Drive safely in the dark

Winter is here and motorists are starting to travel in the dark, when there is reduced visibility.

Les Mc Master, chairman of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA) provided ways to protect yourself while driving in the dark:

∙ Let your eyes adjust –The eye naturally adjusts to darkness, usually taking up to 30 minutes, and drivers should reduce speed during this transition time.

∙ Beware of glare – it can take a few seconds to recover from glare, and the time taken increases with age.

“It may be useful to talk to your eye-care provider about special anti-glare glasses that can help you see better at night,” Mc Master advised.

∙ Reduce your speed – Reaction time while driving is typically 1.5 seconds. Slowing your speed slightly is one of the best ways to avoid head-on collisions, especially at night when your vision distance is limited by your headlights.

∙ Do not drive when tired – Exhaustion severely affects focus and reaction time. It is advisable to keep driving to a minimum in these circumstances.

∙ Avoid distractions – One needs to minimise distractions to focus on the road completely. Cellphones should be turned off and passengers asked to avoid pointing outside the car or requiring visual attention.

∙ Do a quick car safety check-up – Before driving in the dark make sure your headlights, taillights and signal lights are clean and working, and headlights are properly aimed. Mis-aimed headlights can blind other drivers and reduce visibility of the road.

∙ Use your headlights, even during dusk– While headlights may not always help road visibility, they will make it easier for other drivers to see you.

∙ Adjust your vehicle’s interior lighting – If streetlights cause a lot of glare, dim your dashboard lights and use your sun visor. Avoid using any other light inside your vehicle.

∙ Keep all windows and headlights clean – Dirty windows can increase glare, while dirty headlights can reduce efficiency by as much as 90 percent.

Details: Motor Industry Workshop Association Highveld region chairperson Elvio Jardim 011 794 8981, autoway@telkomsa.net