Some people just don’t like to drive at night. It presents a variety of issues that just don’t confront them before sundown. There’s no question that when the sun has set, it’s the most dangerous time to drive. Some people just don’t see well enough to drive at night. They stay home unless somebody else is driving. As per the National Safety Council, only 25% of all driving is done at night, but half of all fatal accidents occur between sunset and sunrise.
Why is Nighttime Driving So Dangerous?
Humans certainly aren’t naturally equipped to see well at night. Because of that, we face increased risks when driving at night. Here are just a few of them:
- We suffer from decreased visibility at night. Our depth perception and peripheral vision are also affected.
- There is increased percentage of young and inexperienced drivers on the road at night.
- Drivers over 60 years of age don’t see as well as younger drivers though.
- Others who are on or about the roadway like pedestrians and bicyclists aren’t as visible at night as they are during daytime hours.
- Drivers who are under the influence of alcohol, drugs or both are out on the road more frequently at night.
California’s Laws for Driving at Night
CVC 24400 controls headlight use for driving when it’s dark outside. The statute tells us that a motorized vehicle other than a motorcycle must be driven in darkness, inclement weather or both with at least two lighted headlamps. It defines inclement weather conditions as “a condition that prevents a driver from clearly discerning a person or another motor vehicle on the highway from 1,000 feet.” Pursuant to CVC 24400, the continuous use of windshield wipers due to rain, mist, snow, fog or other precipitation or atmospheric moisture also requires the use of a driver’s headlights.
What You Can Do About Your Headlights
You can drastically reduce the chances of causing a nighttime crash by doing these three simple things. Make sure that your headlights are clean, both inside and outside. Road dirt and grime can significantly reduce their effectiveness. Sometimes, the lenses on headlights even need to be replaced. Next, where are your headlights aiming? You can check this by turning your headlights on your garage door or a wall. The height and centers of your beams should be identical to your lights. Lastly, if a bulb or headlight is burned out, replace it immediately. Make that a priority for your day, whether you have to work or not. In and of itself, driving with just one headlight can cause a tragic accident.
Speak to a California Car Accident Lawyer
Here at Maison Law, we want you and your family or passengers to be as safe as possible when traveling at night. Remember, there’s nothing against the law about having your headlights on when driving during the daytime hours either. They help you to be seen. If you or somebody close to you was injured in an accident that was caused as a result of California’s headlight law, contact us at Maison Law as soon as you can. We’ll be pleased to speak with you and advise you of your legal options at no cost whatsoever. If we’re retained to represent you, there’s no retainer fee involved. In fact, we don’t even receive any legal fees from you for our services unless we obtain a settlement or award for you.
