7 Ways to Mitigate Night Blindness When Driving On Indian Roads

At night, the glare from the headlights of other vehicles may limit the vision of the driver. Driving at night can be a daunting task not only for new drivers but even experienced ones. There are many reasons why accidents are more likely to happen at night. For example, the driver could be fatigued, stressed or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. However, the most common reason is that the glare from other vehicles’ headlamps at night will blind the driver. Here are some ways to eliminate and solve this problem.

>>> Watch more 

What Is Night Blindness?

1. Clean the windshield, window and glass surfaces

Do not forget to clean the car mirror. Any dirt or stains on the mirror will disturb the reflection and you could not see clearly while travelling on the road. In addition, you should also clean the inside of the windshield because some plastic chemicals of the interior can gradually accumulate on the glass and blur the view.

Clean the windscreen properly, inside out

Remember to clean the windscreen wipers with the glass cleaner to remove dirt and oxidized rubber from the edges of the wipers. After cleaning, if the stain does not completely disappear, you should replace with new wipers. In case there are any crank on the windshield, it should be repaired immediately.

2. Clean the vehicle’s headlights

Even small amounts of dirt on the lights can reduce the half amount of light and limit the ability to see other vehicles. This is especially true if the car is equipped with a High-Intensity Discharge (HID) headlight as the dirt diffuses light from the lamp and causes glare to other drivers. The outside of the headlamp could become foggy as they are much likely to be exposed to the street dust. Therefore, it is essential for you to clean the headlights regularly.           

It is essential for you to clean the headlights regularly

3. Adjust the vehicle mirror properly

The American Automobile Association (AAA) recommends the following method for installing mirrors:

Step 1. Tilt the mirror to the left and adjust the left mirror so that you can see the left corner behind the car.

Step 2. Do the same for the right mirror. If you follow this instruction, it will help you not only reduce glare but also limit blind spots.

You should adjust the vehicle mirror properly

4. Don’t stare into the glare and on your rearview

You should look down or to the left instead of looking straight at the headlights of the oncoming traffic. The reason is that you still see other vehicles with your peripheral vision; thus, you may avoid being blinded. The headlights coming from the rearview mirror can also be a reason for temporary blindness. You should adjust your rearview mirror to the “night” setting to dim the headlights glare from behind. This feature is equipped with most cars nowadays so you can use it at night to help you drive safer.

You should not look straight at the headlights of the oncoming traffic

5. Check your vision regularly

According to the American Optometric Association, everyone under the age of 60 should have an eye exam at least every two years and once every year after the age of 60. The older you become, the more sensitive your eyes will be. Earlier detection will increase the chance eye problems successfully treated. Your eye problem will be treated soon if it is detected early

If you use glasses or contact lenses, you should note to keep the lens clean and have no any scratches as possible. Dirty and scratched glasses will worsen the glare problem.

6. Drive within the range of headlights

You should move at a rate of speed which could ensure your stopping distance visible and within the covered area of the headlights. At night, headlights allow the driver's sight to reach from 60 to 90m ahead. However, it takes a while for the headlight to light the way ahead. Thus, if you drive at slower speeds, you will have more time to observe and spot the possible threat, thus, respond quickly.

You should move at a rate of speed that your stopping distance is within your vision with headlights

7. It is safer to move in slower lanes

The reason is that the light from approaching cars will not blind you when driving in the slow lane. When you move into the fast lane, you will be directly subject to the path of light from oncoming vehicles. Furthermore, Indian avenues often offer no other option for pedestrians than crossing the vehicles' lane. As a result, residents will just walk across the highway without giving any warning. Hence, travelling in the slower lanes allows room for you to manoeuvre and avoid hitting pedestrians.

Find more useful Tips and Guides from IndianAuto

Where are the blind spots of a car?

How To Adjust Your Car Mirrors To Avoid The Blind Spots In Indian Roads