Your Commute is Getting Darker. Is it More Dangerous?

Did you know that we only spend a quarter of our time driving after dark, but that 50% of traffic related deaths happen at night?¹ Car crashes, pedestrian accidents and bicycle crashes are all more likely to occur when a lack of sunlight robs us of our peripheral vision and depth perception. And during fall and winter, millions of commuters, as well as pedestrians and cyclists, find themselves traveling home in twilight or after dark.

But there are things drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists can do to ensure their safety and the safety of others, hopefully preventing pedestrian accidents and bicycle crashes. 

What Makes Driving After Dark More Dangerous?

The evening commute for most people occurs between 4pm and 7pm.² This time period coincides with sunset and early evening during the fall and winter, especially after the time change. The shift in light has significant effects on drivers’ ability to see, and pedestrians’ and cyclists’ ability to be seen. In fact, 55% of fatalities in bicycle crashes occur between 3pm and midnight.³ 

Here are some important facts about driving after dark: 

• Drivers using normal headlights only have the ability to see up to 250 feet in front of them. Drivers using high beams can see up to 500 feet in front.⁴ 
• Our ability to see in low-light conditions (i.e. our “night vision”) gets worse as we age. So, a 50-year-old driver may need twice as much light to see well as a 30-year-old driver.⁵ 
• The end of daylight savings (i.e. “Fall Back”) disrupts your body’s natural circadian rhythm and can lead to sleep disruption.⁶ Tired drivers are 3x as likely to be in a car crash as well-rested drivers.⁷ 

How You can Drive Safer During a Dark Commute

You can’t change the amount of light on the streets you travel down, and you might not have much flexibility in the time you leave work. But there are things you can do as a driver to make your commute safer as the days get shorter.

• Dim your dashboard. This eliminates light distraction within the car. 
• Make sure you’re using the appropriate headlights, and make sure those headlights are clean. Clean headlights shine at full brightness. But make sure not to use high beams when another car is approaching, this can create momentary blindness in the other driver which can lead them to make mistakes. 
• If you see bright headlights coming toward you, look at the line on the right side of the road. 
• If you wear glasses, make sure they have anti-reflective lenses. 
• Clean your windshield of dirt and streaks that can make it difficult to see when car lights are approaching. 
• Drive slower than you would during daytime hours to account for your limited visibility and to reduce the amount of time you need to fully stop the car. 
• Stay in your lane and avoid drivers that seem to be switching lanes quickly and erratically.  
• If you must take an unfamiliar route or drive an unfamiliar road after dark, look at the map before you leave to familiarize yourself with where you’re going. The less you look at your navigation, the more time your eyes spend looking at the road. 
• Don’t touch your phone while driving. 
• Stay alert and don’t go on autopilot, even if you’ve driven the road countless times before.  

Drivers With Long Commutes

If you have a particularly long commute, you might need to build in extra time to pull over and rest if you feel drowsy. In addition, the National Sleep Foundation has the following tips: 

• Get 7 hours or more of sleep a night. 
• Don’t drive if you’ve been awake for 16 or more hours. 
• Stop every 2 hours to rest. 
• Shift workers should make sure to only drive when they would normally be awake.⁸ 

Drivers Who are at Least 60 Years Old

Vision is the most important of our senses when it comes to driving, and it is unfortunately the one that tends to degenerate the quickest as we age. The American Optometric Association recommends the following preventative care for drivers 60 and older to ensure they’re as safe as possible.

• Have annual vision exams to ensure you have the correct prescriptions and eyesight support in place. 
• Drive slower to account for lower visibility. 
• Take a refresher driving course offered by the National Safety Council. 
• Limit distractions in the car. 
• Check with your doctor about the side effects of any prescriptions. 
• Limit driving after dark when possible. 

Tips for Pedestrians to Help Prevent Accidents When Walking After Dark

The best way for pedestrians to stay safe at any time of day and to prevent serious accidents is to obey traffic laws by using sidewalks and crossing the street at crosswalks and intersections. In addition, here are some tips for walking at after dark: 

• Wear bright and, if possible, reflective clothing to make it easy for drivers to see you. 
• Carry a flashlight. 
• Cross the street only in well-lit areas, i.e. under a streetlight. 
• When crossing, make eye contact with the drivers, if possible, to ensure they see you. 
• If there’s no sidewalk on the street, walk facing oncoming traffic. 
• Stay sober, walking while impaired increases your chances of being struck by a vehicle.  
• Don’t wear headphones or talk on the phone to ensure you hear vehicles approaching.⁹ 

How Cyclists can Stay Safe on the Dark Commute Home

If you ride your bike to and from work, or simply enjoy an evening ride, it’s a great way to get exercise and decompress from the day. But if you’re riding your bike between 4pm and 7pm in fall and winter, you should make these adjustments to your routine to ensure you stay safe as it gets darker. 

• Make sure you have 3 lights: a handlebar light, a helmet light, and a rear light. That way cars traveling in both directions can see you. 
• Don’t use flash mode on your handlebar light at night. The bright light can cause temporary blindness in drivers traveling in the opposite direction, which can cause them to make dangerous mistakes. 
• Ride slower than you might normally, so you have enough time to react to obstacles in your path and other drivers. 
• Choose clothing with reflective fabric to make it easier for drivers to see you. 
• Add reflective tape to your bike to increase your visibility. 
• If possible, ride with at least one other person. 
• Stay in the bike lane where possible. 
• Stay on well-lit streets if possible. 
• In the absence of a bike lane, don’t hug the curb too tightly. Creating too much room can encourage cars to pass you, which is actually more dangerous than if you take up the entire road.¹⁰ 

What to do If You’ve Been in a Pedestrian Accident or Bicycle Crash

If you’ve been hit as a pedestrian or in a bicycle crash, your first priority is always to take care of your health. Seek medical attention and make follow-up appointments. In addition, you want to: 

• Preserve any evidence. 
• Get witness information. 
• If the police were called to the scene, obtain the police report. 
• Don’t talk to the insurance companies. 
• Call a pedestrian accident or bicycle crash lawyer.

When to Call a Pedestrian Accident or Bicycle Crash Lawyer

If you were in a pedestrian accident or bicycle crash during twilight or after dark, it’s a good idea to reach out to a lawyer as soon as possible. Low-light accident cases often involve disputed liability, meaning it can be difficult to determine fault. This makes having legal guidance very valuable.  

Even in situations where the driver has low visibility, like traveling on dark streets, drivers are required to adjust their speed and attentiveness to account for the fact that they might not see someone until they’re right behind them.

Commuting after dark is a seasonal reality for millions of drivers, and while it requires that everyone takes more precautions, it is possible to do it safely. Those drivers that don’t take the necessary precautions could be held liable for any injuries they cause.