When Driving a truck at night, you must use dim headlights to see the road clearly. The bright lights of other vehicles can blind you and reflect off the side mirrors of the truck, causing your vision to be compromised. To ensure maximum visibility in the dark, keep the mirrors clean as well. Follow these tips to make driving at night safer for everyone on the road. We hope that this article has been helpful. Please subscribe to receive free materials.
Despite its disadvantages, truck drivers who drive at night have a better visibility of the road. As a result, they’re less likely to get into accidents or encounter construction. Plus, driving at night will allow you to reach your destination faster. One disadvantage of driving at night is the danger of driver fatigue. Driver alertness is important to avoid any accidents. This is the reason why it’s important to drive cautiously at night.
Related Questions / Contents
- Why Do Truck Drivers Drive at Night?
- Do Most Truck Drivers Drive at Night?
- When Can You Drive at Night with a CDL?
- How Do Truck Drivers Stay Awake at Night?
- What is the Biggest Hazard in Night Driving?
- Can 18 Wheelers Drive at Night?
- How is Your Vision Different at Night CDL?
Why Do Truck Drivers Drive at Night?
One reason truck drivers drive at night is to deliver food and other goods. At night, trucks have poor vision and the glare from oncoming traffic makes their vision less than optimal. Truck drivers must react quickly to sudden changes in weather or wildlife while staying alert to the road ahead. They must also make themselves visible to oncoming traffic in order to avoid accidents. Fortunately, many truckers do not face such issues. Read on for some tips to keep yourself safe while driving at night.
There are pros and cons to both schedules, and truck drivers should know what works best for them. Drivers should understand their carrier’s schedule and understand the Federal Carrier Safety Administration’s Hours of Service Guidelines before choosing a schedule. Nighttime driving can also be less stressful as the sun goes down. Many truckers prefer driving at night for a number of reasons. In addition to fewer distractions, drivers who drive at night are less likely to be late for their shift.
Do Most Truck Drivers Drive at Night?
Most truck drivers do not choose to drive at night. It is, however, a necessity for a trucking company and their clients. Some of these clients need food delivered right to their doorsteps at midnight. These drivers have to be extremely vigilant to ensure that they can meet the deadlines and still reach the client’s homes in one piece. Here are some tips to help you drive safely at night. You can learn how to do so from the professionals.
It’s not easy driving at night. Even if there’s ample lighting, you won’t be able to see as well as you would during the day. Additionally, when driving at night, you’ll have to keep a very close eye on the vehicles on either side of you. The road may have animals running into the road, which slows you down. This is why you’ll need to leave extra room.
When Can You Drive at Night with a CDL?
When can you safely drive a truck at night with a CDL? This question should be answered only after careful consideration. Most drivers are more aware of road conditions during the day, which can make a big difference. While drivers may not be able to see obstacles and traffic as well at night, the lack of visibility causes other drivers to be distracted and can cause a crash.
The first step to take in driving a tractor-trailer at night is to make sure you have adequate vision. Humans do not have good night vision, and their peripheral vision is not as good as it is during the day. As a result, it is more difficult to see objects in front of you, such as animals, and you may find it harder to react quickly. Be sure to leave extra space when driving at night, and always wear your headlights to increase your visibility.
Another important factor to consider when driving at night is your cellphone. While federal law limits the use of cellphones while driving, drivers are still susceptible to distraction. Even if drivers are required to use hands-free devices, the risks associated with using a cell phone while driving double during the night. Hence, it’s a good idea to put your cell phone on silent or “do not disturb” mode when driving at night. Besides, it’s best to keep phone calls to familiar routes only.
How Do Truck Drivers Stay Awake at Night?
While many drivers use various natural methods to keep awake during the night, there are also some illegal practices that can lead to sleep deprivation. For example, some truckers use amphetamines, which have stimulant and euphoric effects. Ritalin and Adderall are two examples of prescription amphetamines. However, these practices can lead to addiction, which is the main reason why drivers should not consume these drugs.
