blog home Personal Safety How can you keep safe when you’re out after dark?

How can you keep safe when you’re out after dark?

By Ken Gibson on June 30, 2024

Being out on the streets at night — whether as a driver, cyclist, or pedestrian — can sometimes be dangerous. That’s because it’s harder to see, drivers are often tired, and drunk drivers are more common. So more accidents happen after dark. Data suggests that you are anywhere from 1 to 1.5 times as likely to be injured in a car accident at night than you are during the day.

My law partner, John Singleton, and I often work with personal injury clients who have been harmed by accidents at night. Fortunately, you can take steps to stay safer in the dark.

Why are accidents more likely to happen after dark?

Decreased visibility is a big reason why more accidents happen after dark. Even the most familiar roads can become challenging after the sun sets. Streetlights and vehicle headlights provide only a small amount of light, and they can create shadows and blind spots that make it harder for drivers to see pedestrians, cyclists, debris, or other things on the road.

Driver fatigue also contributes to the likelihood of more accidents after dark. As the day goes on, drivers get more tired, which makes them less alert and increases their reaction times. Fatigue can make it harder for drivers to focus on the road and make quick driving decisions when needed. Long hours spent driving, a lack of sleep, and monotonous driving routes can also increase the chances of accidents.

Studies have shown that driving while fatigued can be as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol. To fight driver fatigue, take breaks during long trips, get rest before driving, and avoid driving during peak sleepiness hours, such as between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is also dangerous, and nighttime is often when people choose to use them. They severely impair a driver’s judgment, coordination, and reaction times.

What are some safety tips for night drivers in Virginia?

Headlights, taillights, and indicator lights all help make your car more visible to other road users. Routinely check to make sure all your lights are working well, and try to keep your lenses clean, too, so they shine as brightly as possible. And headlights must be properly aligned to avoid blinding oncoming traffic. Regular maintenance and replacing burnt-out bulbs can make a big difference in keeping your vehicle visible and safe during nighttime driving.

Also, high beams can really improve visibility on dark roads by illuminating a wider and farther area than regular headlights. They can be helpful when you’re driving on open highways or rural roads with minimal traffic. But use them as little as possible on occupied roads to avoid causing glares for other drivers. Always switch to low beams when approaching oncoming traffic or following another vehicle closely since the intense light can temporarily blind other drivers and increase the risk of accidents.

Avoiding distractions is another important tip for safe driving at night. Visibility is already reduced at night, so the risk of an accident increases even more if your attention is divided. Distractions come from many sources, including mobile phones, loud music, and conversations with others in your car.

The combo of impaired driving and bad visibility makes everything so much more dangerous than we may realize. To stay as safe as you can, plan ahead by having a designated driver — or use rideshare services if you’re going to be drinking.

What are some best practices for pedestrians after dark?

Wearing bright or reflective clothing is a simple and effective way to increase visibility as a pedestrian after dark. Bright colors like neon yellow, orange, or white can improve your chances of being seen, and reflective materials are even better because they catch and reflect light from car headlights, making you really stand out in the dark.

In fact, a study done at Clemson University found that adding something as small as reflective kneepads can increase nighttime visibility of bicycle riders from 67 percent to 94 percent.

But this isn’t just ideal for bicyclists; pedestrians can benefit from this type of clothing, too. A lot of activewear brands offer clothing with built-in reflective strips, so it’s easy to get. You could also add reflective accessories such as vests and armbands.

Try to stick to areas with lots of light sources as you walk. Well-lit streets and walkways obviously provide better visibility, but these can also be few and far between in rural areas. If you must walk along a rural road at night, stay as far away from the road as you can while walking. You could also consider carrying a small flashlight, using your phone’s flashlight, or investing in clip-on lights to help drivers see you better.

Walking in groups is another good way to improve safety after dark. Everyone in a small group benefits from the use of reflective gear and it’s much easier to spot a small group than it is an individual.

Should you contact our Virginia nighttime accident lawyers?

If you’re ever been hurt while walking at night, call 911 to report the accident and immediately seek all the medical attention you need. If you’re able, use your cell phone camera to capture photos of the accident scene or ask a friend or family member to do it for you. It’s also important to collect insurance information from any drivers involved and ask any witnesses for their contact information.

Here at GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys, we are able to bring such empathy about what injured people are going through because both John and I have been injured in senseless accidents ourselves .

Call us at GibsonSingleton Virginia Injury Attorneys at (804) 413-6777 or toll-free at (855) 781-6777 to schedule a free consultation today with us. We are experienced Virginia-based nighttime accident lawyers. When you put your trust in us, you don’t have to pay us anything unless we win your case — we call that our Zero Fee Guarantee.