Preparing for a Safe Road Trip at Night

{“25295”:{“type”:”text”,”enabled”:true,”collapsed”:false,”fields”:{“textContent”:”

Road trips are the ultimate adventure, offering the chance to explore new horizons and create unforgettable memories. Longer journeys often come with the need for driving at night. But as the sun sets, challenges on the road may arise. Whether it’s battling fatigue, trouble seeing properly or maintaining awareness of other drivers on the road around you, extra precautions must be taken.

n

n

Before your next road trip, consider the following tips to safely navigate the road at night:

n

n

Be Well Rested

n

Many people prefer driving long distances at night to avoid busy roads, but since our bodies are accustomed to being asleep during these hours, the drive may seem more challenging than any other drive you’ve had. Instead, begin your road trip early in the morning or the evening before the sun sets. To ensure you have the proper energy required to drive long distances, get at least 7-9 hours of quality sleep before hitting the road. When you are well rested, you have the ability to sharpen your focus and increase your ability to make fast decisions.

n

If you ever feel a sense of drowsiness while driving, consider stopping at a nearby hotel for the night. Be sure to always plan for additional time when going on a road trip in case this occurs. Remember, the road doesn’t sleep when the sun goes down, so neither should you.

n

n

Stay Alert on the Road

n

Defensive driving should be practiced every time you get behind the wheel. However, it’s important to be extra defensive when driving at night because you may not be able to see potential hazards as clearly as during the day. These include other drivers, pedestrians, inclement weather and more. Therefore, it’s important to reduce your speed at night. The slower you drive, the more time you have to respond if something unexpectedly occurs. Be sure to also have at least three seconds between your car and any cars in front of you.

n

n

Use High Beams When Necessary

n

If you find yourself on a clear, open road with no traffic around you, use your high-beam headlights for additional lighting. These headlights will allow you to see further ahead and around you, such as wildlife, stopped cars on the shoulder or debris on the road.

n

Although your high beams can keep you safe, they can potentially endanger other drivers. Always dim your high-beam headlights when approaching other drivers to avoid temporarily blinding them.

n

n

Have a Clear View

n

A simple way to ensure your view of the road is clear is to have a clean car, inside and out. Clean windshields and mirrors can allow you to see the road around you more clearly to identify any potential hazards. It can also reduce glares caused by oncoming headlights. Your headlights act as your eyes during the dark so clean headlights will provide the brightest light possible.

n

Stop at your nearest car wash before your road trip begins and touch them up as needed by using the squeegee and water bucket you can find at many gas stations along the way. Don’t let smudges, grime or debris turn your nighttime drive into a risky venture.

n

n

Be Protected with GoAuto Insurance

n

If you encounter an unexpected situation while on a road trip at night, GoAuto Insurance is here to alleviate your worries. With our easy claims process, our agents are dedicated to getting you back on the road as quickly as possible. Get a free quote today by calling 833-700-0000 or visiting our website.

“}}}