Nearly 15 million Americans work a permanent night shift or regularly rotate in and out of night shifts, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That means a significant sector of the nation’s work force is exposed to the hazards of working nights, which include restlessness, sleepiness on the job, fatigue and decreased attention. This also means many folks are traveling the roads at night or in the wee hours of the morning when our depth perception, ability to distinguish color, and peripheral vision are all worse in low-light conditions. According to the National Safety Council, traffic death rates are three times greater at night than during the day.

There are mechanical ways to improve your safety while driving at night. First, be sure your headlights are aimed properly. You can do this yourself using your vehicle’s manual instructions or take it to a trusted shop. Another trick used by the experts is to wipe your windshield with a newspaper to remove hard to see residue that becomes painfully obvious in low-light conditions. Making sure you’re wearing the correct eye glasses or contact lenses can also improve your safety while driving during dark hours.

The National Safety Council also advises night drivers to reduce speed and increase following distances. It is more difficult to judge other vehicle’s speeds and distances at night. When following another vehicle, keep your headlights on low beams so you don’t blind the driver ahead of you. If an oncoming vehicle doesn’t lower its beams from high to low, avoid glare by watching the right edge of the road and using it as a steering guide. For those long commutes, it’s a good idea to make frequent stops for light snacks and exercise. If you’re too tired to drive, stop and get rest.

You can take all of these steps and still have a critter jump out from the ditches at night, causing damage to your vehicle and injury to yourself. That’s when the importance of having a comprehensive auto insurance policy comes into play. Our agents can answer any questions you may have, suggest coverage options, and even assist you in filing a claim. We are able to find a number of quotes from a variety of insurance companies, enabling you to choose a policy with the best coverage at the most affordable rates.