Truckers must avoid caffeine catnaps, which involve taking caffeine about 15 minutes before bedtime. Caffeine may be effective, but this practice may only have a placebo effect. Another effective way to help truckers stay awake at night is to listen to audiobooks or podcasts that engage their minds. Listening to music or audiobooks can also help truck drivers sleep. A few hours of sleep can help truckers keep their minds focused and alert.
Truck drivers have to be able to drive long distances and need to sleep for at least eight hours each night. Taking naps is an excellent way to break up the long hours of driving, but you must make sure to get a full night’s sleep. If you do, you may end up putting yourself and other drivers at risk. Even naps cannot substitute for uninterrupted sleep at night. If you can’t get the proper sleep, you should try to find a reliable schedule for sleeping and getting enough rest.
What is the Biggest Hazard in Night Driving?
The average person’s field of vision is much smaller when the sun is not shining. Aside from the glare from oncoming headlights, driving at night also decreases visibility. In addition, vehicle lighting does not illuminate long distances, which causes the eyes to adjust more quickly. Wildlife is another hazard, especially if it is near roads with broken fences. Criminals can also lurk in the darkness, causing a crash or robbing the motorists.
Besides using headlights to improve your range of vision, driving at night means being alert and attentive to other road users. Avoid distractions and try not to look directly into oncoming headlights. Stay in the safety lane so you don’t blind other drivers. If you need to look at your surroundings, make sure you look to your left, not right into oncoming headlights. By doing so, you can avoid an accident.
Another risk factor is alcohol. Alcohol-impaired drivers are four times more likely to cause fatal accidents at night. In addition to drunk drivers, fatigue is another factor. Fatigue reduces the ability to concentrate and react quickly. It is a common cause of traffic accidents at night, and most occur between midnight and six in the morning. And in rural areas, drivers may be tired, so they are not in the mood to drive.
Can 18 Wheelers Drive at Night?
One of the biggest dangers of truckers on the road at night is drowsy driving. While federal law protects drivers from fatigued truckers, South Carolina’s Commercial Driver’s License Manual cites other reasons why nighttime driving is dangerous. In addition to reducing safety, truckers are more likely to make mistakes and be involved in accidents. That’s why it’s critical to know how to avoid drowsy driving while driving a truck.
In addition, bright lights can blind a driver. Two seconds of glare-blindness can cause a terrible accident. A 60,000-pound 18-wheeler traveling at 55 mph can travel half a football field. And a functionally blind driver isn’t likely to make the turn when it occurs. Despite this, the majority of truck drivers must drive at night to meet their delivery deadlines.
How is Your Vision Different at Night CDL?
Among other things, night driving requires that you be extra careful. The number of traffic accidents and deaths are higher at night, so it’s important to drive carefully when your ability to see is diminished. If you’re a night driver, you need to have your vision checked and corrective lenses. It’s also important to get an eye exam every year or two. Your doctor can determine if you need any changes to your prescription.
While humans don’t have the best night vision, it is still quite good. That’s not to say that your night vision is any less good than your daytime vision, but your peripheral vision is significantly impaired. Because you can’t see as far ahead in the road, you can’t see things on the side of the road, which slows your response time. To help you avoid this, make sure to leave a little extra space around the vehicle when driving at night.
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FAQs
What should you always do when you follow a truck at night? ›
Explanation You should always dim headlights when following a truck at night. Bright lights will blind the drivers of large vehicles when they reflect off the large side mirrors.
When driving at night you should only use your high-beam headlights? ›High beam headlights should be used at night, whenever you're unable to see enough of the road ahead to drive safely. Low visibility at night can be scary for even the most experienced drivers.
What is a good thing to do when driving at night? ›- Get enough rest. The better rested you are, the more attentive you can be to the road. ...
- Check and adjust your headlights. ...
- Use a mirror dimmer. ...
- Minimize light in the cabin. ...
- Use your high beams. ...
- Drive slower and use your signal. ...
