Driving at night presents unique vision challenges compared to daytime. Whether it’s glaring headlights, blurry signs or reduced overall visibility, poor vision can make nighttime drives stressful and dangerous. But there are many simple things you can do to sharpen your night vision and stay safe on evening trips. Let’s look at common night vision issues and some expert tips to help you see better behind the wheel when the sun goes down.
Reasons you can’t see while you drive at night
Before we cover solutions, it’s worth understanding why night driving can strain some people’s eyes more than others. A few potential culprits:
Glare from Headlights
Oncoming high beams or reflections off the rearview mirror can cause uncomfortable eye strain and temporary blindness. This is exacerbated by any existing eye conditions.
Presbyopia and Reading the Dashboard
As we age, the natural inability to focus on close objects called presbyopia can make seeing the gauges, screens and road signs difficult at night without glasses.
Trouble Seeing Distant and Blurry Objects
Conditions like myopia (nearsightedness) make faraway streetlights, vehicles and signs appear blurry or fuzzy, reducing visibility and reaction time at night.
Streaky or Blurred Oncoming Lights
If you have astigmatism, oncoming headlights may take on a streaky, smudged appearance versus looking like distinct, round orbs of light. This distorts depth perception.
Night Blindness
In rare cases, a vitamin A deficiency or underlying eye condition called nyctalopia can impair the ability to see in low light scenarios like nighttime driving.
Fortunately, there are many low-effort things drivers can do to improve night vision and reduce risks on the road when it’s dark out.
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7 Tips to Enhance Your Vision for Nighttime Driving
Clean Your Windshield, Headlights and Glasses
Regular cleaning with glass cleaner removes built-up grime, oils and deposits for maximum light transmission and reduced reflections that can impair vision at night.
Get a Headlight Alignment and Replace Wiper Blades
Misaligned headlights decrease illumination of the roadway and improperly aimed lights may blind other drivers. Faded or worn wiper blades hamper rain and bug clearing.
Adjust Your Rearview Mirror and Interior Cabin Lights
Position side mirrors to minimize glare from tail lights and angle cabin lighting so gauges are illuminated without shining in your eyes.
Slow Down and Allow Extra Travel Time and Space Between Cars
More driving distance gives your eyes more time to see and react to hazards in lower light conditions.
Don’t Stare or Glance Long at Oncoming Headlights
Quickly look away from oncoming lights to avoid temporary blindness from bright beams.
Consider Antireflective Coatings for Eyeglasses
An AR (anti-reflective) coating cuts back glare and enhances contrast at night by reducing undesirable reflections off lenses.
Get Enough Vitamin A
A nutrient crucial for night vision. Leafy greens, sweet potatoes and organ meats like liver provide natural sources. Consult your doctor about supplements if deficiency is a concern.
Beyond that, keeping scans short and focusing your gaze farther down the road instead of right in front of your vehicle expands your field of vision at dusk and dawn. Blinking frequently also prevents eyes from drying out on those long night trips.
Here are some additional tips for improving night vision while driving:
- Consider yellow or amber-tinted glasses. The warmer hue filters out some blue light that causes glare sensitivity without blocking as much visible light as darker shades.
- Use glasses specifically designed for night driving. Look for anti-glare coatings and lenses with optimized light transmission properties.
- Upgrade your headlights if needed. Newer LED or HID bulbs with brighter, whiter beams significantly boost illumination of roadways compared to yellowed halogen lamps.
- Avoid driving at night when very tired. Fatigue compounds the vision challenges and slows your reaction time. Get rest before longer night trips.
- Drink water. Dehydration impairs focus and night vision clarity. Hydrate throughout the day, especially before night drives.
- Eat a diet rich in omega-3s. Food sources like fatty fish, walnuts and flaxseed support macular health and reduce eye strain.
- Pull over if needed. There’s no shame in stopping briefly if glare, dazzle or poor conditions make seeing the road difficult. Let your eyes readjust.
