Your Driving
and
the
Road
Slow down, especially
on
higher
speed roads. Your headlights
can
light
up only
so
much road ahead.
0
In remote areas, watch for animals.
0
If you’re tired, pull
off
the road in a
safe place and rest.
Night
Vision
No
one can see as well at night as in the
daytime. But as we get older these
differences increase. A 50-year-old driver
may require at least twice as much light to
see the same thing at night as a
20-year-old.
What you do in the daytime can also
affect your night vision. For example, if
you spend the day in bright sunshine you
are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes
will have less trouble adjusting to night.
But if you’re driving, don’t wear
sunglasses at night. They may cut down
on glare from headlights, but they also
make a lot of things invisible.
You can be temporarily blinded by
approaching lights.
It
can take a second or
two, or even several seconds, for your
eyes to readjust to the dark. When you are
faced with severe glare (as from a driver
who doesn’t lower the high beams, or a
vehicle with misaimed headlights), slow
down
a
little. Avoid staring directly into
the approaching lights.
Keep your windshield and all the glass on
your vehicle clean
-
inside and out.
Glare at night is made much worse by dirt
on the glass. Even the inside of the glass
can build up a film caused by dust. Dirty
glass makes lights dazzle and flash more
than clean glass would, malung the pupils
of your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that your headlights light up
far less of a roadway when you are in a
turn or curve.
Keep your eyes moving; that way, it’s
easier to pick out dimly lighted objects.
Just as your headlights should be
checked regularly for proper aim,
so
should your eyes be examined regularly.
Some drivers suffer from night blinduess
-
the inability to see in dim light
-
and
aren’t even aware of
it.
Driving in
the
Rain
Rain and wet roads can mean driving
trouble. On a wet road you can’t stop,
accelerate or turn as well because your
tire-to-road traction isn’t as good as on
dry roads. And, if your tires don’t have
much tread left, you’ll get even less
traction. It’s always wise
to
go slower
and be cautious if rain starts to fall
while you are driving. The surface may
get wet suddenly when your reflexes
are tuned for driving on dry pavement.
The heavier the rain, the harder it is to
see. Even if your windshield wiper blades
are in good shape, a heavy rain can make
it harder to see road signs and traffic
signals, pavement markings, the edge of
the road, and even people walking.
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