Monday, August 13, 2012

Do you drive a lot at night? If so, follow these night time driving tips!

Use your lights courteously: When on the road, turn your headlights on one hour before sunset to make it easier for other drivers to see you in twilight, and keep your headlights on at least one hour after sunrise. In fog, use only your low beam headlights; high beams reduce your own ability to see and may temporarily blind other drivers. If your vehicle is equipped with fog lamps, use them with your low beams only when there is fog or inclement weather.

Avoid glare: Instead of looking at oncoming headlights, look toward the right side of the road and watch the white line marking the outside edge of the traffic lane. When headlights from vehicles following you reflect in your rearview mirror, use the "day-night" feature on the mirror (if equipped) or adjust your mirror to cut out as much of the light as possible.

Adjust your vehicle's interior lighting: If streetlights cause a lot of glare, dim your dashboard lights and use your sun visor. Avoid using any other light inside your vehicle.

Keep all windows and headlights clean: Dirty windows can increase glare, making it more difficult to see, while dirty headlights can reduce efficiency by as much as 90 percent. Be sure to clean the inside and outside of your windshield as well as your headlights.

Increase your following distance: Increasing your distance by four to five seconds can make it easier to spot potential problems on and along the roadway and give you more time to respond. In addition, proper lighting will enable you to react quicker and stop at a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you.

Use vehicle mirrors to your advantage: Exterior mirrors that are properly aligned not only reduce blind spots, they also reduce glare from vehicles behind you. The outside rearview mirrors should be adjusted so that the bodywork of the vehicle is just outside of the driver's view.

Courtesy of Motor Vehicle Lighting Council

Night_drive

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