WINTER HAS ARRIVED IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE; I recently almost crashed into a deer. In the Seattle region, that means a blanket of gray, hot chocolate and warm fires, skiing, and, alas, problems seeing at night while driving. Today, we explore 4 ways to see better.
Did you know Seattle is the northernmost large metropolitan area in the United States? Oh, you knew that? I bet you didn’t know this:
Canada’s two largest, frostbitten cities, Toronto and Montreal, lie well south of Seattle, as does the Canadian capital of Ottawa.
December has come roaring in; we recently experienced an atmospheric river that stalled over us, leading to regional flooding caused by record-breaking rainfall.
Seattle and Olympia both broke rainfall records last week.
Alice On My Mind
My mind drifts on this wintry night to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass:
“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, “Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.”
― Lewis Carroll
Daylight saving time is over, and that means more driving at night. The fact that we lose an hour of daylight in fall may sound insignificant, but it makes night driving more challenging for me.
Today, I offer four pro tips for sharper nighttime vision and moonlight mastery. First, however, I want to discuss why driving at night is especially difficult.
Why I’m Grumpy
Okay, I am not exactly grumpy. I do confess, though, that I rather dislike our winter season.
We just said goodbye to daylight saving time. That extra hour of darkness is a big deal for us in the Emerald City.
I have deer roaming on my road and property. A 2002 study shows that we are 16 percent more likely to bump into one of these creatures while driving after the clock changes.
Car Crashes at Night
Of the 5.25 million car accidents that took place in 2020, nearly 29 percent happened after dark.
An even closer examination of the data reveals an even more significant and alarming trend for those crashes involving fatalities, that percentage soared to nearly half (49 percent).
Several factors contribute to this high percentage of nighttime fatalities. These contributors include the following:
- Poor roadway lighting
- Lack of retroreflective signage
- Inadequate lane markings
- Driver behavior, such as distracted or drunk driving and excessive speed.
Deer Collisions Peak in Autumn
Deer-vehicle collisions peak in autumn, with nearly one out of 10 occurring during the two weeks around the switch from daylight saving time to standard time.
The shift leads to an abrupt increase in driving after sunset, corresponding to a 16 percent increase in deer-vehicle collisions in the week following the time shift.
For ungulates like deer, autumn is also the “rut,” or mating season, during which the animals’ activity levels increase by as much as 50 percent.
Oh, one more thing: I don’t see particularly well at night. Let’s turn to how I try to up my game to see better and render my nighttime travels more safe.
Tip #1. I Keep My Eyeglasses Clean
As dirt on a windshield can scatter light and worsen glare, smudges on your eyeglasses can contribute to visual challenges.
Achieving crystal-clear vision involves proper cleaning techniques.
I clean my eyewear carefully using a cloth specifically designed for glasses. I used to wipe my glasses on my shirt, but now I know that practice can scratch my lenses, hindering my vision.
With food care, I can optimize my visual acuity and preserve my lenses longer. Sounds simple, but I often need a reminder.
How to Keep Your Eyeglasses Clean
Healthline explains that the best way to clean your eyeglasses is as follows:
- Rinse them with water
- Wipe your glasses with a microfiber cloth
- Apply a cleaning solution or dish soap (rinse again if you use soap)
According to optometrist Dr. Jonathan Wolfe, a quick eyeglass cleaning should be part of your daily eye care routine.
Tip #2. I Don’t Look Directly at Oncoming Headlights
I always try to avert my gaze when there is a flash of oncoming headlights around the corner or over the hill.
I quickly become temporarily blind if I look at bright headlights, even if for only a second or two.
Tip #3. I Keep your headlights clean
Have you checked to make sure your headlights are not caked with dirt? The fogging of the headlight lenses can also hamper your headlights’ effectiveness.
If you’ve noticed a dimness or haziness in the light coming from your vehicle’s headlights, your headlights are likely dealing with a common issue — fogginess.
I have noticed some reduced brightness and a yellowish, lackluster tint to the light, both signs of headlight fogging.
The good news is that tackling foggy headlights is sometimes relatively straightforward. Bridgestone Tire Company offers a guide:
How to Clean Foggy Headlights
Tip #4. I Dim My Interior Lights
It’s best to keep your inside car lights off or not too bright when driving at night.
If they’re too dazzling, it messes with your eyes getting used to the dark, you know, that time when things start becoming clearer in low light.
If your inside lights are super bright, adjusting to outside darkness takes your eyes longer.
Even if you need a bit of light inside to find things, having the lights too bright can be distracting.
Also, those inside lights can bounce off your windshield, making the glare worse when driving at night. So, dim those lights and stay focused on the road at night.
Final Thoughts – 4 Ways to See Better
Now that winter is upon us, we need to be careful. Driving in the dark can be perilous. I hope I have helped you be a better driver in winter.
I want to navigate those Seattle streets more confidently in the dark. After all, The Nutcracker Ballet is coming.
Thank you for reading “4 Ways to See Better.”
