When I was a kid, my grandparents would often take my brother and me on road trips. Instead of tucking us into bed at bedtime, my grandparents would shuffle us into the van. We would grumble about buckling up, then fall asleep immediately. Once the sun was up, we’d perk up and argue about what movie to pop in the VCR.
As an adult, I can see why my grandparents liked starting a road trip late at night. First of all, they got a few hours of peace while my brother and I slept. More importantly, they thought it was safer to drive at night because there were fewer cars on the road. Makes sense, right? Not quite.
Why is it dangerous to drive at night?
Like my grandparents, many people think that driving at night is actually safer than driving during the day because there are generally fewer people on the road. However, driving at night is actually more dangerous than driving during the day for this very reason. Because there are fewer cars on the road, drivers tend to go faster, and increased speed leads to more collisions. Night-time driving is also dangerous for other reasons, including reduced vision and fatigue.
What time is the most dangerous to drive?
National crash statistics show us that driving at night is more dangerous than driving during the day, especially on weekends. More crashes occurred from 9 p.m. to midnight and between 6 p.m. and 8:59 p.m. on Saturdays than any other time of day.
What is drowsy driving?
Driving at night is often unavoidable. That’s why there are so many drowsy driving crashes each year. There are more drowsy driving collisions than we have record of, because many collisions involving fatigue or drowsiness go unreported.
When you’re extremely tired, you’re likely to "microsleep" (i.e., naps that last 4-5 seconds). In one study, nearly 80% of drivers said they could predict when they were about to fall asleep, but they were proven wrong. Sleepy drivers think they can force themselves to stay awake, but most of the time, they can’t.
Think about a time you were so tired you couldn’t focus. It’s hard to function when you can barely keep your eyes open! The thing is, even if you manage to stay awake, drowsiness can still affect your driving in the following ways:
- Visual misperception: Drivers misinterpret what they see on the road.
- Increased reaction time: Drivers respond more slowly to hazards.
- Decreased attention span and reduced information processing: Drivers have a hard time concentrating on the road and hazards, and it’s harder to process information to make appropriate driving decisions.
- Diminished judgment: An increased likelihood of making decisions based on poor judgment, or taking risks without thinking of the consequences.
- Impaired problem-solving ability: Drivers aren’t able to get out of dangerous situations as easily or quickly.
- Decreased ability to control the vehicle: Drivers may have less control of the vehicle, like when you see someone drifting in and out of their lane.
Clearly, drowsy driving isn’t safe.
How can you avoid drowsy driving?
There are some ways to help prevent drowsy driving at those times when driving at night is just unavoidable.
If you take medication, make sure you read the side effects, as sometimes they make you drowsy. Alcohol and other drugs can cause drowsiness as well. Get plenty of rest before you travel, and avoid driving at times when you’re usually asleep.
In order to stay awake on the road:
- Take a nap if needed! Find a safe place such as a rest stop, lock your doors, and get a quick rest before driving again.
- Crack a window, turn the air conditioning on, chew some gum, listen to some exciting music—something to keep you stimulated.
- Travel with a passenger who can share the driving task with you and keep you awake with conversation.
- Stop at a safe place and take a brisk walk.
Recognize your body’s signals. If your eyes are droopy, you’re nodding off, it’s getting hard to see, or you’re daydreaming or yawning, then you’re probably drowsy and shouldn’t drive. Drifting between lanes, unconsciously tailgating, and misreading traffic signs are signs of drowsiness and should show you that it’s time to stop driving.
Want to brush up on your driving skills? Check out our online driver safety courses. You may even be able to get a discount on your auto insurance by taking one of our online courses!