How Does Nighttime Driving Affect Visibility Distance?
2 Answers
During nighttime driving, drivers have significantly worse visibility of objects compared to daytime, and the visibility distance is shortened. At night, while driving on the road, due to the effect of headlights, drivers see bright objects against a dark background, making these objects appear larger. However, the eyes still judge distance based on the perception that closer objects appear larger, leading to a reduced visibility distance. Important precautions for highway driving include: 1. Both the driver and front-seat passenger should fasten their seat belts, and the driver should avoid using a phone; 2. Avoid sudden steering wheel movements while driving at high speeds; 3. Do not change lanes arbitrarily while driving. When changing lanes or overtaking the vehicle ahead, the turn signal must be activated in advance; 4. Only use adjacent lanes for overtaking, and immediately return to the driving lane after overtaking. Vehicles must not straddle or drive on lane dividers; 5. Do not reverse, drive in the opposite direction, make U-turns or turns by crossing the central divider, conduct test drives, or drive a training vehicle. Overtaking or parking on ramps is prohibited; 6. Maintain a following distance of at least 100 meters. When the speed is below 100 km/h, the distance from the vehicle ahead in the same lane can be appropriately reduced, but the minimum distance should not be less than 50 meters.
Driving at night significantly reduces visibility. While I can see objects 100 meters away during the day, at night I can only see about 50 meters ahead with the headlights. When oncoming vehicles blind me with their high beams, my vision turns completely white and I can't see anything, which is extremely dangerous. With over a decade of driving experience, I've encountered several close calls, such as suddenly spotting large rocks or animals on the road. The solution is to slow down, maintain a safe distance, use high beams to scout the road but switch back to low beams promptly, keep the windshield clean to avoid glare, ensure mirrors aren't too dirty, regularly check that bulbs aren't burnt out, and definitely pull over to rest when fatigued. Safety should always come first—never gamble with your life.
