You may have heard someone tell you that they don’t like to drive at night because it’s just too dangerous. You may assume that they are just paranoid or nervous. Maybe they find driving at night to be difficult, so that’s why they don’t like it.
But do they actually have a point? Is it really more dangerous if you’re on the road after the sun goes down?
Fatal accidents are 3 times as likely
It may come as a surprise, but night driving is vastly more dangerous, with fatal car accidents happening at three times the rate once it’s dark. Is true that there will be fewer cars on the road by a substantial amount, but these vehicles get in accidents so often that it’s statistically just more dangerous for you to be part of that traffic, even if it’s not as congested and that makes it feel safer.
Drunk driving is a major contributor
There are a lot of different reasons why night driving is so dangerous, but drunk driving is undoubtedly one of the biggest ones. It can certainly happen in the morning or in the middle of the day, but many people wouldn’t be drinking at these times anyway. They begin drinking around dinner or they go out for drinks after dinner. Many of these individuals are then heading home after dark, and so the odds of encountering a drunk driver simply are higher.
Some drivers may also be fatigued
Fatigue can also play a big role, especially for those who were working on a non-standard shift and just got off of work. The darkness itself is going to make them feel tired, but so is the cumulative effort of doing that job. Someone who is driving home at 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning may end up nodding off behind the wheel. This can cause a severe car accident, even if the person only nods off for a second or two.
What options do you have if you get injured?
You may not be able to swear off night driving entirely, and that means you’re at risk of being seriously injured. If this does occur, you need to know about all of your legal options to seek financial compensation.
