Road accidents happen at any given time of the day. Contrary to popular belief, traffic accidents are more likely to happen during night time.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the risk of car accidents is tripled during the night as compared to during the day.
As it is, there are several factors that make nighttime driving risky for drivers. Three of these factors are:
Drunk drivers – More people tend to drink alcohol at night than during the day. Because of this, there are more intoxicated drivers at night. According to the NHTSA, at least 54 percent of car accidents in the country are caused by intoxicated drivers.
Sleepy drivers – Certain drivers doze off or feel sleepy while driving. These drivers post dangers to other motorists when they lose control of their vehicle. Sleepy drivers are likely to have lack of concentration and sense of reason, which turn them into virtual hazards on the road.
Limited visibility – Studies suggest that drivers’ ability to react quickly to prevailing traffic conditions drop down by 90 percent during night time. This makes drivers vulnerable to nighttime car accidents because they greatly rely on their senses like eyesight and hearing.
Meanwhile, even though there are real dangers involved in driving at night, many drivers still cannot help it but face such risks because driving at night is almost inevitable. In this regard, California motorists who cannot avoid driving at night are advised to do the following to avoid getting involved in a traffic accident:
Check vehicle’s lights – Before hitting the road, drivers must check if their vehicle’s headlights, rear lights, and signal lights are working fine.
Do not drink and drive – Drivers coming from a drinking party are advised not to drive going home. They can ask someone to drive for them or they can take a taxicab to go home.
Do not speed – Speeding at night is tempting since there are only few cars on the road, but drivers should not give in because it can cost them their lives.
Stop driving if feeling tired or drowsy – Drivers who feel sleepy while driving are advised to pull over to a safe spot on beside the road and take a nap if possible to freshen up their mind and body.
Accordingly, Los Angeles auto accident attorneys remind California drivers to be mindful of their actions when driving at night to reduce their chances of getting injured in a car accident.
