BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – With Daylight Savings Time ending on Nov. 3, the Virginia Department of Transportation said the darker conditions can create more incidents between vehicles and pedestrians. Because of this, VDOT has given some facts and tips about staying safe and driving in the dark.
VDOT said one of the biggest changes drivers will face is having less visibility during the evening rush hour. People on the road, driving or not, need to be extra aware of their surroundings, and VDOT said about half of all traffic deaths happen at night.
The Federal Highway Administration added that while most traffic deaths happen at night, only a quarter of travel happens after dark.
Here are some tips for driving in the dark from VDOT:
- Aim your headlights correctly, and make sure they’re clean
- Dim your dashboard
- Look away from oncoming lights
- Clean the windshield to eliminate streaks
- Slow down to compensate for limited visibility and reduced stopping time
For vulnerable road users:
- Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals
- Wear reflective clothing and carry a blinking light or flashlight
- Plan a route in a well-lit area with safe crossings
- Avoid distractions, alcohol and drugs
- Be alert
- Walk on sidewalks facing traffic. If there’s no sidewalk, walk facing traffic as far from traffic as possible
- Watch for cars backing up
- Cross at crosswalks or intersections
VDOT said night driving can be dangerous because visibility is limited to about 250 feet for normal headlights. This means drivers have less time to react to something in the road.
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