Driving at night is fairly dangerous. There’s vastly less traffic, but a high percentage of serious accidents take place after dark. Not everyone can avoid driving at night, of course, but it’s important to understand the risks.
Why is it that night is so dangerous? There are numerous reasons, so let’s take a look at three of the main ones below.
Drunk driving
First and foremost, due largely to social customs around drinking, much drunk driving happens after dark. One of the most dangerous times to be on the road is after midnight, and especially after 2:00 A.M., when bars begin to close down. Although drunk driving accidents happen all around the clock, they happen at a higher rate at night.
Fatigued drivers
Even drivers who are not intoxicated may be suffering from fatigue. Remember that darkness naturally makes the human body produce melatonin and feel tired. Someone who has been trying to get enough sleep and adjust to a new work schedule, for instance, is still naturally going to be fatigued behind the wheel, which can lead to some serious driving mistakes.
Lack of visibility
Finally, there is a clear lack of visibility at night, which also can lead to mistakes. For example, even relatively safe drivers may be more likely to run stop signs that they don’t see or strike pedestrians in a crosswalk. Headlights have been getting brighter, but visibility will always simply be worse than it would be during the day.
If you’ve been injured in one of these accidents, or if you’ve perhaps lost a loved one, then you need to know about all the legal options at your disposal.