This week's advice, provided by The Hartford Insurance, includes steps a driver can take to make night driving safer. You may want to pass this list along to your fleet drivers as a friendly reminder.
Prepare your car for night driving. Clean headlights, tail lights, signal lights and windows at least once a week.
Have a mechanic check your headlight aim twice a year.
Avoid smoking when driving at night. Night vision can be worsened by the effects of nicotine and carbon monoxide.
Turn your headlights on at dusk. Lights will not help night vision in early twilight, but they'll make it easier for other drivers to see you.
Reduce your speed while driving at night and increase your following distances. Remember not to overdrive your headlights. You should be able to stop inside the illuminated area.
When you're driving at night and there is another driver ahead of you, keep your headlights on low beams so you don't blind the other driver. If an oncoming vehicle doesn't lower its beams from high to low, avoid glare by watching the right edge of the road and using that as a steering guide.
If you're on a long road trip that includes night driving, make frequent stops for light snacks and exercise. If you're too tired to drive, stop and get rest.
If you have car trouble while driving at night, pull off the road as far as possible. Turn on your flashers and the dome light. Stay off the roadway and get passengers away from the area.
Observe night driving safety as soon as the sun goes down. Twilight is one of the most difficult times to drive, because your eyes are constantly changing to adapt to the growing darkness.
