Fall brings cooler temperatures, beautiful foliage—and shorter days. As the sun sets earlier, many of us find ourselves driving more often in low-light or nighttime conditions. For some drivers, particularly as we age, nighttime driving can become more challenging as we age or as changes in our vision develop. Add deer crossing the road, wet leaves, fog, and increasingly bright LED headlights, and fall driving can present some unique challenges.
Why Nighttime Driving Can Be More Difficult
Driving at night requires your eyes to work harder. Your pupils become larger to allow more light into the eye, but this can also make glare and light scatter more noticeable.
As we age, the eye’s natural lens can become less clear, and conditions such as cataracts can make nighttime vision particularly difficult. You may notice:
- Increased sensitivity to headlights
- Difficulty seeing road signs or lane markings
- More trouble seeing pedestrians or cyclists
- Difficulty judging distances at night
- Blurred or hazy vision
- Longer time for your eyes to adjust when moving between bright and dark environments
If nighttime driving has become uncomfortable or stressful, don’t ignore the change. It may be time for a comprehensive eye examination.
Bright LED Headlights and Nighttime Glare
Many newer vehicles use LED headlights, which can appear significantly brighter than traditional headlights. While these lights can improve visibility for the driver using them, they can also create intense glare for oncoming traffic. Glare can temporarily reduce contrast and make it more difficult to see the road, pedestrians, animals, or objects along the roadside.
Tips to Handle Headlight Glare
When an approaching vehicle has extremely bright headlights:
- Don’t stare directly at the lights. Instead, keep your eyes focused toward the right side of your lane and use the road’s edge or lane markings as a visual guide.
- Keep your windshield clean. Dirt, streaks, and haze on the inside or outside of your windshield can scatter light and make glare much worse.
- Clean your eyeglasses. Smudges and scratches can increase glare and reduce clarity. Keep your lenses clean and replace heavily scratched lenses.
- Allow your eyes to adjust. Moving from a brightly lit area into darkness—or encountering a sudden burst of headlights—can temporarily affect your vision. Give yourself time to adjust.
If you consistently experience significant glare, halos, or difficulty seeing at night, schedule an eye examination with the doctors at Bissell Eye Care. Cataracts, dry eye, uncorrected prescriptions, and other eye conditions can contribute to nighttime vision problems.
Fall Hazards to Watch For
- Deer aren’t the only challenge during fall driving. Changing weather and shorter daylight hours can affect visibility.
- Wet leaves can become slippery and may obscure lane markings, potholes, or other hazards.
- Fog can dramatically reduce visibility. Slow down and use low-beam headlights rather than high beams.
- Rain can create additional glare from headlights, traffic signals, and wet pavement.
- Earlier sunsets mean you may be driving in darkness during your normal commute, making good nighttime vision even more important.
Simple Nighttime Driving Safety Tips
- Have your vision checked regularly. Make sure your prescription is current and discuss nighttime vision concerns with your eye doctor.
- Keep your windshield clean. A clean windshield can significantly reduce distracting glare.
- Use your headlights properly. Make sure headlights are clean, functioning properly, and correctly aimed.
- Reduce your speed at night. Give yourself more time to react to animals, pedestrians, cyclists, and unexpected road conditions.
- Increase following distance. Extra space gives you more time to respond to sudden stops or hazards.
- Avoid distractions. Put down your phone and keep your attention focused on the road.
- Take breaks on longer trips. Fatigue can make nighttime driving particularly challenging.
- Know your limitations. If you find yourself avoiding nighttime driving because you cannot see comfortably or confidently, talk with your eye doctor.
Your Vision Is an Important Part of Driving Safety
Good vision is one of your most important tools behind the wheel. While some nighttime vision changes are a normal part of aging, significant changes in your ability to see at night shouldn’t be ignored. Schedule a comprehensive eye examination by calling 724-443-6767 or 724-226-0444 to make sure your vision is helping you stay safe and confident on the road.
About Bissell Eye Care: John D. Bissell, OD, is the owner of Bissell Eye Care, proudly serving the Northern Pittsburgh and Alle-Kiski Valley regions. Dr. Bissell has received advanced training through the International Academy of Low Vision Specialists, enabling him to help patients living with vision impairment and low vision challenges. With two convenient office locations and evening appointments available, Bissell Eye Care offers comprehensive eye exams for the entire family—starting as young as six months. Our services include ocular disease detection and treatment, prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses, specialty activewear eyewear, contact lenses, and dedicated low vision evaluations for those with significant vision impairment and vision loss. We accept most vision and health insurance plans. To learn more, visit bisselleyecare.com or call our Bakerstown office at 724-443-6767 or our Natrona Heights office at 724-226-0444.