- Avoid two lane highways.
Dim your high-beam headlights to low beams within 500 feet of a vehicle coming toward you or within 300 feet of a vehicle you are following. It is illegal to drive using only parking lights.
What is the first thing a driver should do to drive safely at night? ›SmartFinancial Auto Insurance Comparison in CA. Try not to look directly into the lights of oncoming traffic. When cars are coming at you, do your best to cast your gaze down and to the right, while focusing on the white line. This will prevent you from being temporarily blinded by their headlights.
Which of the following is most important when driving at night? ›Reduce your speed.
Visibility is limited at night. Not only is it difficult to see ahead of you, but it's also difficult to see objects approaching from either side of the road. It's important to reduce your speed while driving at night to compensate for limited visibility.
In many countries, low-beam headlights must be on any time the vehicle is in motion, regardless of the time of day. Even when the headlights won't help you see better, they may help others see you. Make sure to use your low-beam headlights when driving at night, even if driving on a well-lit street!
What should your headlights be on at night? ›You should only use full beam headlights on unlit stretches of road at night. When meeting oncoming traffic (including cyclists or pedestrians), following another vehicle, or driving on left-turning bends, you must turn off full beam headlights as they can often be dazzling and may cause accidents.
What should you not do with your headlights when driving at night? ›High beams are underutilized, says Rader, but can be very helpful in rural areas or on open roads. Just remember to dim them when you're within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle (so you don't temporarily blind the other driver), and don't use them if you're following another vehicle.
When driving on a highway at night you should never use your high beam headlights if you are? ›You should not use your high beams in the following situations: When cars are approaching you. This includes highways where the traffic is on the opposite side of the median. Don't risk blinding or distracting oncoming traffic; turn your beams off until you're sure no one is ahead of you.
When driving at night the full headlights should enable the driver to see for a distance of how many Metres? ›
Explantion: At night in good driving conditions the full headlights of a car will typically let you see 100 metres ahead. So, you should travel at a speed that allows you to stop within that distance.
When driving at night the headlights of a typical car should enable the driver to see for a distance of how many Metres? ›30 metres. Explanation: When driving at night in good driving conditions the dipped headlights of a car will typically let you see 30 metres ahead. So, you should travel at a speed that allows you to stop in that distance.
What three factors should you consider when driving at night? ›- Low-light conditions. Most everyone has some level of difficulty seeing in low-light conditions. ...
- Decreased reaction time. ...
- Bright lights, reflections and glare.
Use the fog lights when visibility is reduced to less than 100m by fog or spray. Turn on the dipped beam headlights to avoid dazzling other road users when driving at night. Turn on full beam headlights at night when the road ahead is completely clear – no oncoming traffic and no vehicles are in front of you.
When should you not use your low beams? ›Low-beam headlights light-up the road for a distance of about 200 feet, equivalent to half a city block. When you cannot see farther than 200 feet using low-beams, you should switch to high-beams, unless: Another vehicle is within 200 feet and approaching you from the opposite direction.
Do low beams stay on with high beams? ›That depends on what your headlights your car has. When it has only an H4 bulb, the low beams will effectively be turned off, due to heat and power concerns. Meanwhile, a car with two H7 bulbs will usually have both working.
Should my lights be on auto at night? ›So, whether it's your car, a rental vehicle, or one that a family member or friend drives, do your part and make sure that the headlight switch is set to auto. And then leave it that way. Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994.
Should your headlights be on at all times? ›Anytime between sunset and sunrise (that one's a no-brainer). When it's raining, snowing, sleeting or hailing (here's an easy way to remember this one: If your windshield wipers are on, your lights should be, too). Any other time when visibility is low enough that you can't see 500 feet ahead.
Should headlights always be on at night? ›The law says you must turn your headlights on 30 minutes after sunset and leave them on until 30 minutes before sunrise. You must turn your lights on any time you can't see at least 1000 feet ahead. Use your low beam headlights whenever it is raining.
