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Tips for driving at night

With all the differences between driving during the day and driving at night, you may as well be driving in two different worlds. Daytime driving works to your advantage: with lots of light to guide your way, it is easier to avoid making mistakes and to avoid other drivers' mistakes, too. You don't need The Expert to tell you that nighttime driving is not so easy, particularly for the less experienced driver. But The Expert is here with great tips to guide you along once the sun goes down.

1. Accept and Respect That Your Vision Is Impaired

Fact: you can't see as well when there is no light guiding your way. You can miss that car hitting his brake lights or that stop sign hidden behind a bush. You need to be extra aware of the road around you and the people on it. Since you can't always count on your eyes at night, you must learn to rely more on your other senses. If you have passengers, enlist their aid in paying attention to the road and be ready for anything and everything that may come your way.

2. Listen to Your Body

Face it, you are bound to be feel less alert driving at night; it's only natural. Pay attention to your limits and don't push your body more than it can be pushed. Stop often for coffee, rest breaks and fresh air. And if you feel like you can't make it any further, call it a night. It is far better to stay at a hotel - and get there in the morning - than to take a chance and get yourself in a bad situation.

3. Be Extra Careful

Since you can't see as well and your body is less able to cope at night, you need to be extra careful when on the road after sundown. Take it at a slower speed than you would during the day, make sure everyone is buckled up and exercise caution when approaching other vehicles.

4. Beware of Drunk Drivers

Always, always, always stay away from drivers who look out of control. At night, on weekends especially, with parties going on and the bars busy, make sure to keep a safe distance between yourself and anyone who may have had too much to drink. Signs to look for include weaving, turning with a wide radius, headlights off and driving in the center of the road. The Expert urges you to keep a big distance between your vehicle and these drivers. If someone's driving is particularly reckless, you may want to contact the proper authorities.