Eyecare professionals offer tips for improved night driving

As days get shorter, night driving increases. As a result, statistics tell problematic a story. Nearly one in three drivers have more difficulty seeing while driving at night. Twentypercent of all drivers have difficulty seeing signs or exits while driving at night. And 20 percent of all drivers have difficulty seeing animals, viewing pedestrians and judging distances at night.

On the new edition of Healthy Vision, host Dr. Val Jones discusses changes to vision in the dark and advice is offered by optometrist Dr. Cristina Schnider and John Ulczyski, Vice President of the National Safety Council, for improved eye care and safer driving at night.

 

Here are some key statistics:

* Beginning at age 20, the amount of light needed to drive doubles every 13 years. At age 60 a person needs 10 times as much light as a 19 year old to see clearly. 

* The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Safety Council report the fatality rate at nighttime is three times higher than the daytime rate. Headlight glare and decreased visibility of signs and reflectors are contributing factors to these accidents.

* The per-mile crash rate for teenage drivers is three times higher after 9 p.m. than during the day.

* Twenty-ver percent of travel occurs during hours of darkness, but 49 percent of fatal crashes occur at night. 

To view for details about night driving and tips to improv driving at night, get the a download on iTunes or stream the program on getbetterhealth.com/healthy-vision.