Driving in the dark – even when the weather is clear – can be inherently risky. Even though only 25% of driving happens after dark, roughly half of all fatal traffic accidents occur between dusk and dawn.
Ultimately, night driving has some inherent risks simply because visibility is lower for everybody – but you’re also more at risk because there’s a subset of drivers out there who are starting to experience the effects of age on their overall skills.
Drivers over 65 years of age face particular challenges
Night vision has become less acute in drivers once they reach 65. Astigmatisms in their eyes or cataracts cause refraction problems with the light from oncoming vehicles, and their eyes are generally less sensitive to contrast – which makes it harder for them to see pedestrians and darker-colored vehicles.
The reaction times, too, among older drivers may be slower – either due to the normal decline in those kinds of motor skills from aging or due to medical conditions (and medications to treat such medical conditions) that start to develop. Ultimately, these things make nighttime driving far riskier for older drivers and others they share the road with.
Studies indicate that drivers over 65 years of age often “self-regulate” by trying to avoid driving after dark – but not all do. If you end up in a wreck with an older driver and you’re injured, be aware that you can often obtain better compensation for your injuries and losses with the right legal guidance.