Paul Messam, Gleaner Writer

The mangled remains of a Toyota Corolla car, which crashed along the Greenwood main road at the border of Trelawny and St. James on the night of Sunday, September 3. The accident claimed the life of Clifton 'Pecka' Nish, 36, of Davis Pen, Trelawny. Preliminary reports suggest that speeding primarily contributed to the accident. -Photo by Noel Thompson

Night driving is potentially hazardous for many reasons. "At night, a driver's vision is reduced," says Dr. Marinne Scarlett. "Over 80 per cent of driving decisions are based upon what we see. defensive driving practices must be observed whether its day or night, rain or shine, she is of the view that dusk is a dangerous time for driving, as this time is characterised by dull light and sharp shadows. In addition, objects gel together, thus making things difficult to see and distances hard to judge. Dr. Scarlett was of the view that when the sun goes down, motorists should flick on their headlights (low beam) to be sure they are seen.

Momentary blindness

Dr. Scarlett explained that while travelling at nights - say from Mandeville to Kingston - one will notice a moment of complete blindness that occurs just as an approaching motor vehicle zooms past. The brightness of the lights, immediately followed by darkness, forces our eyes to make an instantaneous adjustment. Drivers should ensure that it's part of their routine to switch on their low beams whenever they are approaching or overtaking traffic. The glare of the high beam headlights in a driver's eyes or in his rear view mirror can radically reduce his vision.

Driving at nights also requires more observation and concentration. "Night (driving) can be very tiring," says auto mechanic Kurt Harding. "One has to concentrate much harder, drivers should have a healthy respect for the motor vehicle they drive and the skill involved in controlling it efficiently and safely at nights."

Some drivers take night driving for granted and so, unfortunately, fail to adjust their driving accordingly. "I have no problem with driving at night," says David Dean, a driver with over 30 years experience in the motoring world, "With the coming of complete darkness, visibility actually improves slightly." According to Mr. Dean, approaching vehicles can often be detected at a greater distance than in daylight. "For example, a vehicle coming from behind a hill, reveals itself by its light beams, whereas it would be invisible by day," he explained.

Night driving, seasoned with rain, fosters dangerous driving situations. Added to the poor visibility, is the problem of reflection from the pavement. The lights of oncoming cars will 'dutty wine' on the water-soaked roads, blurring and distorting the view to a point that no accurate road judgements can be made. That is the more reason for drivers, especially at night, to apply the standard accident formula and (1) Be alert (2) Be prepared (c) Act in time. Know what to do if something happens suddenly, do not panic.

Take special note of these night driving tips

1. If a driver encounters fog, reduce your speed and turn on the low beams.

2. Keep your eyes open at all times.

3. Clean all headlights; keep your windows and wiper blades clean.

4. Maintain good ventilation as it helps to delay the effects of tiredness.

5. Take regular stops for refreshment.

6. Adjust the headlights of your vehicle in order that when they are dipped, they light the road and do not dazzle other drivers.

7. Ensure that all your lightsare working - carry spare bulbs.

8. Allow for more safety margins than you would during daylight.

9. Keep and maintain a safe following distance.

10. Allow for more time and distance for passing/overtaking.