As we have covered in some of our earlier articles, the winter is apt to bring all sorts of weather our way. 
(While we can’t count on the weather in New England, we can certainly count longer nights and shorter days.) Unfortunately, for driving conditions, longer nights mean more time driving in the dark. According to the National Safety Council, traffic death rates are three times greater at night than during the day.
Here are a few tips that will better prepare you to drive in the long dark winter nights.
1. Make sure you’re clean.
It goes without saying that you should make sure your headlights, tail lights, turn signals, and mirrors are clean. You will need to address this more often throughout the wintery season due to snow and salt on the roads. The inside of your windows are just as important. Skin contact will put streaks all over them; you will certainly be aware of that if you have kids drawing in the condensation on the back windows. Keep a clean cloth in the center console or your glove box to get rid of these streaky sketches.
2. Understand your vision.
According to experts, due to the fact that our eyes dilate in the dark, our eyes tends to focus more on lights and movement at night as opposed to the color and detail that we would typically pick up during the day. The dark can almost become hypnotizing. Eye doctors recommend that scanning the road is more effective than concentrating in one area permanently.
3. Know what you are looking for.
Always keep an eye out for bicyclists and pedestrians. Not all are equipped with the legal requirements such as lights and reflective gear.
4. Be aware of animals.
Rural areas can be packed with deer, moose, and raccoons, to mention a few. Look for two small bright dots that may be animal eyes in the distance. You will typically see these before their full body becomes visible. Also, keep an eye our for animals that may become startled and run into traffic upon seeing your lights.
5. Concentrate and be alert.
This seems like a given, but always avoid distracted driving. Looking back a forth between a brightly lit cell phone screen and what’s in front of you requires your pupils to dilate back and forth (not to mention it is illegal in Massachusetts.) This essentially renders you blind long after you have looked away from your screen.
6. Be well rested.
Take breaks. Stopping to stretch and get food on long trips can provide you with that extra energy to stay alert until you reach your destination. Never drive tired. We suggest finding a rest stop before continuing on with your journey.
7. Don’t drink and drive, at all.
Do not drink and drive, even within the limit. One beer can impair your driving and it also acts as a depressant which induces fatigue.
Ensuring that you know the best night driving tips will help you stay safe in these long nights. The winter is a time when accident numbers rise. Don’t become a statistic.
Another important thing to make sure that you have is great automobile insurance in case something does go wrong. Contact one of the agents at TJ Woods Insurance today, and we can help you find the most affordable car insurance package for you.
