Difficulty Driving At Night? Take These Steps To Reduce Car Accident Risks

Difficulty driving after dark is a common problem for many people and can contribute to car accidents in Monterey. It is more pronounced during winter when there is a dramatic decrease in daylight hours. Reducing the amount of time you spend on the road after dark is an option, but may not be practical. Instead, there are other steps that can help reduce your risks.

Night Blindness A Common Problem

During the winter months, it is often dark when people leave for work or school in the morning and when they come home at the end of the day. In addition to the impacts this can have on your mood, decreased daylight hours can also affect your physical safety.

Moderate to severe night blindness is a serious problem and increases the risks of car accidents in Monterey. According to US News and World Reports, it can affect people of all ages but is particularly common among older adults due to cataracts and macular degeneration. Symptoms include:

• Difficulty adapting to changes between light and dark, such as when looking from your dashboard to the street;
• Increased sensitivity to glare from headlights, traffic signals, and street lamps;
• Difficulty detecting objects in front of you and judging distances;
• Squirting, eye strain, and blurred, cloudy, or double vision.

Even relatively minor problems seeing at night pose risks for you and other motorists on the road. Having difficulty detecting objects, responding to changes between light and dark, and being blinded by other vehicles are common contributing factors in Monterey car accidents.

Protecting Yourself Against Night Blindness

If you are experiencing issues related to night blindness, one of your first steps should be to get medical care. Visit your medical provider to discuss issues such as diabetes and cataracts, which could be impacting your eyesight. Also, schedule an appointment with an eye doctor, who can detect other underlying issues that need to be addressed.

Provided there is no medical reason for you to refrain from driving, there are some simple steps you can take that may help you see better at night. Family Safety And Health recommends the following:

• Make sure your windshield is clean and free from streaks;
• Set dashboard lighting to dim;
• Adjust rear-view mirrors to avoid glare from vehicles behind you;
• Focus your sight on the area illuminated by your own headlights;
• Avoid looking directly into another driver’s headlights or at street lamps;
• Move your head from side to side to increase peripheral vision.

Avoiding excess strain on your eyes and giving them time to adjust to light changes can help you see better overall and reduces car accident risks.

Contact Our Monterey Car Accident Lawyer

Night blindness and sensitivity to glare increase the odds of car accidents in Monterey during the winter months. If you are injured in a crash, contact The Allen Law Firm for help in filing a claim. To get the compensation you are entitled to, reach out and request a consultation with our Monterey car accident lawyer today.

Sources:

health.usnews.com/health-care/for-better/articles/2018-05-14/blinded-by-the-night-coping-with-impaired-night-vision-while-driving

safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/21964-driving-in-the-dark-avoid-night-blindness