What are the precautions for driving on the highway at night?
3 Answers
Here are the precautions for driving on the highway at night: 1. When overtaking, you must use the left or right turn signal to inform the vehicle in front that you are or are preparing to overtake. At the same time, flash the high and low beams to attract the attention of the vehicle in front. If the vehicle in front is a large vehicle, also honk the horn. 2. When changing lanes, you must allow more time than during the day to turn on the turn signal in advance to observe the reaction of the vehicle behind. This is because it is not as easy to judge the distance to the vehicle in the lane you are changing to at night as it is during the day. 3. When driving on the highway at night, your eyes will be more strained and you will be more prone to fatigue. The frequency of rest should be higher than during daytime driving. 4. When encountering large road signs, turn off the high beams after ensuring you have a clear view of the road ahead. The signs have strong reflections, which can greatly irritate your eyes and momentarily impair your ability to judge the road ahead, affecting safety. 5. Keep the anti-glare rearview mirror on at all times. If your vehicle does not have an anti-glare rearview mirror and you frequently drive long distances at night, it is recommended to install one. Otherwise, on highways with many vehicles, your eyes will be extremely prone to fatigue, affecting judgment and endangering safety. 6. Before driving on the highway at night, pay more attention to vehicle condition checks. 7. When following another vehicle for a long time at a close distance, turn off the high beams.
As a young person who often drives at night, I believe the key points of highway night driving are visibility and speed control. Since lighting is crucial at night, I adjust my headlight brightness in advance to ensure clear visibility while avoiding dazzling oncoming vehicles. I maintain my speed at a moderate level, such as below 100 kilometers per hour, so that I have enough time to react if there are vehicles or obstacles ahead. The risk of drowsy driving is high, so I stop at service areas every two hours to stretch my legs, drink some water, and clear my mind. Vehicle checks are also important, especially tire pressure, as a blowout at high speed is very dangerous. I also bring some snacks and music to make the journey more relaxing, but keep the volume low to avoid distracting my attention. Above all, safety is the priority, as poor visibility at night makes accidents more likely.
From years of driving experience, the essence of nighttime highway driving is risk management. I particularly emphasize maintaining a safe distance—at least one and a half times that of daytime driving—for instance, keeping the distance between vehicles above 50 meters. Regarding lighting, I primarily use low beams, resorting to high beams only briefly when no other cars are around to illuminate the road, thus avoiding potential accidents. Fatigue is a major adversary; I ensure a full night's sleep beforehand and take a 15-minute break every 1.5 hours during the trip to stretch and alleviate drowsiness. Vehicle condition is not to be overlooked—before setting off, I check the responsiveness of the brakes and fuel levels to prevent issues midway. Weather changes demand attention; for example, in foggy conditions, I turn on fog lights and reduce speed. Safe driving is key to protecting oneself and others—better to arrive late than to rush.
