The dangers of driving at night

Driving always comes with a certain amount of risk, but car accidents at night are especially harrowing. According to the National Safety Council, you are three times more likely to suffer a fatal crash at night. At the law offices of Wade E. Byrd in North Carolina, we are familiar with the devastation that is caused by car wrecks after dark.

NSC lists several factors that make driving at night more hazardous. One of the main issues with night driving is impaired vision. Depth and color perception are both affected by low light conditions. Unfortunately, reduced vision impacts response time and leads to accidents.

At night there is an increased likelihood you are sharing the road with one or more drivers who have consumed too much alcohol. According to NSC, research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 30 individuals die daily from car accidents in which a driver was impaired by alcohol. This factor is especially significant during the late hours on weekends.

Drowsy drivers are another nighttime hazard. According to NSC, National Sleep Foundation findings were that 103 million people have fallen asleep while driving. Of course, you do not have to fall asleep at the wheel to cause an accident from fatigue. Sleepiness causes response time delays and lack of attentiveness cause car wrecks, even when the driver is technically awake.

Car accidents at night are common, and unfortunately, often result in significant damage to person and property. Many of the risk factors are outside our control, such as decreased light and impaired drivers on the road. Fortunately, extra attentiveness and slowing down can make night driving a lot safer. For more information on this topic, please visit our webpage.