Nights Pose a Real Danger
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In the UK about 25 per cent of all fatal crashes occur between 4pm and 9pm, the majority in the winter months. German road safety research has shown that while 75 per cent of all driving is done during daylight hours, more than 50 per cent of all fatal accidents happen during the hours of darkness.
(Photo - Stuart Yeates)
Similar accident figures have been found in US studies showing that approximately 50 per cent of serious accidents are caused as a result of the driver not having enough information about the road ahead to take avoiding action.
Explaining the added dangers of night driving, Adrian Walsh, RoadSafe’s director, says, “Ninety percent of a driver's reaction depends on vision, and vision is severely limited at night. Even on well-lit roads, depth perception, colour recognition, and peripheral vision are compromised after sunset.
The risk of death in the case of a crash is three times higher for night driving than for clear visibility conditions.
The stark reality is that the risk of death in the case of a crash is three times higher for night driving than for clear visibility conditions. How far can we see, and what does this distance mean? On dipped lights driving at 40 mph after seeing an object you only have about 1.5 seconds - on main beam 3 seconds. This is only the beginning. When you encounter a hazard on the road, you actually go through five steps before stopping the vehicle:
Research has shown that a driver travelling at 40 miles per hour with dipped lights has as little as 1.5 seconds to react to a hazard on the road. This rises to a three seconds on beams.
A wet road requires even greater distances. Fifty percent of all reported road traffic accidents at night occur in wet conditions. In the UK it is wet on average only 10 per cent of the nights.
Working with the motor industry and others concerned with the design and production and use of motor vehicles and of our roads to encourage and promote improved education, innovation, and new thinking to reduce death and injury, RoadSafe’s mission is to reduce road deaths and injuries through partnerships between the motor industry and related companies, traffic engineers, the police and road safety professionals promoting the safe design and use of vehicles and roads and encouraging improved education and innovation.
SMMT and RoadSafe are holding a 'Driving in winter' event on the evening of Monday 31 October. Timed to coincide with the end of British Summer Time, the event will display the latest in vehicle and road safety technology including practical demonstrations.
If we add time for perception and recognition at night, we overshoot the 200 mark, yet our range of visibility stays at 45m and 100m - i.e. 1.5 seconds and 3 seconds respectively.
RoadSafe’s advice is. Always drive well within the speed limit at night and do not drive when tired. Always use dipped headlights even in lit streets and use main beam whenever you can. Above all check that your lights are kept clean.
More information from:
http://www.iam.org.uk/Pressroom/Fact_Sheets/pdf/fac07001.pdf
http://www.drivealive.org.za/DriveAlive/WebSite/NightDriving.asp
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(Photo - Stuart Yeates)
Similar accident figures have been found in US studies showing that approximately 50 per cent of serious accidents are caused as a result of the driver not having enough information about the road ahead to take avoiding action.
Explaining the added dangers of night driving, Adrian Walsh, RoadSafe’s director, says, “Ninety percent of a driver's reaction depends on vision, and vision is severely limited at night. Even on well-lit roads, depth perception, colour recognition, and peripheral vision are compromised after sunset.
The risk of death in the case of a crash is three times higher for night driving than for clear visibility conditions.
The stark reality is that the risk of death in the case of a crash is three times higher for night driving than for clear visibility conditions. How far can we see, and what does this distance mean? On dipped lights driving at 40 mph after seeing an object you only have about 1.5 seconds - on main beam 3 seconds. This is only the beginning. When you encounter a hazard on the road, you actually go through five steps before stopping the vehicle:
- Perception of the hazard, under poor visibility conditions
- Identifying the hazard under poor lighting conditions
- Considering the alternatives available, and deciding what action to take
- Reaction time - mental plus muscular
- Braking
Research has shown that a driver travelling at 40 miles per hour with dipped lights has as little as 1.5 seconds to react to a hazard on the road. This rises to a three seconds on beams.
A wet road requires even greater distances. Fifty percent of all reported road traffic accidents at night occur in wet conditions. In the UK it is wet on average only 10 per cent of the nights.
Working with the motor industry and others concerned with the design and production and use of motor vehicles and of our roads to encourage and promote improved education, innovation, and new thinking to reduce death and injury, RoadSafe’s mission is to reduce road deaths and injuries through partnerships between the motor industry and related companies, traffic engineers, the police and road safety professionals promoting the safe design and use of vehicles and roads and encouraging improved education and innovation.
SMMT and RoadSafe are holding a 'Driving in winter' event on the evening of Monday 31 October. Timed to coincide with the end of British Summer Time, the event will display the latest in vehicle and road safety technology including practical demonstrations.
If we add time for perception and recognition at night, we overshoot the 200 mark, yet our range of visibility stays at 45m and 100m - i.e. 1.5 seconds and 3 seconds respectively.
RoadSafe’s advice is. Always drive well within the speed limit at night and do not drive when tired. Always use dipped headlights even in lit streets and use main beam whenever you can. Above all check that your lights are kept clean.
More information from:
http://www.iam.org.uk/Pressroom/Fact_Sheets/pdf/fac07001.pdf
http://www.drivealive.org.za/DriveAlive/WebSite/NightDriving.asp
Related Articles:
- Sleeping Behind the Wheel is a Killer
- Highways Agency Keep Left Campaign
- Call for Drivers to Switch Off Their Phones
- Frustrated Fatal Fridays
- Think, before you drive!
- Highways Agency Promotes Safe, Courteous Driving
- Are You Up to Motorway Driving?
- What Drives You To Fear?
- Road Death Toll still too High
Accidents | Automotive | Automobiles | Car | Cars | Crashes | Driving | Drivers | Roads | Road Accidents | Road Safety | Safety | Technology | UK | United Kingdom | Vehicles
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