Night driving can affect many aspects of vision including color recognition, peripheral vision, and depth perception. One of the most common problems with night driving is glare, a light source that interferes with your vision, which may slow your reaction time.
Nighttime glare is a result of both bright and dim lights. Although trying to see something in the presence of a light that’s too bright can cause your eyes to squint and become teary, a reduction in the contrast of images brought on by dim lighting can impair your vision.
Yellow night driving glasses may seem like the solution for night-driving woes, but they can actually cause more harm than good. These yellow-tinted lenses reduce the glare by lessening the amount of light that reaches your eye, making it more difficult to see and could be dangerous when driving.
There are several ways to cut down on glare and vision impairment when driving at night:
- Schedule an eye exam with your eye doctor – Receiving a complete eye exam every year can help you make sure your eyesight is in good condition and check your glasses for smudged or scratched lenses.
- Wear no glare (anti-reflective) glasses – Anti glare night driving glasses can help increase visibility and reaction time. If you wear corrective glasses or night driving glasses, ask your eye care professional about this lens option. No-glare coating will make your lenses more clear so you can drive more comfortably at night.
- Clean the exterior of your car – Good cleaning of the windshield, windows, mirrors, and all other glass surfaces can help nighttime glare. Streaks and smudges on your windshield and mirrors reduces the contrast and visibility of objects on the road. And don’t forget about the headlights. Dirt can reduce the light output of your headlights and decrease your ability to see and be seen.
- Adjust your rear-view and side mirrors – A car’s mirrors, properly positioned, limit blind spots and make it easier to identify vehicles on the side and rear but they can also reduce glare. The American Automobile Association suggests the following for proper mirror positioning – While sitting in the driver’s seat, lean to the left and tilt your head until it rests against your window. From that position, adjust the driver’s side mirror so you can just see the left rear corner of the vehicle.
- Turn off your interior lights – Lights inside your car can seem extra bright and make it more difficult to see. Dim or turn off any unnecessary lighting in the interior of your car.
- Flip your rearview mirror – Flipping the small lever at the bottom of your rearview mirror switches the mirror to its night setting. Headlights behind you will still appear in your mirror, but dimmer and less distracting.
- Avoid looking directly at the headlights of oncoming traffic – When oncoming traffic approaches, look down and to the right. By using the white line on the right side of the road for lane position instead of the left side, you’ll be able to see other vehicles in your peripheral vision and reduce glare.
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