When driving at night where should you look to avoid temporary night blindness from the headlights of oncoming vehicles? ›Focus your eyes on the right edge of the road to avoid being blinded. Keep your windshield and headlights clean inside and out. Shift your view between the road and your vehicle's rear and side mirrors. Turn your head from side to side to increase your peripheral vision.
What happens if I leave my high beams on all night? ›
If you have left car lights on all night, the battery can quickly run down. It does not make much difference whether it is a halogen, LED or xenon lamp. If you leave the light on for too long, the battery will drain and the car will no longer start.
When should you shut off your high beams? ›If you are driving with your high-beam lights on, you must dim them at least 500 ft from any oncoming vehicle, so you don't blind the oncoming driver. You must use low-beam lights if you are within 200-300 ft of the vehicle you are following.
Can I ride with my high beams on? ›The blinding effect can happen to drivers in oncoming traffic and your lane if they catch the high beams in their rearview mirror. That's why you should only use high-beam lights when the road is clear on both sides for at least a couple hundred feet.
What should you see on a truck when you are following them? ›If you are following a truck, stay out of its "blind spot" to the rear. Avoid following too closely and position your vehicle so the truck driver can see you in his side mirrors. Then you will have a good view of the road ahead, and the truck driver can give you plenty of warning for a stop or a turn.
How many seconds should you follow a truck? ›Did You Know? If you are driving below 40 mph, you should leave at least one second for every 10 feet of vehicle length. For a typical tractor-trailer, this results in 4 seconds between you and the leading vehicle. For speeds over 40 mph, you should leave one additional second.
How should you adjust your following distance in a CMV at night? ›Avoid Blinding Others:
Dim your lights within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle and when following another vehicle within 500 feet.
The National Safety Council recommends a minimum three-second following distance. Determining the three-second gap is relatively easy. When following a vehicle, pick an overhead road sign, a tree or other roadside marker.
What to do if someone is following you at night? ›Calling 911 or the non-emergency police dispatch line in your area are always options, as it's better to be safe than sorry. Whether you're walking or driving and feel you're being followed, it's important to stay safe.
What are five things you should check for on the front of your truck during a walk around inspection? ›- Condition of front axle.
- Condition of steering system. No loose, worn, bent, damaged or missing parts. Must grab steering mechanism to test for looseness.
- Condition of windshield. Check for damage and clean if dirty. Check windshield wiper arms for proper spring tension.
Truck platooning allows trucks to follow each other closely, thereby reducing air drag and improving fuel economy. Platooning also has the potential to increase vehicle capacity on our highways, particularly along freight corridors.
When driving What is the 3-second rule? ›
A general rule that helps many drivers maintain safe following distances is the “three-second rule.” It requires leaving three seconds of space between your vehicle and the vehicle driving in front of you. If you are interested in forming safer driving habits, you need to understand and implement the three-second rule.
How many seconds should a truck driver look ahead? ›Quote From The CDL Manual:
Most good drivers look 12-15 seconds ahead. That means looking ahead the distance you will travel in 12-15 seconds. At lower speeds, that's about one block.
The 4-second rule
If the vehicle behind you is following too closely you should: increase your following distance to 4 seconds from the vehicle in front of you. This gives you time and space to slow down gradually and reduce the risk of sudden braking and being hit from behind.
You must be able to stop within the distance you can see ahead with your headlights. Your headlights will let you see about 400 feet ahead. You should drive at a speed that allows you to stop within this distance or about 50 mph.
What should your stopping distance be at night? ›Under normal driving conditions at night, your stopping distance is the distance you travel in four seconds at normal speeds and within the range of your headlights. Page 2 : When it becomes extremely difficult to see because of heavy rain, you should pull off the road until the rain stops.
How many seconds should you increase your following distance at night? ›When visibility is low such as light fog, light rain, or nighttime driving, you should double the following distance to a minimum of 4 seconds. This will seem like a large gap between you and the vehicle in front of you. That's ok.