Is driving at night a risky endeavour? According to veteran driving instructors, it is, indeed. According to statistics provided by the Road Safety Commission, driving at night may prove to be three times more dangerous than driving at daytime. Traffic death rates are also found to be significantly higher at night than they are during the day. When you hit the road after sundown, you should take extra cautionary measures to ensure your safety on the road.
In order to guide you through the hazards of nighttime driving, we have put together a comprehensive list of dos and don'ts. Here are some of the things that you should and should not do if your priority is driving safely at night.
Clean Your Windshield
Maybe your windshield has been dirty for a while now. It sure as hell is annoying but doesn't harm anyone, at least during the day. However, when you are driving at night, the minute dust particles can prove to be hazardous. They can cause blinding glare if the headlight hits it just right. Dust can gather inside the windshield too, which may be had to notice during the day. But to avoid any difficulty of visibility, you should clean your windshield inside out at least once in two days, if you frequently use your car.
Check the Lights
Consider this scenario: the driver says "let there be light", but there is none. The story would surely have a tragic ending. To avoid such mishaps, you should check your headlights and taillights before bringing the car out. Are the lights aimed accurately? If yes, can you say the same for turn signals? You want to be able to see other vehicles on the roadway and be seen yourself. Therefore, it is imperative to be sure from beforehand that the lights are working correctly. Also, you would want to turn on the lights before dusk, so that your car becomes visible to drivers.
Reduce Speed and Increase Distance
According to the manual published by the best driving school in Burwood East, here are the two basic tenants of defensive driving: avoid tailgating and reduce speed. You must be in a rush to reach your destination, but so is everyone on the road. Increasing distance between you and the car in front of you will give you enough time to identify any incoming hazard, and you will be able to reach your destination safe and sound. Use your headlights as a marker to help you calculate your stopping time and the distance between your car and the car before you.
If you can't stop within the enlightened area even after pushing your brake optimally, you are too close! Just back off! As a rule of thumb, the ideal distance between your car and the car in front of you should be 3 seconds.
Are you a novice driver afraid of taking it to the road? Many professional schools are providing driving lessons in Burwood East and nearby areas, and they will be only too happy to enrol you in their comprehensive driving programme. By getting training from professional and veteran driving instructors, you will be road-ready in no time!
The owner of a reputed driving school in Burwood East, the author, provides comprehensive and thorough driving lessons to Burwood East residents. Besides running a driving school that is highly regarded in the area, the author writes informative blogs to keep the drivers safe on the road.