Although nighttime driving accounts for only 25% of all driving, the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that approximately half of all fatal car accidents take place during this time. This indicates that the risk associated with driving at night is approximately three times higher than the risk associated with driving during the day. What’s worse is that many headlights are blinding to oncoming drivers. This makes driving even more treacherous. Here are some tips to help keep you safe driving around Macon and Perry in the evening hours.
Avoid driving with headlights and windshields that are damaged or dirty
If you have ever gone on a road trip, you are probably familiar with how quickly the windshield gets dirty while you are on the road. Built-up grime can increase glare from other cars and streetlights, ultimately making it harder for you to see the road. Damaged windshields can have the same effect, which is why it is best to repair any cracks or chips as soon as possible. When headlights are dirty or damaged, they emit less light onto the road in front of the vehicle, which, once again, impairs the driver's ability to see clearly.
Bring your Lexus in for preventative maintenance
Maintaining your car on a regular basis can help you avoid the stress that comes with having car trouble. Get the oil changed, the battery checked, and rotate the tires. Fixing any cracks in the windshield or cloudy headlights makes it much simpler and safer to drive at night. Make sure that both the low and high beam settings of your headlights are working properly by testing them both. You should inquire with your Lexus dealership here in Macon about having your headlights checked for misalignment, which is something that can develop because of normal use and result in the headlights not functioning as effectively.
Be a defensive driver
When you were learning how to drive, you probably were told the importance of defensive driving, which still applies today. And there is a good chance that you already put many of these strategies into practice, such as leaving a good amount of space between your Lexus and the vehicle in front of you or checking your blind spot indicator before changing lanes. These precautionary actions are all aimed at reducing the likelihood of being involved in an accident. However, it is essential to exercise increased caution when driving at night because the odds that you will not see animals, pedestrians, or road signs are higher. These visibility issues are exactly why Lexus vehicles come equipped with many safety features that help to mitigate some risks of night-time driving. Check out the detailed Lexus Safety Features video below to see for yourself.
Don’t drive too fast, especially on two-lane roads
It is extremely important to adhere to the posted speed limits during the night when your visibility is restricted. If you speed, you will have less time to react appropriately if something unexpected happens. You should also make sure that there is a following distance of at least three seconds between your own vehicle and any vehicle that is in front of you. Additionally, you should drive at a speed that is appropriate for the conditions of the road. On wet roads, make sure to reduce speed by about 1/3.
When it's safe to do so, turn on your high beams
High beams are often underutilized, but they can be of great assistance when driving in rural areas or on open roads. Generally speaking, drivers should turn their high beams down to a lower setting when you are within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle or when you are following another vehicle. However, Lexus vehicles are equipped with an adaptive lighting system, they have come standard on all Lexus vehicles since 2020. This system will automatically adjust your high beams depending on how many other vehicles are in the area and the surrounding ambient lighting conditions to provide the driver with the best visibility possible. Learn more about the Lexus Safety System+ - Automatic High Beam and Adaptive High-Beam System in the video below.
From Lexus:
Adaptive High-Beam intelligently enables and disables individual LEDs within each headlamp for precision control over the distribution of light. The system uses a camera on the top of the vehicle, to detect light from vehicles in front and smoothly illuminate the road ahead, while avoiding preceding or oncoming vehicles with pinpoint accuracy.
This allows drivers to enjoy their most vividly lit night-time drive, providing exceptional visibility while delivering calmer driving conditions, without the need to repeatedly alternate between high and low beam.
When approaching a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction, you can prevent your vision from being obscured by the oncoming vehicle's headlights by moving your eyes down and to the right. You can then use the right edge of the road or the lane markings as a guide to stay on the correct path. When you have passed the vehicle coming in the opposite direction, bring your gaze back up.
Keep an eye out for any signs of fatigue
When you get behind the wheel of a vehicle, it is critical that you do everything in your power to ensure that you are well rested and alert. It is unwise to make the assumption that you are capable of operating a vehicle for extended periods of time without becoming sleepy. According to research, operating a vehicle after having been awake for 18 hours is equivalent to operating a vehicle after having a couple of drinks. (Source: https://www.thehealthyjournal.com/faq/can-i-drive-after-being-awake-for-20-hours).
For Lexus owners, the sway warning system monitors the vehicle’s position within the lane and the driver’s steering operations to detect vehicle sway, which tends to occur when the driver’s ability to concentrate on driving deteriorates due to factors such as drowsiness, inattention or distraction. The driver will be alerted prior to instances such as deviating from the road with an audible sound and a display message that features an image of a coffee cup and asks the driver if they would like to take a break. This feature helps to reduce the risk of accidents caused by drowsy or distracted driving. Learn more about the Lexus sway warning and what triggers it with the video below.
In the event of having to pull over during the night, make sure you are visible
If you have car trouble, you should try to pull off the road in Forsyth or Warner Robins and get to a safe place like a gas station or well-lit parking lot, before using your Lexus Enform system to call for assistance. If you are unable to get to one of these safe locations and need to pull over onto the shoulder, it is imperative that you increase your visibility by turning on your hazard lights to indicate your presence to oncoming traffic.
We hope you’ll take these safety recommendations into account when driving at night. If you would like to see if your current Lexus has some of the available safety features mentioned above or you would like upgrade your Lexus to get them, please don’t hesitate to give us a call or stop by our Macon dealership. We are always available to help you fully utilize the safety features of your Lexus.