Statistically, drivers who typically sleep only four to five hours per night are 5.4 times more likely to be involved in a crash than those who get seven or more hours of sleep. A cup of coffee or an energy drink may effectively increase alertness in a drowsy driver, but the driver is still at risk for driving errors and poor judgment.

Christine L  
Parallel parking at night was so much fun and easier than I believed. Excellent driving school and instructor! Was a little nervous …Highly recommend learning from Mike, more so if you want to learn about controlling need to learn how to drive or park in the dark.

Drugs & Drink Maybe you do maybe you don't but what about the other driver?  Even the common over-the-counter drugs, as well as prescription drugs, can make even the very best driver impaired.  At night, driving while impaired is even more dangerous than during the daytime. Use of caffeine and other stimulants may give a slight improvement of alertness, but decision-making is still impaired. 

Parul S Mike covered everything from adjusting the car seat and mirrors for optimum position and visibility to the advanced skills of being able to merge into a freeway at night while it was raining.

Speed Empty roads seem tempting to some, and a danger to others who think they are driving a race car.  It's not worth the risk to take and you need to be alert to speeders. Also, you have a higher chance that you can over-drive your headlights and reduce your chance of early reaction for unexpected encounters. A reminder that posted speeds signs are for clear conditions during the day. Not set for night time driving!


If you learned just one thing by reading this post, you will be amazed at what Mike will teach you in our Night Driving Program .... to book now  Call: (973) 879-4107

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